Nordic Game 26 Masterclass Friday: Speakers Revealed!
Masterclass Friday, a dedicated programme tailored for students and indie developers, returns to Europe’s premier B2B games conference, Nordic Game Spring 2026 (NG26), taking place 26–29 May at Malmö’s iconic Slagthuset venue. Hosted and curated by mentor group Mighty Diamonds, the initiative offers a full day of hands-on workshops and expert-led sessions covering four key areas of game development: Design, Art, Business, and Narrative, supporting emerging talent and early-stage studios.
“Last year’s premiere of the Masterclass Friday was a great success, and we received excellent feedback from participants that we’re now using to refine and elevate the experience even further. A huge thank you to Mighty Diamonds for partnering with us again” says Nordic Game’s Program Director Jacob Riis.
The initial schedule for Masterclass Friday:
10:00 – 16:00: Showcase Stage Talks
11:00 – 12:30: Workshops – Round 1
13:00 – 14:30: Workshops – Round 2
16:00 – 18:00: Afterwork Fun
ROUND 1
Christoffer Bodegård: Interactive Writing in Esoteric Ebb
Join Christoffer Bodegård as he shows off his work on Esoteric Ebb – and discusses topics surrounding interactive writing, how to maximize player agency, and designing non-linear TTRPG-like experiences in digital form.
Chris Brettman: Intuition-Based Level Design
Join former Helldivers 2 Level Designer Chris Brettman on the journey of discovering your gut feeling and how it can lead to stronger outcomes in level design for your game.
Danny Perez: Your Enemies Are Boring (and how to fix them)
Most enemies fail because they’re designed as obstacles instead of experiences. Learn how to create enemies that drive player emotion, deepen gameplay, and elevate your entire game.
Will Blood: From FOMO to Fantasy: Repositioning Live-Service Monetization in Helldivers 2
This hands-on workshop introduces the ARC Design Framework, a practical method built on AUTONOMY, RELATEDNESS, and COMPETENCE – the core psychological drivers of player motivation and enjoyment.
ROUND 2
Lauren Stone: Creating Diverse Characters from comics to AAA
Lauren Stone, former Narrative Director and Clancy Narrative Specialist for Ubisoft, will walk through her career and how she was able to create diverse, memorable, and relatable characters across the Tom Clancy Franchise. Participants will get a chance to test her character profile template to workshop new characters and learn how to tailor their character pitches to feel more realistic and supportive of the worlds they are creating. The session will end with an open Q&A.
Patrick Rose: The ARC Design Framework – Training to Build Standout Features
This hands-on workshop introduces the ARC Design Framework, a practical method built on AUTONOMY, RELATEDNESS, and COMPETENCE – the core psychological drivers of player motivation and enjoyment.
Johan Lundqvist: Lift Off! Elevate Your Vehicle Design
Let’s explore how to apply design language throughout the process of creating a vehicle concept. This workshop will equip you with a visual toolbox to help strengthen and elevate your work.
[l8|André Persson]: The TRUTH About Investors, Publishing and Broken Player Promises
André Persson has spent 30 years in the industry working on some of the biggest and most impactful games. Learn how to design for investors, marketing and your players.
Masterclass Friday at a glance
The masterclasses will cover four key areas of game development: Design, Art, Business, and Narrative. While the workshops run, the Showcase Stage at the venue will remain open with a tailored speaker program designed especially for indies and students (program TBA).
All NG26 Spring passholders can attend the Masterclass Friday at no additional cost, with a dedicated Friday-only pass also available.
Passes for Nordic Game Spring 2026 are now available at nordicgame.com/registration, with the final price increase scheduled for 30 April. Nordic Game 2026 (NG26) returns on 26–29 May to Malmö, continuing its long-standing tradition of offering an accessible and welcoming meeting point for developers and industry professionals from across Europe and beyond.
ABOUT NORDIC GAME
Each spring Nordic Game brings together thousands of developers, publishers, investors, students, and creatives for four days of networking, inspiration, learning, and business opportunities.
It is the one and only “home turf” meeting place for the highly successful games industries of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden.
NG26 Spring, 26–29 May 2026 at Slagthuset in Malmö, is designed to be both affordable and accessible:
A Business Pass is just 50€on top of a standard conference pass.
Malmö is easy to reach - only a short train ride from Copenhagen Airport (CPH).
Thanks to this accessibility and value, we expect more than 3,000 attendees from the Nordic region and around the world.
The event will feature 100+ indie games on display in the Showcase Hall, alongside world-class speakers, masterclasses, pitching events, and unparalleled Nordic hospitality.
Whether you’re looking to connect with Nordic talent, discover the next breakout title, or do meaningful business, NG26 delivers exceptional value in an intimate yet truly international setting.
Welcome to Nordic Game!