Everything happening in the Ontario video games industry this week courtesy of Interactive Ontario and CONTINUE!

Toronto Declares June as Video Game Month

Mayor Olivia Chow has officially declared June as Video Game Month, celebrating the city’s globally recognized video game industry. Expect a packed calendar of events from massive esports tournaments to indie showcases and public gaming activations — all spotlighting the creativity, innovation, and talent thriving in Toronto.

• XP Game Summit brings together hundreds of video game professionals and companies for two days of business defining insights, networking, and deal making from June 12-13!
• Toronto Games Week kicks off with Giant Video Games, blending public play, design, and community in partnership with the city, OCADU and Interactive Ontario.
• VALORANT Masters lands in Toronto June 7–22, bringing 20,000+ fans, charity activations, and $40M in projected economic impact.
• Step into The G.R.I.D. at Toronto Games Week: a high-energy hub where indie devs, studios, and solo creators show off their games, get real feedback, and level up their ideas. It’s all about fresh eyes, big creativity, and connecting with a community that’s just as passionate about play as you are.

More information and a list of events can be found here.

Pixel Power Play Showcase Incoming

Keep your eyes on Pixel Power Play, an upcoming showcase spotlighting Ontario indie studios. With new games, dev insights, and opportunities to network, this event is a key part of Toronto Games Week and a celebration of grassroots game development.

Learn more about the exciting event here.

 

Learn & Level Up with Hand Eye Society Workshops

Hand Eye Society is hosting a series of free and low-cost workshops this summer, including Grant Writing for Creatives and an Intro to Unreal Engine. Whether you’re a dev or designer, these sessions are a great way to build skills and connect with Toronto’s creative gaming community.

Sign up for the event here. 

 

In Case You Missed It: Dark Slope Expands Partnership with Group Effort Initiative

Dark Slope has expanded its partnership with Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively’s Group Effort Initiative, a program dedicated to creating meaningful opportunities for underrepresented talent in the entertainment industry. Through the collaboration, participants gain hands-on experience in immersive media and virtual production, working directly with Dark Slope’s innovative teams. Playback recently spotlighted the partnership, highlighting its growing impact on building more inclusive creative careers in Canada. It’s a strong step toward making the industry more accessible — and sustainable — for emerging talent.

Check out some more details on the initiative here.

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Stay tuned for more updates on everything happening in the Ontario video game and immersive industries!