The Institute of Digital Games at the University of Malta Hosts the Largest DiGRA Conference in History
Malta, 9 July 2025 — The Institute of Digital Games (IDG) at the University of Malta is proud to announce the resounding success of DiGRA 2025, the flagship annual conference of the Digital Games Research Association. Held from 30 June to 4 July 2025, this year’s edition was not only a landmark event for Malta, but also the most internationally attended and expansive DiGRA conference to date.
With a record-breaking number of submissions and over 500 delegates representing countries from every continent, DiGRA 2025 has set a new precedent for the global games research community. Scholars, designers, cultural practitioners, and academics came together to explore this year’s theme: “Games at the Crossroads.” The conference delved into the evolving intersections of game studies, design, culture, and interactive media in a rapidly shifting world.
This marks the first time DiGRA has been hosted in Malta, and the first time the Institute of Digital Games took the lead in organising the conference — a milestone achievement that reinforces Malta’s growing role as a hub for innovation in digital culture and interactive media research.
This year’s keynote lineup embodied that intersectional spirit, featuring voices who interrogate games through the lenses of history, politics, communication, and identity:
- Rasheed Abueideh, Palestinian game designer and creative director of Liyla and The Shadows of War, shared insights into designing under occupation and previewed his new project focused on the 1948 Nakba.
- Dr Aphra Kerr, Professor at University College Dublin and Co-PI at the ADAPT Centre, reflected on her decades-long work in game labour and policy, sharing learnings from her Creative Europe-funded development project.
- Omar N'Shea, based at the University of Malta, bridged archaeology, queerness, and storytelling, presenting work on bureaucratic violence in the Assyrian Empire and a Maltese translation of the Epic of Gilgamesh.
The presence of these keynotes enriched the programme and affirmed the conference’s commitment to amplifying diverse, critical voices in the field.
“Hosting DiGRA 2025 in Malta is more than just an academic milestone,” said Dr Daniel Vella, Director of the Institute of Digital Games. “It’s about creating a vibrant space for critical conversations in game studies to thrive — right here in the Mediterranean.”
The programme committee chairs, including the University of Malta's very own Prof. Krista Bonello Rutter Giappone, played an integral role in bringing the conference together. "We received a record number of 543 submissions - a sure sign of a growing community, showcasing a remarkable diversity of research interests," shared Prof. Giappone.
This year, DiGRA also launched the first DiGRA plenary platform for Early Career Researchers and Precariously Positioned scholars - in Prof. Krista's words, this was "an initiative to actively create spaces that facilitate and foster the engagement and visibility of scholars who are starting out, or who lack institutional support for their academic work."
We express gratitude to the local organising team: Jasper Schellekens, Soha Naveed, Dr Costantino Oliva, Christian Paller, David Melhart, and our student volunteers!
The success of DiGRA 2025 was made possible through the generous support of key partners, including: Malta Tourism Authority, Gaming Malta, Mighty Boards, Eludamos: Journal for Computer Game Culture, the Italian Institute of Culture, and the Valletta Local Council.
Stay Connected
To follow up on the outcomes of DiGRA 2025, discover ongoing research, or keep up with events at the Institute of Digital Games, sign up for our !
