London is preparing for an exciting celebration of gaming this spring. The 2025 London Games Festival will run from April 2-13, bringing together gamers, developers, and industry professionals for nearly two weeks of events across the city. This year’s festival features an impressive lineup including New Game Plus, the prestigious BAFTA Games Awards, Games Finance Market, Screen Play, and creative exhibitions like Now Play This.
The festival continues to grow in both scope and significance within the global gaming landscape. Visitors can look forward to experiencing the Trafalgar Square Games Festival, which transforms one of London’s most famous public spaces into a gaming playground. The London Video Game Orchestra will also perform on April 13 at Cadogan Hall, offering a musical celebration of gaming’s greatest soundtracks.
For those working in the industry, the Games Finance Market (April 8-9) provides crucial networking opportunities, while experimental game design will be showcased at Somerset House during the Now Play This exhibition. The festival balances entertainment with serious industry development, making it relevant for casual gamers and professionals alike.
What To Expect From London Games Festival 2025
This year’s London Games Festival (LGF) is gearing up to be one of the biggest celebrations of games and interactive entertainment the UK has ever hosted. Running from April 2 to April 13, the festival promises a packed schedule of events that cater to gamers, developers, investors, and industry professionals alike.
Whether you’re an indie dev looking to network or a fan eager to discover the next breakout hit, LGF 2025 has something for everyone. Here’s a breakdown of what you can look forward to.
Major Events and Highlights
Games Finance Market (April 8–10)
The Games Finance Market returns as a key pillar of the festival, offering indie studios and developers a chance to pitch their projects to a curated lineup of global investors and publishers. With over £100 million in investment deals sparked by previous editions, this year’s market is expected to feature even more high-profile participants. Whether you’re seeking funding or scouting the next big thing, this is where a lot of the action happens behind the scenes.
Now Play This (April 6–14)
Held at Somerset House, Now Play This is where experimental games and playful experiences take center stage. This exhibition is known for blurring the lines between art, games, and technology. Expect hands-on installations, workshops, and talks that push the boundaries of what games can be. 2025’s edition is rumored to include several immersive VR and AR experiences that haven’t been shown anywhere else.
EGX Rezzed and the London Developer Conference
For those craving hands-on time with unreleased games, EGX Rezzed delivers. This showcase focuses heavily on indie titles, with playable builds and dev talks that offer insight into how these games are made. Alongside it, the London Developer Conference will cover hot topics like AI in game development, sustainability in games production, and the future of virtual production technologies.
The Games Showcase: World Premieres and Announcements
London Games Festival has steadily carved out a reputation as a platform for major game reveals. 2025 is no exception. Several publishers and developers are set to unveil new titles and expansions during The Official Selection, a curated showcase of the best upcoming games from around the world. Expect trailers, playable demos, and developer AMAs that dive deep into the creative process.
Whispers in the industry hint at a few AAA announcements, including highly anticipated sequels and major updates from top-tier studios. There’s also buzz about several UK-based developers choosing LGF 2025 as their stage for world premieres.
Cosplay Parade & Games Character Parade
One of the festival’s most vibrant and beloved traditions, the Games Character Parade, returns on April 13. Hundreds of cosplayers will march through central London, bringing iconic characters to life. Whether you’re participating or just watching, this spectacle draws huge crowds and showcases the creativity and passion of the gaming community. Expect photo ops, meetups, and some incredible craftsmanship on display.
BAFTA Games Awards (April 10)
The BAFTA Games Awards are an anchor event of the festival, recognizing the industry’s top talent across categories like Best Game, Game Design, Artistic Achievement, and more. With the ceremony scheduled for April 10, this year’s nominees reflect the diversity and innovation that define modern gaming. The awards often offer a glimpse into the critical darlings of the year and sometimes shine a spotlight on unexpected indie hits.
Games Careers Week (April 7–12)
For those interested in breaking into the games industry, Games Careers Week offers workshops, panels, and networking events designed to demystify the process. Whether you’re interested in programming, narrative design, marketing, or audio, there’s practical advice on how to get started. Several top studios will be recruiting, and there are opportunities to have your portfolio reviewed by seasoned professionals.
New for 2025: XR and AI-Focused Events
LGF 2025 will also feature a brand-new XR Summit, exploring the future of virtual, augmented, and mixed reality. Topics include immersive storytelling, VR in education and healthcare, and cross-platform game design. Additionally, the AI in Games Conference will highlight how artificial intelligence is reshaping everything from NPC behavior to procedural content generation.
Expect deep dives into how AI tools are being integrated into workflows for faster prototyping, world-building, and even adaptive storytelling. Several tech demos are rumored to be shown, offering a glimpse of what the next few years of AI-enhanced gaming could look like.
Where It’s Happening: Venues Across London
The festival spans multiple iconic venues across London, including:
- Somerset House
- Tobacco Dock
- BFI Southbank
- Guildhall Yard
There will also be satellite events in locations like Shoreditch, South Bank, and Soho, turning the city into a hub for gaming culture during the two-week run.
Get Involved: Tickets and Participation
Many events are free or ticketed individually, depending on the venue and activity. Whether you’re attending in person or joining via digital streams, there’s a flexible mix of options for how you can experience the festival.
Developers can still submit their games for The Official Selection, and cosplayers can register for the Games Character Parade through the LGF website.
Key Takeaways
- The 2025 London Games Festival runs April 2-13 with events including BAFTA Games Awards, New Game Plus, and the Trafalgar Square Games Festival.
- Industry professionals can connect at the Games Finance Market while creative exhibitions like Now Play This showcase experimental game design.
- The festival concludes with the London Video Game Orchestra performance at Cadogan Hall on April 13, celebrating gaming’s musical achievements.
Overview of the 2025 London Games Festival
With London Games Festival 2025 expanding its reach and scope, there’s never been a better time to experience the UK’s premier games event. From world premieres to insightful panels and a citywide celebration of all things gaming, LGF 2025 promises to be unforgettable.
The 2025 London Games Festival marks its 10th anniversary with what organizers call their biggest event yet. The 12-day celebration will showcase the best of gaming culture across multiple London venues with a diverse program of exhibitions, awards, and performances.
Genesis and Significance
The London Games Festival (LGF) has evolved into the UK’s largest games event, representing a collaborative effort between Games London, Film London, and UK Interactive Entertainment (Ukie). Backed by the Mayor of London, the festival celebrates the cultural and economic importance of video games while positioning London as a global hub for game development.
Since its inception, LGF has grown from a modest industry gathering to a city-wide phenomenon that attracts developers, publishers, investors, and gaming enthusiasts from around the world. The 2025 edition builds on this legacy as its 10th anniversary celebration, highlighting the maturation of gaming as an art form and its growing influence in mainstream culture.
Dates and Venue
The 2025 London Games Festival runs from Wednesday, April 2 to Sunday, April 13. Events will be distributed across iconic London locations including Trafalgar Square, Somerset House, and various community spaces throughout the city.
New Game Plus, a brand-new consumer expo, will take place on Thursday, April 3 and Friday, April 4. The prestigious BAFTA Games Awards ceremony is scheduled for Tuesday, April 8.
The festival concludes with a special performance by the London Video Game Orchestra at Cadogan Hall on Sunday, April 13 at 4:00 PM. Other key components include the Games Finance Market for industry professionals, Screen Play, and the family-friendly Trafalgar Square Games Festival that brings gaming experiences to public spaces.
Major Events at LGF 2025
The London Games Festival 2025 will feature several key events across its April 2-13 run, showcasing the best of gaming culture, business opportunities, and creative achievements in the industry.
New Game Plus Showcase
New Game Plus is making its debut at the 2025 London Games Festival on Thursday, April 3, and Friday, April 4. This consumer-focused expo will feature more than 30 games from developers around the world.
Visitors can expect hands-on experiences with upcoming titles across all gaming platforms. The showcase serves as the festival’s main exhibition space, replacing previous formats with a more accessible approach for gaming enthusiasts.
The event will likely highlight an official selection of games curated by the festival organizers. This new format aims to connect players directly with developers and publishers in an interactive environment.
Game demonstrations, developer presentations, and possibly special announcements of new titles can be expected during this two-day event.
BAFTA Games Awards Ceremony
The 21st BAFTA Games Awards will take place on Tuesday, April 8, as a centerpiece of the London Games Festival. This prestigious ceremony celebrates excellence in game design, storytelling, technical achievement, and performance.
Nominations have already been announced, recognizing outstanding games and creators from the past year. The awards highlight various categories including best game, narrative, artistic achievement, and technical innovation.
Performance categories will recognize voice actors and motion capture artists who bring game characters to life. The ceremony may also include ensemble awards for outstanding collaborative work.
As a highlight of the British gaming calendar, the BAFTA Games Awards attracts industry professionals, celebrities, and media attention. The ceremony helps elevate games as an art form and cultural medium.
Games Finance Market
The Games Finance Market will provide crucial business connections during the festival. This networking event brings together game developers and potential investors or publishers.
Participants can secure partnerships, funding, and publishing deals for new gaming projects. The market serves as a vital link between creative teams and the financial resources they need to bring their visions to life.
In partnership with AWS (Amazon Web Services), the event may offer technical support and cloud computing solutions for game developers.
The market highlights the business side of gaming, complementing the festival’s cultural and creative events. It demonstrates how London serves as a hub for both game development talent and investment opportunities.
Developers will likely have the opportunity to pitch their projects directly to decision-makers in structured meeting formats.
Exhibitions and Playtime
The London Games Festival 2025 offers diverse interactive experiences across multiple venues. Visitors can explore cutting-edge gaming installations and attend the brand-new consumer expo.
Interactive Installations
Several exhibition spaces throughout London will showcase innovative interactive entertainment during the festival. The popular “Now Play This” returns with experimental game designs and playable art installations that blur the line between games and interactive experiences. This event encourages visitors to engage with games in unconventional ways.
Screen Play will transform selected venues into immersive gaming environments where attendees can experience narrative-driven games. These installations highlight the artistic and storytelling aspects of game development.
The Trafalgar Square Games Festival creates a public celebration with large-scale interactive exhibits. Free to attend, this community-focused event brings gaming to one of London’s most iconic locations with hands-on demonstrations for gamers of all ages.
Consumer Games Expo
New Game Plus stands as the headline attraction for 2025, marking the festival’s first major consumer games expo. Running on April 3-4, this event gives the public direct access to upcoming titles from both major publishers and independent developers.
The expo features playable demos, developer meet-and-greets, and exclusive reveals of forthcoming games. Visitors can test unreleased titles and provide feedback directly to creators.
Gaming hardware manufacturers will also showcase their latest technologies. The expo includes dedicated areas for competitive gaming, VR experiences, and family-friendly gaming zones to ensure content for all audiences.
Industry professionals will present talks on game development processes and creative techniques throughout both days of the expo.
Additional Attractions
The London Games Festival 2025 offers several engaging attractions beyond the main events, providing cultural experiences and musical performances that celebrate gaming culture in unique ways.
Cultural Events
The festival features numerous side events across London that showcase the intersection of gaming and culture. Screen Play, a popular festival component, highlights the connection between video games and other art forms through exhibitions and interactive displays.
Trafalgar Square will transform into a gaming hub with free public activities for all ages. These include giant interactive installations, hands-on gameplay opportunities, and showcases of emerging gaming talent from across the UK.
DARKFIELD at The Ditch presents immersive audio experiences in complete darkness, creating uniquely atmospheric gaming narratives. Meanwhile, Sky High Retro Gaming offers nostalgic classics in unusual venues with spectacular views of London.
The Science Museum’s Power Up exhibition rounds out the cultural offerings with a hands-on journey through gaming history.
London Video Game Orchestra
The London Video Game Orchestra delivers powerful performances of iconic gaming soundtracks during the festival. This talented ensemble brings video game music to life through full orchestral arrangements.
Their performances typically feature music from both classic and contemporary games, often enhanced with synchronized visual elements from the games themselves. The 2025 concert is expected to include works from award-nominated titles featured at the BAFTA Games Awards.
The orchestra creates an immersive experience where gaming music receives the same prestigious treatment as classical compositions. Their performances have become a festival highlight, attracting both gaming enthusiasts and music lovers.
Concert dates will be announced as part of the festival schedule, with performances likely to take place in one of London’s premier concert venues.
Industry and Community Focus
The London Games Festival 2025 brings together various sectors of the gaming industry through dedicated professional events. These targeted programs foster connections between developers, publishers, investors, and emerging talent.
Industry Conference
The festival features a robust industry conference component where professionals share insights about market trends and technological advances. Key speakers from major studios and independent developers will present sessions on game development, marketing strategies, and emerging technologies.
UK Interactive Entertainment (Ukie), the trade body for the UK’s games industry, plays a central role in organizing conference tracks focused on business development and international partnerships. The conference provides networking opportunities through structured meetups and informal gatherings.
Industry experts will discuss crucial topics including sustainability in game development, ethical AI implementation, and accessibility features. These discussions aim to shape the future direction of the UK games industry while addressing current challenges.
Games Talent Development
The festival places special emphasis on nurturing new talent through dedicated programs. The Games Talent initiative offers workshops, mentorship opportunities, and portfolio reviews for emerging developers and students.
These development sessions connect newcomers with established industry professionals who provide guidance on career advancement and skill building. Small group sessions allow for personalized feedback on projects and portfolios.
The program includes specialized tracks for different disciplines such as programming, art design, narrative writing, and sound engineering. Participants gain valuable industry connections while learning practical skills directly applicable to their careers.
Student showcases highlight promising projects from UK universities and colleges, giving young developers visibility with potential employers and publishing partners.
Partnerships and Supporters
The 2025 London Games Festival brings together key partners to support the growth of gaming in the capital. The Mayor of London continues as a primary supporter, showing the city’s commitment to creative industries.
Games London, an initiative from Film London, serves as the main delivery organization for the festival. This partnership highlights the growing connection between gaming and other screen industries in London’s creative ecosystem.
The UK Interactive Entertainment Association (Ukie) works alongside the festival to promote British game development and publishing. Their involvement helps strengthen industry connections during events like the Games Finance Market.
Key Partners for 2025:
- Mayor of London
- Games London/Film London
- BAFTA
- EE
- Epic Games
- PlayStation
- The Langham
AWS (Amazon Web Services) has joined as a technical partner for 2025, providing cloud infrastructure for the festival’s digital components. This support enables new interactive experiences at venues across London.
The partnerships extend beyond funding to include promotional support, venue access, and technical resources. These collaborations allow the festival to expand its reach each year.
Many sponsors also participate directly in festival events, with industry experts from partner organizations appearing in panels and presentations throughout the 12-day program.
Media Coverage and Publicity
The London Games Festival 2025 is set to receive extensive media coverage across multiple platforms. Various outlets will showcase the festival’s diverse events through specialized programming and dedicated segments.
Film and Television Involvement
Several major networks plan to broadcast special coverage of the 2025 London Games Festival. BBC Gaming will feature daily highlights from New Game Plus and the BAFTA Games Awards ceremony. The producers have scheduled interviews with prominent game developers and industry leaders throughout the two-week event.
Channel 4 is creating a three-part documentary series exploring the games featured in the official selection. The series will focus on indie developers who are presenting their work at the festival for the first time.
Sky Arts will broadcast the BAFTA Games Awards live on April 8, 2025, with pre-show coverage beginning at 6:30 PM GMT. Their team will provide behind-the-scenes access and exclusive red carpet interviews.
Theatre Presentations
The Screen Play program will transform gaming narratives into theatrical performances at the National Theatre. These adaptations will feature professional actors bringing game characters to life through innovative staging techniques.
The Old Vic Theatre will host “Gaming Monologues,” where voice actors from popular games will perform dramatic readings of notable game scripts. This unique format highlights the storytelling aspects of modern gaming.
Interactive theatre company Punchdrunk is creating an immersive performance based on several festival-featured games. Audiences will move through specially designed spaces that blend digital projections with physical sets.
The Royal Court Theatre will present panel discussions with game writers, focusing on narrative development in gaming versus traditional media. These sessions will explore crossover opportunities between theatre and game design.
Frequently Asked Questions
The London Games Festival 2025 brings together multiple gaming events across the capital from April 2-13. Attendees can experience everything from award ceremonies to interactive exhibitions, with opportunities for both industry professionals and gaming enthusiasts.
What is the schedule for the BAFTA Games Awards during the 2025 London Games Festival?
The 21st BAFTA Games Awards will take place on Tuesday, April 8, 2025. This prestigious ceremony honors the best video games released in the past year.
The awards are a key component of the London Games Festival, which runs from April 2-13, 2025. This marks the 21st edition of the BAFTA Games Awards, celebrating excellence in gaming achievement.
How can one purchase tickets for the 2025 London Games Festival?
Tickets for the various London Games Festival events are available through the official London Games Festival website. Different events may have separate ticketing systems.
Some events may offer early bird discounts for those who purchase in advance. The festival typically offers both individual event tickets and festival passes that provide access to multiple attractions.
What are the featured events at the Trafalgar Square Games Festival?
The Trafalgar Square Games Festival features free public gaming activities in one of London’s most iconic locations. Visitors can expect playable game demos, interactive installations, and live performances.
The event transforms Trafalgar Square into a celebration of gaming culture accessible to all. Family-friendly activities and competitive gaming opportunities are typically available throughout this portion of the festival.
Which games have been selected for the Official Selection at the London Games Festival 2025?
The Official Selection for London Games Festival 2025 has not been fully announced yet. The curated list typically showcases innovative and noteworthy games from developers around the world.
Selected games often represent diverse genres and platforms. The Official Selection provides visibility for both established studios and independent developers working on groundbreaking projects.
What opportunities are available at the Games Finance Market for developers and investors?
The Games Finance Market takes place on April 8-9, 2025. This event connects game developers with potential investors and publishers through scheduled meetings and networking opportunities.
Developers can pitch their projects directly to funders seeking new investment opportunities. The market serves as an essential business development platform within the festival, helping to secure the future of game development.
How does the New Game Plus exhibition differ from other events at the London Games Festival?
New Game Plus is a new expo addition to the 2025 festival, showcasing playable games and innovative technologies. This exhibition appears to be a central focus for the 2025 festival, which organizers call “the biggest yet.”
Unlike other events, New Game Plus emphasizes hands-on experiences with upcoming and recently released games. The expo takes place on April 3-4, 2025, providing an early highlight within the festival’s programming schedule.
