Indie Superboost: Marketing & Discoverability Bootcamp 2025 Registration is OPEN!
Interactive Ontario is officially launching our 2025 edition of our acclaimed ISB Marketing & Discoverability Bootcamp! This one-day, in-person workshop is designed to equip Ontario game studios with actionable marketing strategies. This intensive session brings together expert-led programming and exclusive industry access to help studios stand out in today’s competitive landscape.
Program Overview
- Date: June 11, 2025
- Time: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM ET
- Location: HQ, Creative Enterprise Hub, Toronto Metropolitan University (Toronto)
- Format: In-person, for 10 selected Ontario studios (2 reps per studio)
- Includes: Tailored workshops along with expert guidance, and 2 VIP passes to XP Game Summit 2025 ($1000+ value)
- Cost: $149 + HST (IO/CIAIC members) | $299 + HST (non-members)
- Apply by: May 23 at 5:00 PM ET
Programming includes:
- Platform Marketing → Krysta Yang (Co-Founder at NeverAMinute Consulting)
- Branding & Influencer Marketing Presentation → Krysta Yang (Co-Founder at NeverAMinute Consulting)
- Community Building & Management Workshop → Jenny Windom (Senior Influencer Manager at Kepler Interactive)
Why participate?
- Receive a framework for building an effective and thorough marketing plan for your video game product.
- Our industry-leading experts have hand-made each facet of their programming to equip you and your studio with actionable strategies to implement into your marketing, promotional, and commercialization efforts immediately.
- VIP pass privileges to XP Game Summit 2025 will allow participants to connect with industry professionals and potential stakeholders after the conclusion of the bootcamp, maximizing company efforts during their time in Toronto.
- Travel support: 2 selected studios from outside the GTA will receive travel & accommodation coverage (June 10–12), supported by Ontario Creates.
Thank you to the Canada Media Fund, Ontario Creates, Xsolla, Ubisoft Toronto, Toronto Metropolitan University & the Trade Commissioner Service for supporting the ISB program.
XP Game Summit 2025 Pitch Competition & Exclusive IO Member XP Discount
Opportunity: XP Indie Pitch Competition at XP Game Summit 2025
Our friends at XP are inviting Ontario indie studios to apply for the XP Indie Pitch Competition presented by Ubisoft — a high-impact opportunity to pitch live on stage to a panel of publishers and investors during XP Game Summit 2025.
Five selected studios will receive a complimentary conference pass, expert pitch coaching, and the chance to compete for the title of Best Pitch at XP Game Summit 2025, plus two VIP All Access Passes to all XP-produced events across Canada in 2026.
Why apply?
- Gain exposure in front of publishers, investors, and a live audience
- Receive pitch coaching from industry expert Jason Della Rocca (Execution Labs)
- Win valuable passes to Canada’s top games business events
- Boost your pitch skills and visibility with direct industry feedback
The competition will be hosted by Jason Della Rocca, one of the industry’s top pitch advisors.
Submit your game now to be considered for this unique opportunity.
Reminder for IO Members: You receive 20% off all XP Game Summit 2025 tickets — don’t forget to use your member code when purchasing your tickets! Your code can be found in the Membership Hub, or by contacting our team directly.
See you in June!
Get Feedback That Matters at The G.R.I.D
As part of Toronto Games Week, The G.R.I.D. (Games Reviewed In Development) is launching its inaugural peer-to-peer playtesting event, designed specifically for indie teams, solo developers, and studios working on in-development games. Taking place June 13 from 6–9pm at George Brown College (3 Lower Jarvis Street), this closed-door, structured session offers meaningful, actionable feedback from fellow developers and experienced playtesters. Whether you’re in early prototyping or refining your final build, The G.R.I.D. is your opportunity to grow your project with insight from peers who understand the challenges of game creation. Spots are limited.
How to Attend:
- Developers: Apply here
- Playtesters: Apply here
- Media: Apply here
Deadline to apply: May 14th, 11:59 pm ET.
Learn more about this opportunity at The G.R.I.D Website
$30M Fund for Indie Developers — Apply Now
Blue Ocean Games, a Toronto-based fund backed by Krafton (publisher of PUBG), has launched a $30 million fund to support 100 indie game developers over the next three years. The fund offers up to $300,000 per team at the concept stage, with a focus on bold, original IPs that typically fall outside traditional investment models. This fund is available worldwide.
Using a new investment structure called SAIL (Structured Agreement for Indie Launch), the fund provides:
- Early-stage funding (pre-playable)
- IP ownership retention
- Revenue-sharing & equity hybrid terms
- Mentorship, bookkeeping, and incorporation support
- Cohort-based collaboration with other indies
Developers can apply directly or enter the Rising Tide challenge, which is open from May 1-31, 2025, in partnership with Global Game Jam. Winners receive fast-tracked interviews for funding. Winning the Rising Tide challenge will also check the “Market Validation” box to receive funding from this program.
This opportunity is ideal for solo creators and small teams ready to pitch ambitious new projects.
IO Partner Spotlight
At JALI Research (JALI Inc.), they’re all about helping creators bring characters to life. Based in Toronto, JALI specializes in cutting-edge automated lip sync and facial animation software that allows game developers, studios, and digital artists to create realistic, expressive character performances that can speak in multiple languages — on time, on budget, and on model. Their tools fit seamlessly into existing workflows, making it easier to produce lifelike animations, whether for games, series or feature, or any other interactive experiences.
JALI’s impressive roster of partners, including Xbox, Obsidian, Riot Games, and CD Projekt Red, speaks to their impact in the gaming and entertainment industries. These partnerships help reinforce JALI’s position as a go-to flexible solution for 3D character animation, whether for cinematic and feature-quality animation or for massively scalable run-time animation. Check out one of their most recent projects with Don’t Nod Montreal.
