PartyChat: Shipping, Scaling, and Industry Shakes (ft. VR Cave, Snowed In Studios & Digital Alberta)

Party Chat
Written By Cory Sellar

Q3 Update Overview

The industry felt the ground shake with a $55B leveraged buyout of EA, yet in Albertan, studios secured Canada Media Fund (CMF) funding, crushing it at Gamescom, and moving closer towards shipping their game.

Welcome to the third quarter update for 2025 from Good Game Edmonton and Digital Alberta. On this latest PartyChat update, we were joined by two amazing guests who live and breathe the game development industry:

  • Nathaniel Rossol: Co-founder and CTO of Edmonton-based vrCAVE and Basement Bunker Labs. They’ve expanded from acclaimed multiplayer VR escape rooms to a rapidly expanding home market presence.

  • Travis Gibson: Board member at Digital Alberta and senior business development manager at Snowed In Studios. Travis offers key insights into co-development—the external "strike team" approach used on major titles like Starfield, Diablo 4, Forza Motorsport, and for managing Fallout Shelter's live operations.

ALBERTA IDM Q3 HIGHLIGHTS

Q3 was defined by Alberta studios making noise internationally and securing essential IDM funding at home:

Gamescom Success & The Pin Strategy

Alberta made a strong showing at Gamescom 2025 in Germany, with seven local studios representing the province. VR Cave's success demoing their new home market title, Heroes Together VR (formerly Project Mobius), was a highlight. The team successfully gathered close to 2,000 wishlists across Steam and Meta, proving the power of a strategic pin incentive.

Crucial CMF Innovation Funding

The Canada Media Fund (CMF) allocated $15.4 million toward 14 video game projects nationwide, and three of those vital supports came directly to Alberta studios: VR Cave (for Heroes Together VR), Lucid Rain Studios (Inferious), and Only by Midnight (Claire Audio). Nathaniel explained that this competitive CMF funding was transformative, enabling VR Cave to build a "full-blown, much larger, more expansive game" than originally planned.

New Launches & Community Milestones

  • Only by Midnight officially launched their turn-based strategy game, Control-Alt-Deal, on Steam in July.

  • Interactive Arts Alberta celebrated the 10th anniversary of the Game Discovery Exhibition (GDX), marking a major milestone for local engagement.

  • The Alberta Game Jam featured the theme "Onomatopoeia," with Lethbridge recording its highest turnout ever.

  • The Baby Ghosts Alberta accelerator was launched by Interactive Arts Alberta and the Walkthrough Collaborative Centre, providing $25,000 in funding and mentorship specifically for marginalized developers.

Industry Volatility: Layoffs, the EA Buyout, and Advice for Juniors

The conversation turned serious, covering the anxiety from major industry shakeups: layoffs at 2K’s Firaxis and Cloud Chamber, and the massive news of the $55 billion leveraged buyout of EA.

Despite the challenges, Travis and Nathaniel shared vital encouragement for new talent:

  • Juniors are Vital: Students coming out of programs like NAIT should recognize they are some of the "most important people in the industry". Smart studios will always value and develop juniors for the future.

  • The Industry Mantra: Travis emphasized that community support is key, advocating for the core message that "the rising tide lifts all boats".

Looking Ahead: Q4 Action in Alberta Esports and Indie Investment

The final months of 2025 are still packed with action for Alberta Game Development:

  • AGS Recap & Investment: The Alberta Game Series (AGS) focused on "Sustainable Indies and the pathway to Double A." Pitch competition winners are headed to Game Invest West in Banff to meet investors and publishers.

  • Esports Education: NorQuest College launched an Introduction to Esports micro-credential—a 32-hour foundational course covering the business, marketing, and emerging trends of the scene.

  • ASEL Championship Venue Search: The Alberta Scholastic Esports League (ASEL) is accepting venue proposals until October 31st for the 2026 Alberta Esports Championship, the country's largest scholastic esports event.

  • Charity Gaming: Don’t miss the Extra Life Edmonton Game Day on November 8th at the WEM Ice Palace, raising money for the Stollery Children's Hospital.

  • Digital Alberta Revamp: Travis teased that Digital Alberta is revamping its membership program to focus on giving greater value to its members.

Q3 CLOSING REMARKS

That’s your Q3 PartyChat update! Alberta is still building, adapting, and shipping incredible games. As gamers and enthusiasts, remember to follow these game developers and their projects on social, discord. Most importantly, wishlist or buy Alberta-made games!

Got an update for us next time? Send us a note.

Important Links for Game Developers and Fans alike

Cory Sellar
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Inside the Alberta Scholastic Esports League with Shadi Hanna