Where UGC Gaming's Power Players Gathered
- Mar 17
- 4 min read
A Tencent investor telling two young Roblox developers they’re going to be huge isn’t something you see at most game industry events. But that’s what happened during the UGC Gaming Breakfast I hosted last week at the Game Developers Conference (GDC).
At one point during the event, an investor from Tencent, the largest gaming company in the world by revenue, was chatting with two brothers from an emerging Roblox studio that has found success on the platform.
He was praising their work. “You guys are going to be huge,” he told them sincerely. Watching that moment unfold was special for me, and I'm sure it meant a lot to the developers. Seeing these two worlds connect in person felt like a glimpse of where the broader gaming industry is headed.
A Room Full of UGC Gaming Builders
The breakfast brought together 50 people from across the UGC gaming ecosystem. Attendees included leaders from Epic Games, Tencent, Xbox, PlayStation, TikTok, Mattel, NASCAR, Toei Animation and top Roblox studios like Do Big, along with venture investors, creators, and platform partners.
Special shoutout to the event sponsors Moonbug (Ed Barton and Danny Spronz), Sawhorse (Nic Hill), and Gamebeast (Zander Brumbaugh and Rob Pereyda), whose support helped make this incredible gathering possible.
What made the morning interesting wasn’t just the attendee list. It was the conversations happening across the room. Investors were meeting developers. Brands were asking creators about integrations. Studios were comparing notes on what’s working on Roblox. The room felt like a miniature version of the increasingly mighty and influential UGC gaming industry.
Three Signs the Industry is Shifting
A few themes stood out from the conversations.
Institutional capital is leaning in
One of the most important signals was the presence of serious institutional investors. Firms like Raine Group were in attendance. Raine previously invested in Voldex, the company who acquired the massive Roblox game Brookhaven, and they continue to show strong conviction in the space. This is significant.
These aren’t hobbyist investors chasing trends. These are professional investors whose job is to identify emerging platforms early and back the companies building on them. Their presence reinforces something I’ve been seeing for a while: UGC gaming is becoming a legitimate investment category.
Traditional gaming companies are paying attention
Another theme was the number of traditional gaming companies trying to better understand Roblox. People connected to Xbox, PlayStation, and Nazara were in the room asking questions and making connections.
Traditional gaming companies increasingly recognize that creator-driven platforms are reshaping how games are built and discovered. But many are still early in understanding how these ecosystems work.
Roblox creators are building real businesses
Another encouraging signal was the mindset of many of the developers in the room. These creators aren’t just thinking about launching games. They’re thinking about building studios.
They’re exploring how to:
scale teams
raise capital
partner with brands
grow a portfolio of games
As Roblox matures, more creators are evolving into founders and entrepreneurs, not just developers.
Real Opportunities Are Forming
One of the best parts of the breakfast was seeing new opportunities start to form in real time. After the event, I followed up with a few introductions between investors and one of the top Roblox studios that attended.
The studio already has around 50 full-time employees and is looking to continue expanding its portfolio and growing its business. Interestingly, when I spoke with them afterward, they hadn’t connected with several of the investors who were in the room.
So I followed up to see if those investors would be open to introductions. The investors I reached out to replied yes, and I connected them so those conversations could continue and potentially lead to future partnerships.
This is why I love bringing these gatherings to life. When the right people are in the room, good things happen.
Building a Meeting Ground for UGC Gaming
The goal of these events is simple: create a meeting ground for the UGC gaming ecosystem. A place where developers, brands, investors, and platforms can connect and learn from each other. So far the focus has been on bringing the right people into the room.
My vision is to make these gatherings even more valuable through expert talks, sharing insights, and structured conversations among attendees. By helping people understand the ecosystem faster and connect more intentionally, we can accelerate the growth of the entire UGC gaming space.
What’s Next
Interest in UGC gaming is accelerating. Investors are paying attention. Developers are building studios. Traditional gaming companies are trying to understand the shift.
And one of the best ways to understand what’s happening is simply to be in the room. Max Power Gaming will be continuing these gatherings at several upcoming industry events.
If you’re interested in sponsoring a future Max Power Gaming event at one of these conferences, please drop me an email:
GamesBeat Summit (Los Angeles, May)
Gamescom (Cologne, August)
Roblox Developers Conference (San Jose, September)
Tokyo Game Show (Tokyo, September)
These events bring together the developers, investors, brands, and platforms shaping the future of UGC gaming. Join us in leading the conversation as the UGC gaming industry continues to grow by leaps and bounds.
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