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Indie Jam 2026 Returns April 4–5 with 60 Games and a Bigger Regional Push
Indie Jam is scaling up for 2026, setting its fourth edition for April 4–5 at Management and Science University in Shah Alam, Malaysia, in partnership with the MSU Engage Talent Sync Expo 2026. Organised by THE MAGIC RAIN, the showcase is one of the largest ASEAN indie game line-ups in the country to date, with 60 playable games and demos spanning Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Brunei.
Free entry remains a major part of the pitch. Attendees will be able to try all 60 games on-site at no cost, while an official Steam event runs in parallel for anyone following from outside Malaysia. For developers and publishers watching the region, Southeast Asia’s indie scene is becoming easier to track in one place, rather than scattered across smaller, disconnected booths and one-off showcases.
What’s New for 2026: Pitching, Mentorship, and Career Pathways
Beyond the show floor, Indie Jam 2026 is leaning harder into industry infrastructure. A new pitch competition is being introduced with support from gamescom asia x Thailand Game Show, with the stated aim of helping studios earn a pathway to showcase at the larger October event.
Indie Jam 2026 is also continuing its student- and early-career-focused initiatives through mentorship, networking, and job-matching, in collaboration with regional partners including Women In Games Asia, Outcrowd Malaysia, and Digital Blacksmith School.
Industry talks will run throughout the weekend, featuring speakers from studios and publishers across the region and beyond. The programme is designed less like a formal conference track and more like an accessible, drop-in set of sessions for developers and students who want practical insight into production, publishing, and sustainable studio growth.
Games for Change Student Game Jam Makes Its Kuala Lumpur Debut
A notable new addition is the inaugural Games for Change Student Game Jam Kuala Lumpur, delivered in partnership with Games for Change Hong Kong and supported by MSU, Playing for the Planet, and Tencent Institute of Games. It’s part of a wider Games for Change Student Game Jam Asia series, with related jams also running in Singapore and Hong Kong in March.
The Kuala Lumpur jam focuses on environmental challenges, with winners evaluated through a mix of judging and public voting during Indie Jam 2026. Scholarships, workshop access, and a showcase invitation at Games for Change Hong Kong 2026 are among the prizes, with additional submission pathways into wider student and regional award programmes.
Online Programming Starts March 28 and Runs Through April 12
Indie Jam 2026’s schedule also stretches beyond the weekend event. Indie Jam Direct premieres on March 28 as a preview showcase for games and activities, timed alongside the launch of the Indie Jam Steam event running March 28 to April 12.
After the physical event, After Jam continues online from April 6–12, as a week-long livestream collaboration highlighting showcase titles through participating creators and partners.
