KUCHING: The winners of the Sarawak Game Developer’s Community (SwkGDC) Game Jam 2025 proudly represented Sarawak at LEVEL UP KL 2025, Southeast Asia’s premier game developers conference, held from 6 to 8 October at the Connexion Conference & Event Centre (CCEC), Bangsar South, Kuala Lumpur.
Organised by the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC), the annual event brought together regional and international developers, publishers, investors and creative professionals to exchange ideas, foster collaboration and showcase innovations within the gaming industry.
Three winning teams from the SwkGDC Game Jam 2025 – ‘Fracture’ by Team Custom, ‘Unseen’ by Team MADEVS, and ‘CubeCat’ by Team Zerose – were given the opportunity to exhibit their game prototypes at the conference.
Supported by the Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation (SDEC), the teams showcased Sarawak’s growing presence in the creative digital sector while gaining exposure to industry leaders and potential collaborators.
SDEC’s Acting Head of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Khairool Adzelan Aman, expressed his optimism about Sarawak’s potential within the creative industry.
“People can look forward to a future where Sarawak’s animation and gaming industry stands shoulder to shoulder with global creators.
“SDEC’s role is to open doors – nurturing talent, fostering collaboration and transforming Sarawak’s creative potential into games and experiences that inspire the world,” he said.
Following the conference, SDEC organised an industry studio tour for the winners and members of the SwkGDC community on 9 October, where participants visited PlayStation Studios Malaysia for a behind-the-scenes experience and career-focused workshop.
They also toured Passion Republic Studios and took part in a dialogue with members of the Singapore Games Association (SGGA) to exchange insights on the regional game development landscape.
The successful participation of the SwkGDC Game Jam winners at LEVEL UP KL underscores SDEC’s ongoing efforts to cultivate Sarawak’s digital creative talent.
Through collaboration with CtrlD Studio, which mentored the winners and helped refine their prototypes, SDEC continues to strengthen pathways connecting Sarawak’s talent with industry networks and global opportunities.
Adding to Sarawak’s achievements at the event, homegrown studio CtrlD earned a nomination for the SEA Games Award’s Grand Jury category for its tower defence game, OverHours.
CtrlD Studio co-founder, Suan Goh, described the recognition as an unexpected but pleasant surprise.
“I believe the judges saw the potential of our game, and that acknowledgment truly means a lot to our team,” she said.
SDEC reaffirmed its commitment to empowering Sarawak’s creative ecosystem by providing ongoing support, mentorship and exposure for the region’s digital innovators, paving the way for a vibrant and sustainable future for the state’s creative economy.
