Worldbuilder Summit 2025 Launches Creator-Centric Ecosystem
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Worldbuilder Summit 2025: A First‑Time Gathering for In‑Game Creators
On December 19, 2025, Forbes published an in‑depth look at the Worldbuilder Summit, the inaugural event designed specifically for the burgeoning community of creators who design and monetize immersive in‑game worlds. The article, written by Matt Gardner, pulls together a wide range of information—interviews, session outlines, and behind‑the‑scenes details—to give readers a clear picture of why the Summit is a watershed moment for the “creator economy” inside gaming.
What Is the Worldbuilder Summit?
At its core, the Summit is a hybrid conference that brings together developers, artists, narrative designers, and business strategists who build worlds inside popular game engines and platforms such as Unreal Engine, Unity, Roblox, and Epic’s own internal tools. According to the article, the Summit is organized by Epic Games in partnership with a slate of sponsors that includes Unity, Roblox, Microsoft, Amazon Web Services, and a host of emerging indie studios. Its mission is two‑fold:
- Education and Skill Building – Provide hands‑on workshops and deep‑dive panels on technical topics like level design, procedural generation, AI‑driven NPCs, and real‑time rendering.
- Business Enablement – Showcase ways creators can monetize in‑game assets, from direct sales to brand collaborations, and discuss legal frameworks like IP ownership and revenue sharing.
The event was held over three days (December 20–22, 2025) in Los Angeles, with a significant online component that allowed global participation. Registration was free for creators who had a published title or were actively working on a project in a supported engine.
Keynote Highlights
Gardner notes that the opening keynote was delivered by Epic Games’ Vice‑President of Community, who underscored the company’s commitment to nurturing a “creator‑centric ecosystem.” The speaker highlighted new Unreal Engine 6 features that simplify world partitioning and highlight the importance of “live‑world” experiences that can evolve over time.
A second keynote, given by a senior product manager at Roblox, focused on the economic model behind “Roblox Premium” and how creators can tap into that revenue stream. The talk also introduced the “Roblox Creator Fund,” a new initiative that awards seed capital to promising projects.
Sessions and Workshops
The Summit’s schedule was dense, with more than 60 sessions across four tracks. The article’s summary points out several standout offerings:
| Track | Session | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Technical | “Procedural Generation in Unreal Engine 6” | Deep‑dive into Blueprint scripts and C++ APIs |
| Business | “Monetizing in‑Game Worlds: A Practical Guide” | Revenue models, IP law, and brand partnerships |
| Creative | “Narrative Design in Open Worlds” | Interactive storytelling, branching quests, and emergent gameplay |
| Community | “Building a Creator Community on Discord” | Community management best practices, moderation tools |
Gardner also highlighted a “Live Demo” series where studios showcased their latest titles—ranging from a horror game built entirely in Unity to an educational sandbox created on Roblox—demonstrating the breadth of the creator ecosystem.
Networking and Pitch Opportunities
A major selling point of the Summit, as Gardner emphasized, was the pitch deck competition. Creators had 10 minutes to present to a panel of investors, platform reps, and industry veterans. The winning pitch received a $50,000 grant from a joint Epic‑Roblox fund and a year’s worth of cloud credits from AWS. Gardner quoted the winner, a small indie studio from Austin, saying, “This is the first time we’ve had a space that’s not just about showcasing our art but also about building a viable business.”
The event also hosted informal “networking lounges,” virtual or in‑person, that were designed to mimic a studio environment where creators could share tips on level design, shader tricks, or asset pipelines.
Broader Implications for the Creator Economy
The article concludes by reflecting on how the Summit fits into the larger trend of “games as a platform.” As gaming studios open up APIs and monetization tools to third‑party developers, the barrier to entry is falling. The Summit’s role, Gardner argues, is to formalize the support structure that has historically been piecemeal.
A quote from Unity’s CTO in the article reads: “We’re seeing an explosion of creators who want to bring their vision to life inside a sandbox. This Summit is a sign that the industry is finally catching up.”
Additional Resources
While the Forbes article itself is a rich summary, Gardner’s piece also includes links that deepen the context:
- Worldbuilder Summit Registration Page – Provides a detailed schedule, speaker bios, and the “pitch deck” submission portal.
- Epic Games’ Press Release – Outlines the official partnership agreements and new tools released ahead of the Summit.
- Roblox Creator Fund Page – Details eligibility criteria, funding tiers, and success stories.
- Unreal Engine 6 Release Notes – Offers a technical dive into the new features highlighted during the Summit.
Readers interested in following up can visit these links directly for further information on registration, speaker schedules, and the funding opportunities that were a central focus of the event.
Bottom Line
Matt Gardner’s article offers more than a simple recap; it contextualizes the Worldbuilder Summit as a pivotal moment where creative talent meets technological innovation and business opportunity. By bringing together the tools, the community, and the monetization pathways, the Summit is positioned to become a recurring fixture—perhaps the “Worldbuilder Conference” of the future—shaping the next generation of immersive experiences and the people who build them.
Read the Full Forbes Article at:
[ https://www.forbes.com/sites/mattgardner1/2025/12/19/worldbuilder-summit-debuts-as-first-event-for-in-game-creators/ ]