Pocket Gamer Connects London 2026: AI+Automation, Cross-Device QA, and Indie Games Highlights

by Tetyana Lykhitska | January 29, 2026 2:03 pm

We’re back from Pocket Gamer Connects London 2026 and ready to share our perspective on the event.  It was a real highlight for us. The atmosphere, energy, and a wide range of standout titles shaped a memorable experience. (Keep reading to see which games caught our attention the most. 😉) We came to the event to gather market insights, explore innovations, and connect with teams across the industry. Now, we’re ready to share our insights with you.

Across Pocket Gamer Connects London 2026: A Brief Overview

Vibrant. Emotional. Thrilling. Those are the words that best capture PG Connects London 2026. The attendees impressed us with the sheer creativity and diversity of their outfits – from dinosaur costumes and pink Little Pony looks to Star Wars cosplay. Beyond the main program, the schedule was packed with side events, internal parties, and even karaoke with prizes, keeping the atmosphere lively and engaging throughout.

The event gave us the opportunity to explore a wide range of new titles and engage directly with the teams behind them. These discussions provided honest insight into the challenges they face today, as well as their goals and plans. We brought these takeaways home to further refine our services and better support the evolving needs of the game market.

Insights from the Indie Game Scene: Slashers, Shooters, and Dark Fantasy    

The event featured many indie studios that impressed us with the diversity and creativity of their projects. We had the chance to play and interact with many demos, including slashers, strategy games, shooters, and racing titles – each offering a distinct gameplay experience. Dark fantasy was also widely represented across different settings and gameplay styles, from nostalgic, 90s-inspired pixel art to more modern interpretations. We expect this genre to continue evolving and gaining momentum, and we’ll be glad to support teams by helping ensure the quality these games deserve.

One particular highlight for us was a project that stood out for its strong visual identity, built around a hand-drawn aesthetic. All illustrations were created manually and then digitized, giving the game a distinctive, expressive look. The team shared that the game will feature nine levels, and we’re already looking forward to playing through them.    

Another project that impressed us with its unusual concept was a game that lets you control a character inside a social network. It’s built like a desktop interface – you navigate a Windows-like environment with social platforms inside it.

We’re excited to see indie games evolving and gaining visibility. We also support indie projects by featuring them in our Game Digest, where we highlight their strengths and unique ideas. If you’d like your game to be considered, feel free to reach out[1] – we’d be happy to review it, and it may be featured in an upcoming edition of our Game Digest.

Conversations on AI+Automation and Cross-Device Quality

AI was, of course, part of many conversations. If you stopped for a moment and listened to the background buzz across the venue, you were almost guaranteed to hear the word “AI” at least twice. 😄

Teams described AI as a practical tool that helps scale automation – now seen as essential to keep up with market pace and stay competitive. They were also curious about how we see the future of automation and testing evolving. We shared that we’re already actively integrating automation[2] into QA processes to help our partners accelerate delivery while saving resources. At the same time, we explained that we see the future in ROI-driven automation, focused on scenarios with the greatest impact and business value.    

Mobile game teams frequently raised the challenge of maintaining cross-device quality. We discussed how we help ensure stable game performance across various screen sizes and configurations through testing on real devices. With access to a pool of 500+ physical gadgets, our QA engineers can validate how games behave in real-world conditions across a wide range of usage scenarios.

What We’re Taking Home from Pocket Gamer Connects London 2026

We’re back from Pocket Gamer Connects London 2026, and here’s our main takeaway: the game industry is evolving fast, bringing new solutions and new quality challenges along with them. These topics formed the basis for many conversations in which our team shared hands-on experience and practical insights.

For us, gaining a clearer view of where the industry is heading, what teams are prioritizing, and which quality challenges feel most urgent was especially valuable. We’ll use these takeaways to refine our game testing services[3] and to support our partners with solutions that cover their real needs.

And if we didn’t get a chance to connect at the event – or if you’d like to continue the conversation – feel free to reach out[1]. We’re always happy to stay in touch and talk about how quality can support your product’s growth. Also, follow us on LinkedIn to stay up to date with future updates and industry insights.

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Related Posts:

• Balance adjustments in multiplayer games[5]
• Software Quality Trends in 2026: Key Changes Shaping Modern QA[6]
• What Happens When GenAI Meets IoT? Trends You Need To Know[7]

Source URL: https://blog.qatestlab.com/2026/01/29/pocket-gamer-connects-london-2026-aiautomation-cross-device-qa-and-indie-games-highlights/

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