CanAsia has its roots in something that already worked.
Before CanAsia became a Pacific Rim marketplace, there were two rooms at Signals where the games industry came together to have business conversations: Beta Lounge and XP Indie Games Biz.
They were not built around spectacle.
They were built around people.
Publishers met developers. Studios met potential partners. Business-development teams had conversations that could lead somewhere. Deals happened because the right people were in the same room.
CanAsia carries that idea forward.
Taking the conversation global
The games industry has changed dramatically, but the need for good connections has not.
A studio looking for a publishing partner needs to find the right publisher.
A publisher looking for new games needs access to strong studios.
An investor needs meaningful deal flow.
A company entering a new market needs people who understand that market.
Those conversations are much easier when there is a credible place to start.
CanAsia is designed to be that place for the Pacific Rim.
A bigger stage, the same purpose
The summit will take place in Vancouver during Web Summit Vancouver week.
Web Summit provides the global stage. CanAsia creates a dedicated environment for games and interactive media.
The model is two stages, one ecosystem, one week.
C-suite leaders, founders, investors and policymakers can connect through Web Summit, while producers, publishers and dealmakers have a focused place to meet on the CanAsia floor.
The two experiences work together.
Building something that lasts
The ambition goes beyond a single event.
CanAsia is intended to become a recurring marketplace connecting the Canadian games industry with partners across Asia and the Pacific Rim.
By bringing these communities together in Vancouver, BC has an opportunity to turn its existing international relationships into something larger.
Web Summit gave Vancouver a global stage. CanAsia is how BC builds a legacy from it.
CanAsia Game Summit takes place May 28–29, 2027.
If you are a publisher, studio, investor, trade organization or potential delegation partner, register your interest and join the conversation.