On 21–22 October 2025, the GAMEHEARTS Symposium convened researchers, policymakers, game creators, and leaders from the creative and cultural industries at the Imperial War Museum London. This 2-day event explored the social and cultural value of the video games sector, examining how Europe's gaming industry intersects with the broader creative economy. Hosted by a 3-year EU-funded international project led by the universities of Vienna and Salford, in partnership with Ubisoft, the Imperial War Museums, the London Symphony Orchestra, and City Football Group, the symposium provided a dynamic platform for knowledge exchange through panels, roundtables and showcases of research from GAMEHEARTS and other EU Horizon-funded projects on games and game culture.
MEGASKILLS was represented by Ruth Luzmore, Research Fellow at the University of Southampton, who presented on bridging skills gaps through commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) games methodology. Beyond the formal presentation, the symposium offered valuable opportunities to connect with fellow EU Horizon projects exploring the intersection of games, learning and social impact. These exchanges revealed promising synergies in research approaches, methodological frameworks and shared challenges in demonstrating the educational and cultural value of games. The historic setting of the Imperial War Museum, a global leader in communicating personal stories and experiences, provided a fitting backdrop for discussions on how games can bridge cultural, educational and skills development objectives in meaningful ways.
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