Even with the challenges of war and an uncertain industry, Ukrainian studios keep thriving with creativity and new ideas. At Gamescom, they’re bringing everything from fresh games to innovative platforms, while openly sharing their vision of the risks and future of the industry.
Here’s a first look at four of the teams you’ll meet at the Games from Ukraine booth: Farom Studio, adWMG, The Future Entertainment Company, and Templar Order. More studios and service providers will also be joining us in Cologne, so stay tuned. Now, let’s meet some of the awesome people behind these companies!
What We’re Bringing to Gamescom
From useful tools for businesses to new titles that will impress players, Ukrainian devs are demonstrating a wide range of projects this year.
Maksym, adWMG:
“At Gamescom this year, adWMG will be introducing our newly developed platform for player acquisition services, specifically designed to help console game advertisers reach gaming audiences across mobile, web, and CTV screens.
We’re excited to showcase our AI-generated targeting technology, which is already delivering outstanding performance and optimization across campaigns. To celebrate this launch, we’re offering a trial period for any new customer interested in exploring our capabilities. “
Kseniia, The Future Entertainment Company:
“We believe our demo will surprise players and publishers alike with just how far we’ve pushed a small indie team’s capabilities.
We’re revealing our upcoming post-apocalyptic action roguelike RPG with co-op support, crafted in Unreal Engine 5 with bleeding-edge visuals and deep systemic gameplay. Our encounters feel dynamic and deadly, a handcrafted world of industrial ruins and hostile wilderness based on real-world locations.”
Danylo, Templar Order:
“We’ll be showcasing a prototype of our innovative game – Armageddonica! It’s a Hack-and-Slash / RTS mix. The idea was born back in 2005: what if you could play as an overpowered necromancer? We were inspired by the vibe of classic RTS games, but wanted the gameplay to feel light and relaxing, like Vampire Survivors.
Remember playing Warcraft 3 as a kid? You’d just select your entire army and battle – no deep strategies, just roleplaying a commander. That’s the core idea of Armageddonica, to capture the feeling of leading an army, to give players that casual, commanding RTS vibe in a modern form.”
Why We Do What We Do
Behind every project is a philosophy: from empowering global visions to simplifying complex tech, these studios share what drives them.
Nataliia, Farom Studio:
“We are all about empowering global visions. Your ideas, our catalyst for product excellence.
We’ve spent five years in full‑cycle outsourcing and fourteen years building games. Unreal Engine is our speciality. Our CTO and Lead Tech Artist mentor every coder and 3D artist, so skills stay sharp. We’ve shipped projects of every size and walked each production stage on our own internal titles. That hard‑won experience keeps our partners on schedule and out of trouble.”
“What we do is simplify complicated technologies. At adWMG, we serve as a bridge between the gaming and programmatic advertising industries, helping game publishers and advertisers connect with the right audiences at scale.
With over 11 years of experience, we bring deep industry knowledge and innovation to every campaign. Our team operates globally with a strong presence in Ukraine, the UK, and the USA, allowing us to support clients across multiple regions and time zones. We’re passionate about gaming, driven by data, and committed to delivering real results.
“We’re a Ukrainians-founded studio born from resilience and passion. Our team combines AAA technical expertise with indie-level hunger – many of us came from virtual production, game development, and VFX, and we’re channeling that experience into something bold.
Team-built custom tools for game production allow us to create faster, smarter, and leaner – from asset pipelines to narrative systems. Our goal isn’t just to ship a game; it’s to build a new way of building games.”
“We’re a team of like-minded people fueled by incredible enthusiasm. Many of us bring years of experience, while for some, this is their very first project, but we’re all united by a shared vision, and that’s something truly special.
It’s deeply symbolic that we’re creating this project during such a difficult time of war – perhaps it was karmically inevitable.”
What’s Exciting and Worrying in Game Dev Right Now
Let’s find out what excites developers and service providers about gaming’s future, and what keeps them awake at night. You’ll likely share some of these feelings — and maybe pick up a topic to discuss in Cologne.
“The biggest worry for us is the flood of low‑quality games is racing to market, saturating the shelves.
As for inspiration, I’d say it’s the pivot from huge AAA budgets to leaner AA scope – top‑tier quality without the price tag.”
“We’re really excited about the rise of hybrid monetization models in gaming. Game publishers can both sell their games and integrate non-intrusive, in-game advertising, giving players the freedom to choose how they engage: pay upfront or watch ads to keep playing. This model respects user choice while unlocking sustainable revenue for developers.
What concerns us is that not all ad tech is designed with gamers in mind. Poorly integrated ads can harm the player experience and backfire on the publisher. That’s why at adWMG, we focus on seamless, player-friendly ad experiences that add value rather than disrupt gameplay.”
“What worries us is the growing homogenization of games – open worlds that feel empty, systems that copy each other, and creativity squeezed by monetization. We want to fight back against that with risky, soulful design that rewards curiosity and experimentation.
We’re most excited about the new generation of tools for development pipelines – not to replace creativity, but to supercharge it helping with documentation, prototyping and alike.”
“We’re deeply concerned about the growing politicization of the industry. Games are no longer made for the soul, as they once were. Now they’re created for profit or to align with political agendas, especially in Western markets.
Another issue is how massively ‘bloated’ many games have become, both in budget and development time, sometimes taking nearly a decade to complete. We believe that’s not the right approach. A game should be, above all, about the experience – and imagination is more than capable of filling in the visuals. A game should be treated like a work of art – something crafted to live on for decades.”
The Bright and Dark Sides of Game Dev Right Now
Every industry carries risks, but in Ukraine’s case, hidden strengths are emerging from even the toughest times.
“Among the biggest risks, we see burnout and talent drain. Recent waves of layoffs thinned the ranks.
As for the hidden strengths, studios now aim for smaller, high‑quality titles that don’t swallow whole budgets. The industry keeps moving, and its influence is larger than many realise.
The key challenge for any game developer in Ukraine now is morale. This year hit harder than any before, so our first job is to keep the team steady. Security is table stakes; we treat it as a given.”
“One of the biggest risks in the gaming industry today is the growing challenge of traffic quality. As advertising budgets shift more heavily into gaming, there’s increased pressure to ensure that user acquisition and engagement are real, not driven by bots or low-quality sources. Fraudulent traffic can damage trust and drain budgets, especially in performance-driven campaigns.
At the same time, one of the gaming industry’s hidden strengths lies in its ability to deliver real users in a bot-free environment through trusted partnerships and transparent performance tracking. When the ecosystem is built on quality and integrity, both advertisers and publishers benefit. At adWMG, we’ve seen firsthand how verified users and measurable results lead to sustainable revenue growth on both sides.”
What We’d Like the World to Hear
Above all, Ukrainian developers want to remind the industry what resilience looks like and why their voices matter more than ever.
“We’ve already proved we can meet deadlines under shelling. Give us a task, and you’ll get it back on time and at spec.”
“Ukrainian game developers continue to show incredible talent, creativity, and resilience. Despite the challenges of recent years, they remain a powerful force in the global gaming industry, delivering world-class games, innovative ideas, and technical excellence.
The international industry should know: Ukraine is not just holding its ground, it’s moving forward. With a rich pool of skilled developers, artists, and engineers, Ukraine continues to be a hub for innovation and collaboration. Supporting Ukrainian studios today means investing in the future of gaming.”
“Ukrainian developers are not just surviving, they’re thriving, innovating, and delivering against the odds. We’ve learned to solve impossible problems with limited resources, and it forged a culture of boldness and creativity that’s hard to replicate.
If you’re looking for raw talent, hard-earned grit, and a team that turns adversity into fuel, look into Ukraine. We’re not just catching up to the global industry, we’re building the future of it.”
“We create under bombs. That’s been our studio’s motto ever since we first traveled abroad. Creating under the threat to your life is nothing like working in normal conditions. It makes you truly understand the value of what you’re doing. You begin to realize what you live for.
A creator cannot be separated from their creation.Do you remember the last words of Archimedes? “Kill me, but don’t touch my drawings!” Today, those words speak for us – Ukrainian artists.”
Discover Ukraine’s game studios and services at Gamescom 2025. Visit the Games from Ukraine pavilion in Hall 4.1 (business zone), stand C-020g to connect, explore opportunities, and meet these teams along with other participants at the pavilion!
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