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Ken Kutaragi, the Sony executive widely known as the “Father of PlayStation,” will headline a conversation about games and digital creativity at Game Republic New Horizons in Middlesbrough. The conference runs from 14 to 16 October 2026 at Riverside Stadium, bringing developers, investors, technology companies and creative-industry leaders to Teesside.
Who is the Father of PlayStation?
Ken Kutaragi is the Sony engineer and executive associated with the original PlayStation and its early successors. His work helped turn Sony’s first console into a major games platform, making him one of the most influential figures in modern video-game history.
At New Horizons, Kutaragi is scheduled to appear in conversation with Chris Dring, a journalist from The Game Business. The session is intended as an industry discussion rather than a consumer-facing product presentation. Kutaragi said he was “absolutely delighted to be part of the show” and looked forward to sharing his experience, lifetime of innovation and views on future opportunities with attendees.
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Kutaragi is the headline guest at Game Republic New Horizons, a three-day games-industry conference at Riverside Stadium. His appearance gives the event an international profile while putting its central themes—innovation, investment and the future of interactive entertainment—into focus.
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The programme is designed for people working in or around games, including studio teams, investors, technology providers and other creative businesses. It is therefore different from a public gaming convention built mainly around playable releases, cosplay or entertainment attractions.
Game Republic New Horizons: dates, venue and programme
- Dates: 14–16 October 2026
- Venue: Riverside Stadium, Middlesbrough
- Format: talks, technical sessions, investment meetings, showcases, masterclasses and business workshops
- Focus: games development and its connections with the wider creative industries
Invest in Middlesbrough expects more than 200 leaders to attend the 2026 event. That figure is an expectation, not a final attendance result; a confirmed total for the 2026 conference has not been published in the available reporting.
What attendees can do there
The mix of sessions is intended to support both practical development work and commercial relationships. Technical sessions and masterclasses address production and technology issues, while investment meetings and business workshops create opportunities to discuss funding, partnerships and growth. Showcases give studios a way to present projects to an industry audience.
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How large is the event?
Game Republic reported that its inaugural 2025 event attracted more than 250 developers from the UK, Europe, the United States and Japan. That international turnout provides context for the 2026 programme, although it should not be treated as the final number for this year’s conference.
| Measure | Reported figure | What it represents |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 inaugural event | Over 250 developers | Attendance reported by Game Republic in 2026 coverage of the 2025 event; participants came from the UK, Europe, the US and Japan. |
| 2026 New Horizons expectation | More than 200 leaders | Projection from Invest in Middlesbrough for the Middlesbrough conference; final attendance remains unpublished. |
Why Teesside is being presented as a gaming hub
New Horizons is part of a broader effort to position Teesside as a base for games and digital-creative work. Regional reporting identifies local or regional participants and partners including Red Kite Games, Xsolla, Double Eleven, Landfall and IO Interactive. Their involvement places the conference within an existing network of studios, publishers, service companies and creative organisations rather than presenting it as a one-off celebrity appearance.
The event also connects games with the wider creative economy. Workshops and meetings can cover the business conditions that determine whether studios can recruit, secure investment, ship projects and scale. International speakers and the 2025 developer turnout support Teesside’s ambition to attract attention beyond the North East.
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Industry platform, not proof of a complete transformation
A successful conference can improve visibility, connections and deal-making, but it does not by itself establish that the North East has become a fully formed gaming capital. The available figures show strong interest and international participation; they do not provide a complete regional employment, investment or studio-growth measurement. New Horizons is best understood as a platform through which that growth is being pursued and demonstrated.
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Who is the conference for?
- Games developers seeking technical learning, collaborators or showcase opportunities
- Studio founders and business leaders looking for investment or partnerships
- Investors assessing games and digital-creative businesses
- Technology companies supporting production, distribution or live services
- Creative-industry organisations interested in games-related work
Consumers can follow the event’s announcements and showcases, but the programme is primarily structured around professional access, meetings and knowledge exchange.
Quick Recap
What to watch during the 2026 event
- Kutaragi’s conversation: his account of PlayStation’s development and his perspective on future opportunities.
- Technical sessions and masterclasses: practical lessons for development teams and creative professionals.
- Investment meetings: evidence of whether the event is generating commercial relationships as well as publicity.
- Showcases: projects that reveal the range of work emerging from Teesside, the wider North East and visiting studios.
- Attendance and follow-up: the final 2026 headcount and any partnerships announced after the conference will give a clearer measure of its regional impact.
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