From Passion Projects to Player Power | David Thompson | NZGDC 2025

This talk explores how modding communities and UGC creators become the emotional and social lifeblood of a game, long after the official roadmap ends. Drawing on over 20 years of experience in modding, UGC platform integration, and game design, I’ll share how passion projects foster shared ownership, build a sense of belonging, and turn players into ambassadors.