The European Game Science Lab (EGSL) officially kicked off at the end of October. At a hybrid kick-off meeting at the renowned IMT Lucca, all project partners came together to set the course for an exciting first year. The timing could hardly have been better, as the meeting coincided with the internationally renowned Lucca Comic and Games trade fair – an ideal platform for presenting this new European initiative.

Strategic planning for the coming year

On 28 October 2025, the EGSL partner organisations met for a hybrid meeting at the IMT Lucca. The annual planning and specific activities were discussed and coordinated in detail in a constructive atmosphere. This careful planning forms the foundation for all future initiatives of the laboratory and emphasises the professional approach of the partners involved.

Presence at Lucca Comic and Games

In the days following the kick-off, the European Game Science Lab took the opportunity to introduce itself to a wider audience. At the IMT Library’s exhibition at Lucca Comic and Games, the project was able to attract numerous visitors and inspire them with its goals. The trade fair, which attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors from the gaming, comic and pop culture scene every year, provided an excellent platform for making contacts and expanding the network.

Specialist lectures on socially relevant gaming topics

To accompany the exhibition, the IMT Lucca organised a high-calibre lecture programme that addressed the importance of games in our society. Two specialist lectures deserve special mention:

Ennio Biancini and Thomas Bremer gave an exciting outlook on the development of the Ludo-narrative Framework in their lecture – a promising approach that aims to bring narrative elements and game mechanics into a coherent theoretical framework.

In another presentation, Thomas Bremer and David Witzgall shed light on the challenges and opportunities that artificial intelligence brings to game development. In view of the rapid developments in the field of AI, this was a particularly topical and relevant subject that met with great interest.

Outlook

With this successful launch, the European Game Science Lab has laid the foundations for its future work. The combination of strategic planning, public presentation and professional exchange already demonstrates the scope and potential of this European initiative.

Anyone interested in finding out more about the European Game Science Lab should keep an eye out for further reports and upcoming events.