Development
Xsolla co-hosts GamesBeat Engage Chicago 2026 to shape the future of user-generated content
June 16, 2026•2 min
Xsolla, a leading global video game commerce company, is co-hosting GamesBeat Engage Chicago 2026, an exclusive evening event taking place June 16 from 4:00 to 7:00 PM CT at Row 24 in Chicago, held alongside Unreal Fest. Themed "Riding the Wave of User-Generated Content," the event gathers developers, engineers, technical directors, and studio leaders for an evening of structured debates, featured conversations, and industry networking.
Why UGC Is the Industry's Defining Conversation
User-generated content platforms are no longer a footnote in gaming; they are rewriting its rules. A new generation of creators is flocking to leading UGC platforms not just to play, but to build audiences and sustainable businesses. GamesBeat Engage Chicago will explore how these creators increasingly treat games as a medium of creation rather than entertainment, and how the tools powering modern game development are evolving to meet their demands.
"User-generated content is no longer a side conversation in the video games industry; it is the conversation," said Berkley Egenes, Chief Marketing & Growth Officer at Xsolla. "The creators building on leading UGC platforms today are not hobbyists; they are building businesses, and the tools and infrastructure around them need to catch up."
Xsolla-Curated Debate on Stage At 5:00 PM CT, Xsolla will host a 15-minute debate asking one of gaming's most pressing questions: Are Individual UGC Creators the Next Generation of Game Developers, or a Parallel Ecosystem? The session examines whether UGC platforms are producing creators who treat games as creative canvases, or whether their work constitutes a distinct ecosystem running alongside traditional studios. A second debate, curated by GamesBeat, will pit creators from competing UGC platforms against each other to determine which platform provides the stronger foundation for a gaming business. Confirmed participants include UGC consultant and Max Power Gaming newsletter writer Stephen Dypiangco and creator Tom Jank, moderated by Alexander Lee, Lead News Writer at GamesBeat. The evening closes with a fireside chat on Chicago's gaming industry, featuring Jackbox Games CEO Mike Bilder. Meet Xsolla at Unreal Fest Developers and industry professionals attending Unreal Fest in Chicago can connect with the Xsolla team on June 16 to explore how Xsolla's commerce infrastructure supports developer growth and monetization strategy. To register, visit events.gamesbeat.com/engage
Xsolla-Curated Debate on Stage At 5:00 PM CT, Xsolla will host a 15-minute debate asking one of gaming's most pressing questions: Are Individual UGC Creators the Next Generation of Game Developers, or a Parallel Ecosystem? The session examines whether UGC platforms are producing creators who treat games as creative canvases, or whether their work constitutes a distinct ecosystem running alongside traditional studios. A second debate, curated by GamesBeat, will pit creators from competing UGC platforms against each other to determine which platform provides the stronger foundation for a gaming business. Confirmed participants include UGC consultant and Max Power Gaming newsletter writer Stephen Dypiangco and creator Tom Jank, moderated by Alexander Lee, Lead News Writer at GamesBeat. The evening closes with a fireside chat on Chicago's gaming industry, featuring Jackbox Games CEO Mike Bilder. Meet Xsolla at Unreal Fest Developers and industry professionals attending Unreal Fest in Chicago can connect with the Xsolla team on June 16 to explore how Xsolla's commerce infrastructure supports developer growth and monetization strategy. To register, visit events.gamesbeat.com/engage
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