Gamesforum Vancouver is just around the corner and the Canadian mobile gaming community is getting ready for a day of big conversations, practical insights and plenty of opportunities to connect.

On 22 October, Gamesforum Vancouver will bring together mobile gaming leaders at the Pinnacle Harbourfront Hotel for a packed day focused on one thing: how to build, grow and retain successful mobile games.

From UA and creative strategy to monetization, data, product and player retention, the agenda is designed to get beneath the surface of the industry's biggest challenges and give attendees ideas they can take back to their teams.

No filters, no holding back

The day kicks off with Gamesforum Unfiltered: Vancouver Edition, bringing together industry leaders including Tayber Voyer, CEO of A Thinking Ape, Jim Wagner, CPO at East Side Games, and Sean Megaw, Game Director & Studio Manager at AllAceGames, alongside John Koetsier.

The off-the-record discussion promises honest opinions on the state of mobile gaming, where the industry is heading and the conversations that don't always make it onto the conference stage.

And that's just the start.

From smarter UA to global growth

With acquisition becoming increasingly competitive, Vancouver's agenda takes a close look at how teams can make their growth strategies work harder.

Russ Ovans will explore portfolio-level UA allocation and profitability, while Hyper Hippo Entertainment's Macarena Cáceres will dive into campaign optimisation, creative strategy and choosing the right networks for 2027.

The agenda will also explore how studios can unlock international growth, with Sago Mini & Piknik's Colton Kaufman sharing insights into App Store localisation and the impact it can have on conversion rates.

Retention is the other half of growth

Acquiring players is only part of the challenge. Keeping them engaged is where sustainable growth really happens.

Jenny Pacheco of Golden Hearts Games will look at the comeback of retargeting in mobile gaming, exploring how teams can bring lapsed players back and turn them into valuable long-term users.

Later in the day, the conversation moves to LiveOps, engagement loops and retention, with industry experts examining what separates games that last from those that struggle to keep players coming back.

Monetization, data and the bigger ecosystem

Vancouver will also tackle the questions around monetization and infrastructure that sit behind successful games.

A panel featuring CK Wang, Wes Favro and Josh Vowles will examine the balance between short-term ad revenue and long-term player retention, while Ludia's Paulo Cesar Silva Maia will explore why scalable data infrastructure is essential for making smarter growth and monetization decisions.

And as mobile games increasingly become ecosystems rather than standalone products, the final sessions will look beyond the game itself, exploring community, discoverability and organic growth, before closing out with a deep dive into product strategy, retention and game economies.

Vancouver, are you ready?

With a full day of practical sessions, industry debates, networking opportunities and insights from some of the biggest names in Canadian and international mobile gaming, Gamesforum Vancouver is shaping up to be a day you won't want to miss.

Whether you're looking to optimise UA, improve retention, rethink your monetization strategy or simply connect with the people shaping the future of mobile gaming, there's something waiting for you in Vancouver.

The countdown is on.

22 October 2026 | Pinnacle Harbourfront Hotel

Are you ready Vancouver?