Deconstructor of Fun Cyprus 4: GDCy and the Story of the Largest Developer Festival in Cyprus
Nov 5, 2025
Tim Fadeev and Andrey Ivashentsev, co-founders of Game Dev Cyprus (GDCY), share the exciting journey from a small pub meetup to the island’s largest developer festival. They explore how Cyprus's sunny weather, low taxes, and open business climate attract game developers. The duo discusses diverse game genres emerging on the island and the unique cultural blend within the community. They emphasize educational initiatives to build local talent and reflect on future plans for GDCY focusing on sustainability and professionalism.
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Wineries For Honest Developer Talks
- GDCY's Executive Lounge aims to pair the right people with good food and relaxed spaces like wineries to encourage honest, comfortable discussions.
- The founders treat atmosphere as integral to productive developer networking and idea sharing.
From Pub Table To Festival
- Tim booked a pub table after COVID and 15 minutes later 60 people showed up, forcing him to close the whole pub for the meetup.
- That spontaneous gathering became the seed that grew into GDCY and its annual festival.
Small Island, Big Revenue Hub
- Cyprus attracts game companies due to a mix of legislation, migration policy, and lifestyle benefits like sun and seaside living.
- The island punches above its population size, becoming a significant revenue hub for game development.