Neurodiversity in the Danish game industry
Over one billion people worldwide are neurodivergent - and they are strongly represented in the games industry.
According to study by Ubisoft (2022), 18% of game developers identify themselves as neurodivergent compared to 15% of the general population. A higher representation reflects that game development requires skills often associated with neurodivergence such as creativity, hyperfocus, innovative thinking, and precision (Ubisoft, 2022). If these skills are rightly utilised, neuroinclusion can be seen as a competitive advantage for many game studios.
To amplify this potential, Games Denmark and Copenhagen Legacy Lab launched a neuroinclusive project as part of Copenhagen Gaming Week 2026. The aim of the project was to foster more inclusion and inspire neurodivergent students from STU educations to pursue future careers within the Danish games industry.
STU is a three-year youth education for young people with cognitive and physical disabilities and other young people with specials needs. The education is designed for the age group 16 to 24 (City of Copenhagen, 2026).
I knew that I liked playing games, but I did not know that I also liked developing games.
Six months before the gaming festival, Copenhagen Gaming Week, Specialisterne STU and STU Sputnik started two courses with an aim to develop two new games that could be launched exclusively as part of the event.
Games Denmark and Copenhagen Legacy Lab supported the development processes by connecting the schools with experienced professionals from the industry. The cross-sectoral partnership ended up turning into a structured and formalised mentorship program which supported the teachers, motivated the students, and took the games to the next level.
BETA MONKEY:
A virtual reality game developed by 22 students and teachers from Specialisterne STU in partnership with a skilled mentor from Invisible Walls.
DEAD MAN'S MOUNTAIN:
A retro arcade game developed by 20 students and teachers from STU Sputnik.
Throughout the development process, the students had an industry professional out for a school visit. Besides this, the students had an inspirational visit to Unity (a platform to create and grow games and interactive experiences).
Throughout the three days of Copenhagen Gaming Week, the students showcased their games for more than 31,400 visitors (B2C) and met other game developers from the industry (B2B). The opportunity to present was seen as a unique experience for the students to network professionally and gain real-world experience with pitching their games.
You can read about the impact of the project and the schools’ continued work here:
Specialisterne STU
Since the gaming festival, Specialisterne Stu has continued its work to create pathways into education and employment:
- One student from Specialisterne Stu was employed by Raw Power Games
- Specialisterne STU visited Invisible Walls in March 2026 to explore professional workflows and internship opportunities
- The dialogue with Raw Power Games continued with the aim of creating pathways into the industry
- Students from Specialisterne Stu continued developing “BETA MONKEY” with the ambition of launching the game on Steam in 2026
- Teachers at Specialisterne Stu began developing an online platform to showcase student portfolios and gameplay projects to strengthen access to internships and employment opportunities
- Participation in Copenhagen Gaming Week also led to a new partnership between Specialisterne STU, Aalborg University, and CyberSkills, resulting in three workshops focused on cybersecurity and practical training for students
- Specialisterne Stu has subsequently initiated a dialogue with BitFire Games with the aim of establishing an internship collaboration
Sputnik STU
Since the event, Specialisterne Stu has also continued working with game development:
- A student from Sputnik Stu participated in Nordic Game Jam 2026, a three day event where game development enthusiasts collaborate to create new games.
- Students at Sputnik Stu have continued developing “Dead Man’s Mountain”, adding new levels while further strengthening their game design and development skills.
- “Dead Man’s Mountain” remains on display at Sputnik Stu, giving both new and returning students the opportunity to play and experience the project
About Copenhagen Gaming Week
Since its first edition in 2024, Copenhagen Gaming Week has established itself as Denmark’s leading gaming and esports festival in both attendance and exhibition space. The 2026 event welcomed more than 31,400 gaming enthusiasts, exhibitors, and industry professionals – an increase of 37% compared to the previous year. Organised by Bellagroup, Blackbox Media, and Wonderful Copenhagen, the festival has evolved intoa central platform for gaming, esports, and digital subcultures across all age groups. With support from the City of Copenhagen, it also contributes to the city’s strategy to strengthen year-round tourism, particularly during the winter season.
Danmark i Spil: A showcase of Danish game development
One of the highlights of Copenhagen Gaming Week was “Danmark i Spil” — a dedicated festival area showcasing up and coming Danish games. Designed to support emerging talent, the area provided a unique platform for developers to present their games to both industry professionals (B2B) and festival visitors (B2C).
Over the course of three days, 150 students and indie developers showcased their work to gain valuable exposure, direct feedback, and access to potential investors, publishers, and industry partners. For the festival visitors, the area was a unique chance to experience new games before everyone else and speak directly with the developers behind the games.
“Danmark I Spil” was made possible through a strategic partnership between the festival organisers, Games Denmark, NIMBI, and a broad network of industry stakeholders.
Images: Specialisterne STU, Copenhagen Gaming Week and STU Sputnik.
The project was realized with the support and participation of:
