On October 10 and 11, 2025, the Scavolini Auditorium in Pesaro will host a festival celebrating video games as a tool for change, organized by IIDEA, the trade association for the video game industry in Italy, at the initiative of the City of Pesaro – CTE Square and the Carlo Bo University of Urbino, and in partnership with Games for Change, an international organization founded in 2004 that promotes the creation and use of video games with a positive social impact.
Bologna Game Farm will be present in the showcase area with the six winners of the fifth edition of the project, which focuses on video games that promote Italy’s cultural heritage—both tangible and intangible:
“Beatrix,” by Tambù Srl (Milan)
“Hyperarousal,” by AION Interactive Srl (Milan)
“Super Sofia,” by Mash & Co Srl (Taormina)
“Rome: City of Cards,” by Open Lab Srl (Florence)
“Stray Company: The Long Road of Acqui Survivors,” by BM Interactive, founded by Marco Bianchi (Cagliari)
“Thrill Seeker,” by Audiozone Studios Srls (Piacenza)
Also in the showcase area will be “NO SIGNAL! Marconi the game,” the video game produced by the City of Bologna to mark the 150th anniversary of Marconi’s birth and developed by Melazeta, which was selected as a finalist for the Italian Video Game Award – Games Beyond Entertainment in the “Best in Learning” category.
The Power of Play is a unique opportunity for video game developers, educators, cultural professionals, and representatives of civil society and public institutions to come together. Its goal is to forge new connections between creativity, research, technology, and communities.
The event features a program of in-depth discussions and case studies to explore how video games can be used effectively in areas such as culture, education, health, environmental sustainability, and human rights. It explores the potential of using video games in the classroom to support teaching through in-depth panel discussions and hands-on workshops. It provides food for thought and useful advice for families on how to make the most of video games during their children’s free time. Additionally, it features an exhibition with video game stations that share a meaningful message or a social purpose.
The program for the first edition of the event includes:
6 thematic areas for keynote speeches and panel discussions on well-being, sustainability, culture, human rights, education, and awareness
over 30 speakers from 7 countries
1 showcase area with 16 gaming stations where visitors can try out video games with a social impact
6 workshops for local school students on Minecraft and Roblox
the Italian Video Game Awards ceremony – Games Beyond Entertainment 2025
The complete program is available on the event’s website: https://thepowerofplay.it/
Free registration is now open on EventBrite: https://www.eventbrite.it/e/the-power-of-play-tickets-1543523653799?aff=oddtdtcreator