More Than Just Pixels: Our First Chapter at XDS 2026
Stepping onto the floor at the External Development Summit (XDS) in Vancouver marked a defining milestone for TOTOP Creatives. While our team arrived ready to showcase years of craft across stylized and ultra-realistic visual pipelines, our primary goal was far more fundamental: to show up as active, empathetic contributors to the external development community rather than just another vendor sharing a portfolio.
From hosting community-driven gatherings to deep technical discussions with AAA leaders and indie pioneers, our debut week proved that the future of co-development is rooted in genuine human connection and shared creative ownership.
A Warm Welcome and New Floor Layout
Stepping into the Vancouver Convention Centre, the reception from the international game development community exceeded all expectations. Both seasoned AAA veterans and ambitious indie developers engaged our team in candid discussions about real-time pipelines, cross-timezone production cadence, and the delicate balance between industrial delivery precision and artistic sensibility.
The event space itself facilitated these connections better than ever. As James Lee, Senior Business Development Manager, observed:
“This year’s location was moved to the original location of XDS in the first few years. The layout of the service provider booths were a big improvement since it was a big open space to the enclosed large room in last year booth area.”
This open environment allowed visitors exploring our portfolio to note our stylistic versatility—from expressive stylized assets to hyper-realistic character and environment art.
Addressing Modern Needs: Budgets, Co-Development and More
In discussions with new connections, developers made it clear that while predictable delivery timelines and technical compatibility are non-negotiable baselines, they are actively looking for remote teams that operate as a genuine extension of their internal departments.
Addressing the core friction points in the current climate, James Lee noted how TOTOP meets the market where it is:
“The current industry trends that I am aware of are budgets and co-development. I positioned TOTOP to address these specific needs with some of our projects/co-development with clients that are shipping in October. Our rate are very competitive with other service providers in Asia.”
This combination of competitive resourcing and proven AAA co-development capability allowed us to bridge discussions from simple asset execution to full-scale pipeline integration. Additionally, conversations naturally gravitated toward the future of asset creation. We shared insights into our ongoing exploration of AI pipeline integration, discussing how we are working closely with clients to thoughtfully test tools that drive production efficiency while strictly safeguarding creative quality.
Bringing Heart to the Show: SheConnect Mixer & The Snack Bar
To make our presence approachable, we focused on initiatives that fostered a welcoming environment and supported the community.
Pre-XDS SheConnect Mixer: Recognizing the need for deliberate spaces celebrating diversity, we hosted the SheConnect Mixer prior to the main show floor opening. The gathering provided women creators from across the global games landscape a dedicated environment to share lived experiences, discuss industry trajectories, and build peer support networks.
The TOTOP Snack Bar: Knowing the demanding pace of the exhibition floor, we sponsored an open refreshment station. Run by dedicated event vendors, it was designed as a welcoming rest stop to help attendees refuel and keep their energy up throughout the busy days of the summit.
Building Trust Beyond the Show Floor
Some of the most impactful moments of XDS 2026 unfolded away from the exhibition hall. Intimate dinners and off-floor catch-ups with teams from Electronic Arts, Gearbox Software, and Epic Games allowed for deeper discussions on the craft. Away from the convention noise, the conversation shifted from asset counts to candid discussions on studio culture, project ambitions, and the creative vulnerabilities developers navigate.
Reflecting on the overarching theme of the event, Stella Lei, Project Management Director, captured the core takeaway for the TOTOP team:
“Looking back on our week in Vancouver, the most memorable highlight was witnessing our team’s community-focused vision come to life. So many conversations centred not only on assets, deadlines and technical specs, but on the shared pressures, creative hopes and vulnerabilities that every game team faces. Developers openly spoke about the trust they need when handing over pieces of their creative vision to an external art team. In turn, we got to share our perspective on what it means to show up reliably as an extended creative arm. These heartfelt exchanges reminded us that successful art collaboration is built on empathy, transparency and mutual respect. It was deeply meaningful to connect on that human level at XDS — to move past simple service provision and talk about what it truly takes to stand beside creators and bring their worlds to life. That shift toward warmer, more trusting partnerships is what stuck with me most from our debut show.”
Our week in Vancouver confirmed that technical mastery and scale only matter when anchored by empathy, open communication, and true alignment. As we return to our production desks and continue collaborating with partners across the globe, we carry forward the insights, connections, and shared visions that made our XDS 2026 debut unforgettable.
Looking for a collaborative art and co-development partner? Reach out to the TOTOP team to discuss how we can integrate seamlessly with your pipeline and help bring your next creative vision to life.
