Croatia Showcases its Video Game Industry at EXPO 2025 Osaka
Croatian Audiovisual Centre (HAVC), in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, is proud to announce Croatia’s participation in the prestigious EXPO 2025 Osaka, as part of the global initiative Games Around The World, taking place during the themed week "Learning & Playing Week", from July 17 to 28, 2025.
Through the project Games Croatia, which brings together key stakeholders in the Croatian video game industry – Croatian Game Development Alliance (CGDA), Croatian eSport Federation (CeSF), Reboot, and the Incubator PISMO from Novska – Croatia will present a curated selection of 12 video games as part of its national pavilion.
The Croatian Pavilion: Digital Climate and Creative Futures
The Croatian national pavilion has been designed as a unique multi-sensory space, symbolizing the diverse climate zones of Croatia. The pavilion is in constant flux – each visit offers a new experience. Visitors influence the microclimate of the space through their movements and interactions, tracked via thermal cameras.
At the same time, thermal video footage is streamed live from various meteorological stations across Croatia, synchronized with Japan’s time zone. These real-time images are displayed inside the pavilion, on the official website, and across social media platforms.
This innovative system involves more than 15 kilometres of tubing, 13,000 connectors and clamps, all integrated into a 50-square-meter space. The concept was developed by Lana Grahek, Maroje Mrduljaš, Antonio Patljak, Korina Vuković, and Pero Vuković.
After the EXPO, the pavilion will be exhibited in Croatia, allowing local audiences to experience this one-of-a-kind artistic and technological installation.
Video Games at the Heart of Croatia’s Presence
In front of the pavilion, visitors will have the opportunity to explore and play 12 Croatian video games, representing the creativity, innovation, and diversity of local game development.
Croatia’s delegation will be led by Benjamin Noah Maričak, Head of Games Croatia and Head of Video Games and New Technologies at HAVC. He will be joined by Rea Budić and Renato Lovreković from the game development studio Tiny Meow Studio, based at the Incubator PISMO in Novska.
Croatia joins countries such as Japan, Belgium, Australia, and the United Kingdom in presenting its independent games through the global platform Games Around The World, both physically at the Expo and digitally via Twitch streams and the website.
EXPO 2025 Osaka: Designing Future Society
Under the overarching theme "Designing Future Society for Our Lives", EXPO 2025 Osaka will take place on the specially constructed Yumeshima artificial island. More than 28 million visitors are expected, with over 160 countries and international organizations participating.