The Finnish Game Industry QA Meetup November 2025 is a networking event focused on soft skills in quality assurance for gaming professionals. Organised by Nextcon, VALA, and Gofore, this second meetup features presentations from Rovio and Veikkaus experts, covering communication, emotional intelligence, and stakeholder management in QA roles. The event takes place at Gofore’s Helsinki office with refreshments and networking opportunities.
What is the Finnish Game Industry QA Meetup and who should attend?
The Finnish Game Industry QA Meetup is a professional networking event specifically designed for quality assurance professionals working in Finland’s gaming industry. Founded through a collaboration between Nextcon, VALA, and Gofore, this meetup addresses the growing need for community and knowledge sharing among QA specialists in the gaming sector.
The event targets QA professionals, testers, and quality engineers who work in game development or are interested in transitioning into the gaming industry. This includes both experienced practitioners and those new to game testing who want to develop their professional skills beyond technical expertise.
The November meetup’s unique focus on soft skills in QA sets it apart from typical technical conferences. Rather than concentrating solely on testing tools or methodologies, the event explores critical interpersonal abilities that separate good QA professionals from exceptional ones. These include communication strategies, stakeholder management, emotional intelligence, and the ability to influence without authority.
Attendees benefit from engaging with fellow QA professionals, sharing experiences, and learning from industry experts at leading Finnish gaming companies. The increased attendee limit for this second event reflects the growing interest in professional development within Finland’s game industry QA community.
Where is the meetup located and how do you get there?
The meetup takes place at Gofore Siltasaari Office located at Paasivuorenkatu 4A, 8th Floor, 00530 Helsinki. The venue is easily accessible by public transport and provides a professional environment for networking and presentations.
To arrive at the venue, enter through the Paasivuorenkatu 4A entrance where you’ll find a door buzzer specifically labelled “Gofore event space.” This dedicated entrance ensures smooth access for meetup attendees without confusion.
Once inside, use the elevator located on the right side of the entrance area. The elevator is unlocked during the event and provides direct access from the ground floor to the 8th floor where Gofore’s office is situated. The elevator system is designed for easy navigation without requiring special access cards or codes.
Your hosts from Gofore will be Leena Taskinen and Jutta Hakola, who can assist with any practical questions or arrival difficulties. If you encounter any problems finding the venue or accessing the building, don’t hesitate to contact Leena directly, as she serves as one of the primary organisers for the meetup group.
The venue location in Helsinki’s Siltasaari area offers convenient access to public transportation and parking options for those travelling from different parts of the city or surrounding areas.
What presentations and topics will be covered at the event?
The event features two comprehensive presentations from industry experts at major Finnish gaming companies, both focusing on the critical role of soft skills in quality assurance work.
Cristian Girbea from Rovio will present “Soft Skills, Hard Impact: The Hidden Power Behind Great QA.” His presentation explores how quality assurance extends far beyond technical testing skills, emphasising the human elements that distinguish exceptional QA professionals. The session covers essential soft skills including effective communication strategies, influence techniques, emotional intelligence application, curiosity cultivation, conflict navigation, storytelling for impact, and stakeholder management.
Cristian’s presentation particularly focuses on developing the ability to align teams without formal authority, a crucial skill for QA professionals who must coordinate across different departments and hierarchies. The session provides practical insights into how these interpersonal skills directly impact project outcomes and professional effectiveness.
Ilkka Davidsen from Veikkaus will present “Soft Skills in QA – Are we focusing on the right ones?” This interactive session examines whether the gaming industry’s adoption of practices from other industries truly serves its unique needs. Ilkka encourages audience participation to explore current QA approaches and their effectiveness.
The presentation challenges conventional thinking about QA skill development and invites attendees to critically evaluate industry practices. Both presentations include dedicated Q&A sessions, allowing for deeper exploration of topics and direct interaction with the speakers.
What does the complete event schedule look like?
The meetup runs from 17:00 to 21:30, providing ample time for networking, presentations, and professional discussions. The schedule balances structured content with informal networking opportunities throughout the evening.
The event begins at 17:00 when doors open, welcoming attendees with refreshments and mingling time. This initial hour allows participants to network, settle in, and connect with fellow QA professionals before the formal presentations begin.
At 18:00, the organisers from Nextcon, VALA, and Gofore provide opening words, setting the context for the evening and introducing the theme of soft skills in QA. This is followed at 18:15 by Cristian Girbea’s presentation and Q&A session, which continues until 19:00.
A 30-minute break from 19:00 to 19:30 provides time for refreshments, networking, and informal discussions about the first presentation. This break ensures attendees can process the information and engage with peers before the second session.
Ilkka Davidsen’s presentation begins at 19:30 and runs until 20:15, including the Q&A portion. The final segment from 20:15 to 21:30 is dedicated to mingling, allowing attendees to continue conversations, exchange contacts, and build professional relationships.
The venue closes at 21:30, providing over four hours of valuable professional development and networking opportunities. Attendees are encouraged to arrive punctually and update their RSVP if unable to attend, allowing waitlisted participants to join this popular QA networking event.