Reboot Develop's organizer has been issued a bankruptcy order, heightening concerns about the event's future

An order of bankruptcy has been issued by a Zagreb court against the organizer of Croatia's Reboot Develop Blue, according to a report on the Croatian news website tportal. The company, Digitalna avantura, run by Damir Đurović, faces €520,000 in unpaid debts and has been required to provide €2,000 to proceed with the bankruptcy process. The ruling indicated that the company's assets are insufficient to cover its liabilities.

Questions about the viability of Reboot Develop have persisted for some time, with concerns growing after several parties, including GamesIndustry.biz, have been unable to reach Đurović or find any other employees associated with the company.

The Dubrovnik Sheraton, which has hosted the conference since 2015, confirmed to GamesIndustry.biz that no bookings for 2026 have been made, signaling the end of Reboot Develop's tenure at the venue, which celebrated its tenth anniversary there last year.

Damir Đurović developed Reboot Develop into a prominent European developer event.

The news outlet tportal highlighted that Đurović was a founding member of Digitalna Avantura in 2012. A notable figure in Croatia's gaming sector, he formerly led Hacker magazine and initiated the Reboot Infogamer event in Zagreb, which concluded in 2024. The last financial report from that year showed profits of €139,000 from revenues of €1.12 million.

Launched in 2014, Reboot Develop quickly gained status as a prestigious conference for gaming professionals, offering high-profile speakers alongside its relaxed atmosphere in Dubrovnik, close to a UNESCO site. Indie developer Rami Ismail once referred to it as "the best games event in the world" due to its significant role in promoting the Eastern European game development industry.

The Canadian event counterpart, Reboot Develop Red, debuted in Banff in 2019 with favorable reviews but was canceled the following year due to COVID-19 restrictions and never resumed thereafter.

This year's event faced skepticism from ticket holders after communication ceased in the previous year. While refunds remain elusive, there is some anticipation that local developers may still gather in mid-April out of tradition.