A court in Zagreb, Croatia, has issued a bankruptcy order against Digitalna avantura, the company that operates the Reboot Develop Blue conference, citing over half a million euros in unpaid debts. The ruling, reported by Croatian news site tportal, directs the company to pay an initial 2,000 euros to commence formal bankruptcy proceedings after it was found to lack sufficient assets to cover its obligations. This legal action casts significant uncertainty over the future of one of Europe’s prominent regional game development events.
Details of the Court Ruling
The Commercial Court in Zagreb issued the order against Digitalna avantura, a company operated by Damir Đurović. The judgment identified outstanding debts totaling 520,000 euros that the company could not pay. According to the court’s findings, Digitalna avantura does not possess the necessary assets to settle these liabilities, prompting the initiation of bankruptcy. The company is now legally required to submit the 2,000-euro fee to proceed with the process, a standard step in Croatian bankruptcy law.
Reboot Develop Blue has been a fixture in the Adriatic region’s technology and gaming calendar, typically held in the spring in Dubrovnik. The conference attracts game developers, publishers, and industry professionals from across Europe and beyond, serving as a key networking and knowledge-sharing hub. The financial troubles of its organizing entity directly threaten the continuity of this event.
Background and Industry Context
The Reboot Develop conference series, which includes a Blue edition in Croatia and a Red edition that has been held in other European locations, has built a reputation over several years. It is known for its focus on the business and development aspects of the video game industry, featuring talks from leading figures and hosting business matchmaking sessions. The potential loss of the event would create a notable gap in the regional conference circuit.
Industry events like Reboot Develop Blue play a crucial role in fostering local developer communities, attracting international investment, and showcasing regional talent. Their operational stability often relies on a complex mix of ticket sales, sponsorship deals, and public grants, a model that can be vulnerable to economic shifts and planning challenges.
Implications for the Event and Community
The bankruptcy order against the legal organizer raises immediate questions about the status of the 2025 conference and any potential liabilities to past sponsors, speakers, or attendees. While the court’s action targets the company, not the event brand itself, the practicalities of organizing a large-scale international conference without a solvent legal entity are formidable.
In similar situations in the past, event brands have sometimes been acquired by new organizers or rescued through community initiatives. However, such outcomes depend on the specific terms of the bankruptcy proceedings, the status of intellectual property rights, and the interest of potential new stakeholders. The primary concern for the global development community is the potential disruption to an established industry gathering.
Next Steps and Official Process
The immediate next step in the legal process is for Digitalna avantura to formally commence bankruptcy proceedings by paying the court-mandated fee. Following this, a bankruptcy trustee will likely be appointed to oversee the company’s assets and liabilities. This trustee will manage the process of liquidating any remaining assets to pay creditors, which could include vendors, service providers, and possibly pre-paid ticket holders.
There has been no official public statement from the conference organizers regarding the court order or plans for the event’s future at the time of this reporting. The timeline for the bankruptcy process will be determined by the Croatian court, and any potential revival of the Reboot Develop Blue conference under new management would be a separate commercial negotiation. Stakeholders are awaiting further official communication as the legal and financial situation develops.
Source: tportal
