GDC draws nearly 30K attendees and returns to SF in early March 2026

The Games Conference 2025 (GDC) attracted nearly 30,000 registered attendees to San Francisco last week, almost the same number last year.

This event is the largest and longest event in the world that serves professionals for the art and manufacture of games. It lasted for five days, with inspiring sessions and opportunities to communicate with their peers and leaders through the game industry.

GDC also presented the first annual event for the GDC Nights after working hours, with two evenings of the community’s contents that mix TV, movies, comedy, games and fun to emphasize GDC’s commitment to collecting the world through games. GDC will return to the Moscow Center next year, from March 9 to Friday, March 13, 2026. The invitation of the GDC 2026 will be opened in early July 2025.

I heard a lot of gossip about how the event was not crowded as before, so the number surprised me, although it is inaccurate. Hotel salaries were not full, and the floor of the width was not crowded as it was in the past years. I saw a decent presence at the conference. Then again, I did not count people. The choice of a return to San Francisco will convert some heads, as many hope to see the event moves to a new city or even a new country. Next year, GDC will interfere directly with SXSW 2026, which will be held in Austin, Texas, from March 12 to March 18, 2026. We will see whether GDC interferes with GTC NVIDIA in San Jose next year; Events have overlapped for a few years so far.

During the opening program GDC Nights, which lasted on Monday, March 17 and Thursday, March 20, 6000 of those present participated in a list of activities that included a show and a round table that includes the stars of Hulu’s Delicious childrenDisplay the deep, emotional and emotional documentary, Netflix, The wonderful life of the ebonine A living comedy was held in the world of crossing animals hosted by comedian Jenny Yang.

GDC 2025 hosted more than 1,000 speakers through 750 sessions, workshops and round table discussions, as well as a large number of communication opportunities. He managed a session on the demobilization of workers and job expectations in games with Amir Satat, the hero of the work. As always, side events were common in GDC. I arrived at the reception of the CEO of Drake Star Partners, and the annual GRIFIN GAMING PARTNERS party. We also told us the side, Gamesbeat Crossfire.

GDC was distinguished by developers, opponents, and attendance from all over the world with 400 teams of the best game industry team including Meta, Tencent Games, Snail Games and Servs.com, and they offer their latest products, services and innovations.

It was also a space for those present to play and communicate with developers behind new and exciting independent games, including the final candidates from the Independent Games Festival (IGF) in the IGF pavilion and Alt.ctrl.gdc exhibition, which is home to games that use alternative control units including A Geesaw, a cat from behind.

“The vision of preoccupation lectures, organizing teamwork, and amazing shows from Austin Winteni alongside the artists at GDC Nights was an affirmation experience and helps to enhance the value of GDC’s mission in linking developers through their common passion for developing the game.” “The past few years have witnessed increasing challenges for gaming developers all over the world, but we are proud to see GDC continues to work as a beacon. We look forward to seeing our friends here again, and we hope to transfer the links and visions they have gained to the next amazing game projects.”

GDC has appeared workshops and sessions led by some of the biggest names in the game and entertainment industry. Respected developers shared their visions in the creations of successful games including ASTRO BOT, Metaphor: Refantazio, such as Dragon, Final Fantasy Vii Remake, Split Fichion, Helldives 2, Silent Hill 2, Monument Valley 3, Tekken 8 And many others.

During GDC, there were many major advertisements and disclosures, including the formation of the first union of North America at the level of industry for video game workers, the local CWA video workers 9433. Qualcomm has made a wave with the disclosure of the S2, which is a new game of Snapdragon Gen 3 from Snapdragon.

The main stage GDC was distinguished by a pair of presentations that helped celebrate games and bring the joy of art to more people around the world. On Wednesday, the composer Austin Winoori (Gods Stray, Journey, Banner Saga Series)) He performed a completely new music performance known as “GDC Main Stage: A Developer’s Concept” after the success of the first performance appearance during GDC 2024.

The concert was performed for an hour by the San Francisco Music Institute, and it was characterized by fertile formats that spanned contracts of the popular game, including Wilbert Rogit, II, Darren Korb and others. On Thursday, the main stage GDC hosted the disclosure of the advertised ESA initiative, which is an effort through the industry to provide consumers with clear information about the accessories available in video games. The initiative (www.accessiblegames.com) is fully supported by the founding members of e -arts, Google, Microsoft, Nintendo of America and Ubisoft.

GDC 2025 honored the best developers last year with the twenty -seventh annual Games Festival Awards (IGF) and the twenty -fifth annual game developers selection prizes (GDCA). At the IGF award ceremony on Wednesday evening, the independent game won the Seumas McNallly Grand and Nuovo Award, which honors experiences that make both players and prizes think differently in games as a way. At Game Developers Choice Awards, Balaatro was awarded the Game of the Year award, as well as the best for the first time, the Best Design and Innovation Award. Astro BOT, which was developed by the PlayStation Studios Asobi team and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment, won high honor at the exhibition, and won the Best Voice Awards and Best Technology Award.

Based on its presentation in 2024, GDC continued to expand the travel program together to help those present to form walking groups to communicate between multiple hotels sites throughout San Francisco and Moscow Center; The GDC Aman’s safety line 24 hours (+1 925-852-4361) is available around the clock throughout the week throughout the event; The game history exhibition that displays games from marginalized developers as well as tips on how to keep games.

GDC also continued several programs to expand access to the GDC content, including the Equal Opportunity Program, which offers 1000 GDC passes free for applicants who were unable to attend without great financial assistance. this yearand More than 700 passes were donated through the GDC Scholarship Program, which was made in partnership with more than 25 organizations dedicated to support and imperfect representative voices in this industry.

In addition, GDC provided all IGF final travel salaries to ensure its ability to attend and participate in the conference. The final qualified GDC celebrated the annual IGF suite with a booth and equipment to highlight their games for the public without any cost and the IGF award winners receive a prize for their amazing work.