The Complete Revival of GDC

The 2022 GDC was an atypical event, marking the conference's first in-person return to San Francisco since the onset of the pandemic. The industry was uncertain about what to expect, and many companies and individuals were still hesitant to travel due to the ongoing COVID-19 outbreaks. Although a contingent of developers was eager to return to the Moscone Center, the event's scale was not what was typically expected of GDC. However, this year, senior conference manager Ashley Corrigan is confident that the event will be more in line with previous years. '2022 was our first year back in person, but this year truly feels like the full return of GDC, and I want to do what we do exceptionally well,' she tells GamesIndustry.biz. 'Obviously, we need to introduce new elements to keep it interesting and fresh, so we must strike a balance to avoid overcommitting.' Corrigan is one of two individuals presented as the new faces of GDC, following the departure of former leader Katie Stern in April 2022. The responsibility for GDC 2023 now falls to Corrigan and director of event production Stephanie Hawkins, supported by other members of the Informa team. This year, in addition to bringing GDC back to full strength, they aim to facilitate connections between attendees. 'Last year, we didn't have our community lounges on the show floor, and Day of the Devs wasn't able to participate, so we were missing some of those partnerships that we normally have,' says Hawkins. 'Everyone was cautious after COVID, and we had fewer attendees as well, which is understandable.' This year, attendees can expect a focus on recruitment and accessibility, including a section dedicated to the latter at Alt Ctrl. The GDC 2022 team attempted to cater to those who couldn't attend in person by offering a virtual pass, which granted access to livestreams of main stage events. However, this didn't work out as well as expected, and the team has decided to focus on the in-person audience for GDC 2023. 'There was a lot of confusion around the virtual pass, and virtual attendees wanted access to everything,' Hawkins explains. 'But hosting virtual events is very costly, and we realized we needed to focus on the in-person audience.' The team cites research by Explori, which recommends against hybrid events, as virtual attendees often feel like they're missing out on the full experience. To cater to developers who can't travel to GDC 2023, the duo promises a full digital conference later in the year, featuring interactive elements and networking opportunities. They also point out that all content from the in-person conference will be added to the GDC Vault, and that all sessions will feature closed captions in multiple languages. The removal of the virtual element has resurfaced discussions about the conference's accessibility, both in terms of travel logistics and cost. The digital event addressed this during the pandemic, but the focus on the in-person event may lock out some attendees. The new leadership team acknowledges the pressure to cater to a wider audience. 'I don't think there's a pressure – I think as organizers, we have a responsibility to reach a wider audience,' Corrigan says. 'The accessibility that came with virtual events in the last few years is amazing, and I think it's great to be able to reach people who can't normally come to GDC.' The team has worked to make the in-person event more accessible, including reserving hotel rooms for speakers and community partners. GDC has also been running scholarship programs with non-profit organizations for years and provides complimentary passes to groups who wouldn't normally be able to attend. The team is keen to build on new ideas, such as speed networking, which was introduced in 2022. This year's show will feature four speed networking sessions per day, with a separate team to ensure everything runs smoothly. The show floor will also look different, with larger exhibitors shifting away from massive booths and instead providing experiences for attendees. As for the talks, the focus has been on balancing what speakers want to discuss with what the industry wants to hear about. Last year saw an abundance of blockchain, web3, and metaverse sessions, which have become increasingly divisive in the world of games. The GDC leadership team maintains that there is still a place to discuss such topics, provided it is handled correctly. 'GDC is the place where the industry comes together, and it's our responsibility to cover all topics in a way that allows for discussion about the pros and cons,' says Hawkins. Corrigan adds, 'Our role is to provide a learning space, and while these topics are controversial, it's still happening in the industry. GDC is the place to talk about it, and I think it's better to talk about these topics rather than ignoring them.' The non-sponsored program is influenced by developers, with an advisory board reviewing submissions and selecting talks. This year, the Web3 Forum will be a sponsored track, giving sponsors their own space rather than having it woven throughout the conference. GDC 2023 kicks off on Monday, March 20, and attendees can expect a range of new experiences and discussions.