Game Developers Conference 2023: Updates and Precautions

Organizers of the Game Developers Conference have revealed further details about the 2023 event. In an interview with Axios, the team confirmed that all speakers will appear in person, with no option for virtual attendance via livestream. Instead, a separate virtual event will take place later in the year. This decision has sparked criticism, as virtual access had made the conference more accessible to developers who cannot afford to travel to San Francisco or have physical limitations. However, the GDC team received feedback from both virtual and in-person attendees of the 2022 conference, expressing frustration with the mix of virtual and physical speakers. This year's lineup includes notable speakers such as former Blizzard co-president Jen Oneal, lead designers of the Kirby series, and the executive producer of the New York Times' gaming division, who will discuss the publication's handling of Wordle since its acquisition. The majority of sessions will focus on career development for game developers, with some discussions on Web3 and blockchain, albeit fewer than in 2022. The conference is expected to attract 24,000 attendees to the Moscone Center, an increase from last year's 17,000 but still below the pre-pandemic record of 29,000. To prevent the spread of COVID-19, in-person attendees will be required to show proof of vaccination or a negative test result to enter the venue, following criticism of last year's outbreak.