GDC Makes a Full Return

The 2022 Game Developers Conference was an unconventional affair, marking the first time the annual conference had returned to San Francisco since the pandemic began. The industry was uncertain about what to expect, with many companies and individuals still hesitant to travel due to COVID-19 outbreaks. Although a contingent of developers was enthusiastic about returning to the Moscone Center, the event's scale was not what was typically expected of GDC. However, senior conference manager Ashley Corrigan is confident that this year's 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. Corrigan and director of event production Stephanie Hawkins, supported by other Informa team members, have taken on the responsibility of leading GDC 2023 after the departure of former leader Katie Stern in April 2022. This year, in addition to bringing GDC back to full strength, they aim to facilitate connections between attendees and focus on recruitment and accessibility. Attendees can expect a range of community partners, including Day of the Devs, Alt Ctrl, and the IGF Pavilion. The GDC 2022 team had attempted to cater to those who were unable to attend in person by offering a virtual pass, which granted access to livestreams of main stage events. However, this approach did not work out as well as expected, with many virtual attendees expressing confusion and dissatisfaction with the limited access to content. As a result, the GDC 2023 team has decided to focus on the in-person audience and will not offer livestreams. Instead, they plan to host a full digital conference later in the year, featuring interactive elements and networking opportunities. The decision to remove the virtual element has resurfaced concerns about the conference's accessibility, particularly for developers who cannot afford to travel to San Francisco. Corrigan acknowledges the importance of reaching a wider audience and emphasizes that the event team has a responsibility to make the conference more accessible. To address this, GDC has been working with San Francisco Travel to reduce costs and has reserved a block of hotel rooms for speakers, community partners, and IGF finalists. The team is also experimenting with new ideas, such as speed networking sessions, and is keen to build on the success of last year's show. The focus has been on balancing the topics that speakers want to discuss with what the industry wants to hear about, including contentious issues like blockchain, web3, and the metaverse. While aware of the controversy surrounding these topics, the GDC leadership team believes that there is still a place to discuss them, providing 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 a discussion of the pros and cons,' says Hawkins. The non-sponsored program is influenced by developers, with an advisory board of over 100 developers from around the world reviewing submissions and selecting talks. This year, GDC 2023 will feature a separate Web3 Forum, which is a sponsored track. The event kicks off on Monday, March 20, and attendees can expect a range of exciting sessions, networking opportunities, and experiences.