GDC Unveils New “Festival of Gaming” Event Details
▼ Summary
– The Game Developer’s Conference is rebranding as “GDC Festival of Gaming” and will take place from March 9-13 in San Francisco’s Moscone Center, remaining an industry-only event.
– A new Festival Pass is available at nearly half the price of the previous All-Access pass, offering access to sessions, the expo floor (now Festival Hall), and networking, but excludes the GDC Vault.
– A higher-priced Game Changers pass provides exclusive benefits like the Luminaries Speaker series, private meeting spaces, the GamePlan networking platform, and premium seating for senior figures.
– Additional pass options include a Digital Pass for online access and networking, and discounted Early Stage Indie & Start-up passes for qualifying small companies and academia.
– The event features an expanded content program, evening events throughout the week, and a redesigned expo hall organized into themed neighborhoods with demos and micro-sessions.
The Game Developers Conference (GDC) has officially detailed its transformation into the GDC Festival of Gaming, set to take place in San Francisco from March 9th to 13th. This rebranding follows earlier speculation and introduces several structural changes while keeping the event strictly for industry professionals. The core experience remains anchored at the Moscone Center, featuring sessions, the newly named Festival Hall expo floor, and dedicated networking opportunities.
A new Festival Pass, priced at $1,199 with an early discount of $649 available until February 20th, replaces the previous All-Access pass at nearly half the cost. However, this pass no longer includes entry to the GDC Vault archive. For senior professionals and those focused on pitching games, a premium Game Changers pass is available for $2,499, discounted to $1,699 until the same date. This tier unlocks exclusive benefits such as the Luminaries Speaker series held at the Blue Shield of California Theater, private meeting spaces at the Yerba Buena Center and W Hotel, and priority access to keynotes and special events.
Digital participation is still an option through the Digital Pass, available for $799, which provides online networking and full GDC Vault access. Additionally, the Early Stage Indie & Start-up Pass, priced at $649 and discounted to $449, is reserved for qualifying small companies and academic institutions established after January 1, 2021, with fewer than 50 full-time employees and no affiliation with larger corporations or service firms.
The expo floor, now called Festival Hall, will operate from Wednesday to Friday and is organized into five distinct neighborhoods: Game Development, Future Tech, Indie & Education, International, and Monetization & Player Engagement. Each area will host demonstrations, brief sessions, and comfortable spaces for conversation. The content schedule has been expanded and diversified, with summit sessions previously confined to Monday and Tuesday now spread across the entire week. Evening events under the GDC Nights banner include an Opening Night Social Mixer, a Developers Concert by Austin Wintory, and separate award ceremonies for the Independent Games Festival and GDC Awards.
Mark DeLoura, GDC’s Executive Director for Innovation and Growth, emphasized that the festival concept is additive rather than a shift toward consumer inclusion. He clarified that the event remains developer-focused, aiming to broaden the conference experience without compromising its professional core. The intention is to embrace the city more fully, utilizing nearby hotels and venues for executive meetings and curated networking through the GamePlan platform, designed to facilitate high-value connections.
DeLoura explained that the Luminaries series targets studio leaders, VPs, and directors, offering insights not only on game development but also on team building, financing, and creative leadership. He cited inspiration from events like DICE, highlighting the value of learning from other industries. The redesigned Festival Pass aims to widen participation, offering a full week of content at a significantly reduced price, while the session formats are being refreshed to include fireside chats, debates, and potential keynote returns, moving beyond traditional panels and lectures.
Further information about the GDC Festival of Gaming is available on the official event website.
(Source: Games Industry)
