LogInThe Game Developers Conference is here to connect the people who make those games, bringing together thousands of developers from around the globe. Registration is open for GDC 2025, the world's premiere event for all game developers to learn, network, and grow.
The 39th annual Game Developers Conference returns to San Francisco, with five days of cutting-edge talks and workshops, groundbreaking tools and technologies, and life-changing networking opportunities.
Whether you’re a game developer, industry leader, or company looking to grow your reach and realize your potential, GDC is the place for you.
Talks and Themes at GDC 2025
This year, GDC is focused on showing how games can serve as a powerful messenger for global connection and understanding, and how the growing community of international developers continues to uplift the medium. GDC will host new sessions (and returning favories) all about amplifying new voices, uplifting underrepresented communities, and exploring how games can address social and environmental challenges across the world.
GDC 2025 is also dedicated to helping developers during a time of change and uncertainty in the game industry, with sessions about growing your game career (including the one-day Game Career Seminar) and plenty of networking opportunities to expand your reach.
But don't forget the hundreds of sessions, by developers for developers, covering every topic and discipline in the game industry—including sound design, game design, visual art, business & marketing, leadership, programming, and more.
Here are just a few of them you can expect at GDC 2025:
- "A Cup Of Liber-Tea": Scoring Satire With Sincerity In Helldivers 2: Wilbert Roget II (Composer and Music Supervisor at RogetMusic) explores the evolution of the musical score in Helldivers 2, detailing how he adapted the soundtrack to match the game's shift towards more realistic and visceral gameplay while maintaining its satirical tone.
- How To Avoid Layoffs: Stories of Stability: A 60-minute roundtable, led by Jesse Schell (CEO of Schell Games), where developers who have been on teams that have found ways to avoid layoffs are invited to tell the stories of how they managed this rare feat. Abstract griping about the game industry is strictly forbidden: Real world tales that show stability is possible are the coin of the realm here!
- A Code of Ethics for the Game Industry: Researcher Celia Hodent's presentation discusses the growing importance of developing a code of ethics in the game industry, sparked by recent lawsuits and regulatory actions.
- #1ReasonToBe: This beloved panel, organized by Laia Bee (Pincer Games co-founder and president of the Uruguayan Gamedev Association), is back for GDC 2025! Featuring speakers from diverse corners of the world, #1ReasonToBe offers a revealing glimpse into the industry's true global reach.
GDC Highlights: What to Expect
From the awards shows and massive Expo floor to the random encounters and connections that can build your career—including at the brand-new after-hours events, GDC Nights!
Let's take a look at some of the many opportunities and experiences that await at GDC 2025.
- GDC Expo: Hundreds of companies, developers, support teams, and more flock to the Expo floor to showcase the latest game development technology and services (learn more about joining the GDC 2025 Expo).
- Indie Games Galore: Check out some award-nominated (IGF Pavilion), up-and-coming (GDC Play & GDC Pitch), and totally alternative (alt.ctrl.GDC) games at the GDC Expo. Play them all and meet the developers.
- Awards Shows: The 2025 Independent Games Festival Awards and Game Developers Choice Awards take place live at the GDC Main Stage on Wednesday, March 19, 2025, with a simultaneous broadcast in the event app and on GDC Twitch. Pick your favorites and find out who wins.
- GDC Nights: You spoke, and GDC listened. The event team is bringing you two nights of safe, fun evening networking and entertainment onsite.
Early registration is now open through January 23, 2025 at 11:59pm PT (the Advanced Rate is through November 14 at 11:59pm PT), with several pass options featuring a variety of benefits. In addition, GDC partners with local hotels to provide discounted rates for attendees, making your stay in San Francisco more affordable.
Learn more about the upcoming event and get your ticket here. And, join our 80 Level Talent platform and our new Discord server, follow us on Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, Telegram, TikTok, and Threads, where we share breakdowns, the latest news, awesome artworks, and more.