The world of game development is always evolving, and the 2026 GDC Festival of Gaming reflect the opportunities and challenges facing our industry today. We're excited to share the second annual GDC Trends Report, a comprehensive look at emerging trends, innovations, and critical discussions that defined this year's event.
Drawing from sessions, panels, and activations—plus exclusive interviews with thought leaders, experts, and innovators who participated—this complimentary report offers a snapshot of where game development is heading in 2026 and beyond.
Download the full 2026 Trends Report here.
Among the themes within the Trends Report are the following topics shaping the games industry and fueling the larger conversation at GDC Festival of Gaming:
● Co-Development: Studios are embracing co-development to help make games that require more staff and resources, and there are solutions to help newer studios establish a foothold amidst a crowded, well-established market.
● Dual monetization: As the Vietnamese hyper-casual market surges, and casual and hybrid-casual games turn their focus to retention over new user acquisition, the trends towards dual monetization is becoming more commonplace in mobile game development.
● Generative AI: AI-driven assistive tools have reached a place where many game industry professionals can use them without difficulty, so the focus is now on how (or if) they should be implemented in the development process.
● Shifting advocacy policies: As companies reevaluate their diversity efforts, many marginalized game industry professionals are feeling the impact. This is especially true for those in the LGBTQ+ community, and older professionals who feel they are facing ageism in the workplace and job market.
● Game publishing & financing: While larger studios face challenges seeking funding through proof-of-concept prototypes (and more), indie game funds are helping to fill the gaps.
The full report expands upon each of the key topics as well as related fields, and is informed by the perspective of noted GDC speakers who continue to push the creativity, resilience, and connection in the industry forward, including Tencent Games’ Head of Technology, Nathan Chen; PlayStation Studios’ Head of Production, John Doyle; Playstack’s Head of Discovery, Patrick Johnson and others.
Much like the GDC Festival of Gaming itself, the report sheds a light on the incredible achievements of industry-leading artists, with an interview looking back at Austin Wintory’s inspiring “A Developer’s Concert,” along with interviews with 2026 IGF Award-winners Jenny Jiao Hsia (creator of Consume Me and co-developer of Titanium Court), AP Thomson (creator of Titanium Court) and 2026 Game Developers Choice Awards winner Jennifer Svedberg-Yen (Lead writer, voice and localization producer for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33).
The Trends Report features further insights into the emergent trends in game development with a slate of interviews with the following industry innovators like voice actor Jennifer Hale (Mass Effect series, Metal Gear Solid), Kevin Janzen (Globant CEO Gaming & Ed. Tech AI Studio), Amra Khullar and Shafik Quoraishee (The New York Times Games), and more.
GDC Festival of Gaming debuted in 2026 as a transformed event reflecting the interconnected ecosystem of today's games industry. Bringing together thousands of game-makers, publishers, investors, technologists, educators, and media professionals, the Festival is a week dedicated to learning, discovery, and celebration. The GDC Festival of Gaming returns to San Francisco's Moscone Center March 1-5, 2027.
Download the complete 2026 GDC Trends Report to explore these themes in depth and discover what's next for game development.