Summits Sessions
(Mon & Tues) | GDC Summits are deep dives into specific game dev disciplines or markets, designed to foster learning and connection among specific communities. Summit sessions provide actionable takeaways you can immediately incorporate into your career. Topics include Level Design, Art Direction, AI , UX and more. Pass Access: All Access, Summits, Audio (Audio Summit only), IGS (IGS Summit only) |
Core Concepts Sessions
(Weds–Fri) | The Core Concepts program focuses on six key pillars of game development: Audio, Business & Marketing, Design, Production & Team Leadership, Programming, and Visual Arts, along with specialty tracks like the Classic Game Postmortem series and Advocacy Sessions. Core Concepts sessions cover tried-and-true techniques, important lessons learned, and present new ways of working and thinking about game development. Pass Access: All Access, Core, Audio (Audio Sessions only) |
Core Concepts Roundtables
(Weds–Fri) | 60-minute interactive peer-to-peer discussions on open-ended topics facilitated by experienced moderators. Constructive controversy and debate are welcome. Roundtables have a limited capacity and attendance is first-come, first served. Pass Access: All Access, Core, Audio (Audio Sessions only) |
Independent Games Summit (IGS) Content
(Mon & Tues) | Hear from innovative indie game creators sharing key learnings in the Independent Games Summit. Attend lectures and postmortems presented by diverse voices, including many former and current Independent Games Festival finalists and winners. Pass Access: All Access, Summits, IGS |
Sponsored Content
| Hear from leading game technology companies in sponsored sessions throughout the week to learn firsthand about their latest products, tools, services, and techniques. Sponsored Summit sessions and Web3-Forum sessions are Monday and Tuesday. Sponsored Core Concepts, Partner Stage, and Industry Stage sessions are Wednesday through Friday. Pass Access: Available for all GDC pass holders |
Advocacy Sessions
(All Week) | Address topics ranging from diversity to censorship to quality of life within the realm of social advocacy in the game industry. Pass Access: Available for all GDC pass holders |
Game Career Development Content
(All Week) | Discover strategies for pitching your game, effective communication, how to land an investor/publisher, business development, and how to build your career in the game development directly from industry experts. Attend sessions on the Industry Stage on the Expo floor Wednesday – Friday, and the Game Career Seminar, happening Friday, designed for students and others interested in starting a game development career. Pass Access: Available for all GDC pass holders |
