The world of game development in 2025 is filled with exciting opportunities and daunting challenges. The 2025 GDC State of the Game Industry report shows an industry at a crossroads, with emerging technologies and shifting market trends driving change at every level. From the rise of Generative AI to the challenges posed by widespread layoffs, we are seeing an industry that is both thriving and struggling.
The Game Developers Conference is at the forefront of these industry changes and how they're impacting studios and developers. There are sessions covering everything from the risks and rewards of building a successful live-service game to the surprising rise of mobile and HTML web gaming. Here are some of the biggest trends being examined at GDC 2025, and how they're poised to shape the future of game development.
Generative AI in Game Development
The use (and overall quality) of Generative AI tools in the game industry has grown substantially over the past two years, bringing both benefits and challenges. There's been an increase in AI-powered tools for game design, production, marketing, and other facets of the game development process, bringing technological innovations and plenty of new opportunities for developers. However, the use of Generative AI has also introduced ethical concerns that make it a divisive topic.
Upcoming Talks on Generative AI at GDC 2025
Location: Room 3009, West Hall
Date: Tuesday, March 18
Time: 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Game AI Summit: The Human Cost of Generative AI
Location: Room 3004, West Hall
Date: Tuesday, March 18
Time: 3:50 pm - 4:20 pm
Inclusive Gaming AI: Red Teaming for Accessibility and Disability
Location: Room 3005, West Hall
Date: Thursday, March 20
Time: 11:00 am - 12:00 pm
The Growth and Challenges of Live-Service Games
One of the biggest markets in today’s game industry is live-service. The benefits for studios and team members are numerous: A consistent player base, ongoing revenue streams, and job security for developers. However, the threats of market oversaturation, player exhaustion, and creative burnout loom. Studios and developers are grappling with issues like keeping content fresh and player engagement high, as well as staying current and interesting in a highly competitive market.
Upcoming Talks on Live-Service Games at GDC 2025
Live Service Games Summit: The Year in Live Service Games
Location: Room 2006, West Hall
Date: Monday, March 17
Time: 9:30 am - 10:30 am
Improving Live Service Monetization Through Player Telemetry Enabled Marketing
Location: Room 3005, West Hall
Date: Thursday, March 20
Time: 2:30 pm - 3:00 pm
Building, Scaling, and Maintaining 'Sea of Thieves' Live Services
Location: Room 2002, West Hall
Date: Friday, March 21
Time: 1:30 pm - 2:30 pm
The New Frontier of Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality, and Mixed Reality
The world of interactive games is being brought to the next level with virtual reality, augmented reality, and mixed reality. These platforms open doors for new and unique experiences, making games more interactive and immersive than ever. But there are lingering issues—like how to bring these platforms to a larger audience, as well as how to make them more accessible.
Upcoming Talks on VR, AR, and MR at GDC 2025
Future Realities Summit: Coming Home in Mixed Reality: Arguments at Our Dinner Table
Location: Room 2002, West Hall
Date: Monday, March 17
Time: 2:40 pm - 3:40 pm
Location: Room 2002, West Hall
Date: Monday, March 17
Time: 4:10 pm - 5:10 pm
The Next Frontier of AR Glasses: Developing Experiences for Spectacles (Presented by Snapchat)
Location: Room 2000, West Hall
Date: Tuesday, March 18
Time: 9:30 am - 10:30 am
Mobile & Web Gaming: A Resurgence
For the first time in years, the game industry is seeing a rise in mobile and HTML game development. It’s an exciting time for mobile and web developers, and it introduces some interesting questions: What is bringing about this change, what is the modern mobile and web consumer looking for in games, and what can we expect from these platforms in the future?
Upcoming Talks on Mobile & Web Gaming at GDC 2025
UX Summit: UX Writing: A New(ish) Craft in Mobile Games
Location: Room 2010, West Hall
Date: Monday, March 17
Time: 9:30 am - 10:30 am
Are You Missing 10% of the Market?
Location: Room 2016, West Hall
Date: Thursday, March 20
Time: 11:00 am - 12:00 pm
Location: Room 2016, West Hall
Date: Wednesday, March 19
Time: 5:00 pm - 5:30 pm
The Evolution of Game Accessibility
Game accessibility is becoming a primary focus in development. Making games more customizable to meet players' needs provides the opportunity for people to try games they may not have been able to before... and it helps studios expand their audience. Even though the past few years have seen great innovations in the field of game accessibility, there are challenges that developers still need to address.
Upcoming Talks on Game Accessibility at GDC 2025
Accessibility for Everyone in Gaming: When Games Are Accessible, Everyone Can Be Part of the Story
Location: Room 3014, West Hall
Date: Wednesday, March 19
Time: 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Embracing Neurodiversity and Leadership in the Game Industry
Location: Room 3001, West Hall
Date: Wednesday, March 19
Time: 3:30 pm - 4:30 pm
Location: GDC Main Stage, West Hall, Street Level
Date: Thursday, March 20
Time: 12:15 pm - 1:15 pm
Publishing & Financing: Securing Resources in a Changing Industry
More than half of developers say they’ve put their own money into their games, partially because funding opportunities aren’t as easily available as they have been in the past. There are several factors that have contributed to this, including overall market instability and pressure for developers to have "the next big thing." This year, finding ways to get your game produced—whether through a traditional publisher or alternative forms of financing—is a major topic for today’s game developers.
Upcoming Talks on Game Publishing & Financing at GDC 2025
Funding Futures Series: Inception Publishing: The Shift to Indie Self-Publishing
Location: Room 3014, West Hall
Date: Wednesday, March 19
Time: 3:30 pm - 4:30 pm
Game Revenue Growth: Insights from Top Monetization Events
Location: Room 2014, West Hall
Date: Thursday, March 20
Time: 1:30 pm - 2:00 pm
Game Career Seminar: Pave Your Path and You Can Eat Ramen Every Day
Location: Room 3014, West Hall
Date: Friday, March 21
Time: 3:00 pm - 3:30 pm
Game Developer Careers in an Evolving Industry
The game industry has been greatly impacted by layoffs over the past two years, leaving many game developers struggling to figure out the next steps for their careers (not to mention students and recent graduates who are stepping foot into the industry). That’s why career development is such an important topic at GDC 2025—with talks ranging from skill development to networking and more—because so many developers either need support or are eager to provide it for others.
Upcoming Talks on Game Careers at GDC 2025
Unions in Gaming: The Past, Present, and Future
Location: Room 3001, West Hall
Date: Wednesday, March 19
Time: 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Charting the Future: Layoffs, Recovery, Job Trends and Community Impact
Location: Room 2006, West Hall
Date: Thursday, March 20
Time: 3:30 pm - 4:30 pm
Game Career Seminar: You Belong Here: Breaking In and Thriving in a Challenging Job Market
Location: Room 3005, West Hall
Date: Friday, March 21
Time: 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Stay Ahead: Join us at GDC 2025
Keeping informed of the latest industry trends is crucial to thriving as a game developer in 2025. It's about gaining a competitive advantage, understanding the market, anticipating player needs, and paving the way for the next generation of developers. Make sure to explore the full GDC 2025 State of the Game Industry report and register for key sessions—including the first-ever State of the Game Industry panel hosted by GDC.
Stay ahead of the latest game development trends—join the industry leaders of today and tomorrow at GDC 2025!
GDC returns this March 17-21, 2025, and registration is open! Check out our Passes & Prices, and follow the #GDC2025 hashtag on Bluesky and LinkedIn.
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