Submissions FAQ

The GDC Advisory Board seeks submissions from game developers, researchers, educators, and thought leaders eager to share what works, what should change, and where the future of video games is headed. The Board is eager to hear new creators, new stories, and new ideas—with a focus on diversity of voice, experience, and perspective.

Watch and Learn

First, watch past GDC talks and take note of what you liked (or didn’t like) as a viewer. Do you feel the talk achieved its goals and conveyed its message, or did it leave you with unanswered questions? What parts would you emulate? What would you have done differently?

Research Previous Content

It can be helpful to review what has been presented at GDC (check GDC Vault to view past sessions) that relates to your topic. This helps you avoid duplicate submissions and refine your proposal. Be prepared to articulate why your talk is timely and what new ideas, insights, or context you bring to the conversation.

Understand the Submission Requirements

Familiarize yourself with the track descriptions on the Call for Submissions page before you start drafting. This ensures you know exactly what the Advisory Board needs. Note that these track descriptions change annually based on current trends, popular topics, and the needs of each track’s respective discipline each year.

Watch our Q&A video

Check out this helpful GDC Q&A video on submitting a talk, session, or panel. It provides valuable insight into the submission process, what advisors look for in proposals, and answers to common questions from prospective speakers.

Speaking at GDC offers numerous benefits:

• Professional Exposure: Gain significant visibility and enhanced credibility within the industry
• Networking Opportunities: Connect with industry leaders, potential collaborators, and peers, fostering valuable professional relationships
• Knowledge Sharing: Contribute your expertise to the growth of the game development community
• Career Enhancement: Add a prestigious speaking engagement to your resume
• Conference Perks: Receive a complimentary pass, access to all sessions, and an invitation to the exclusive Level 99 Speaker Party
• This experience is rewarding both personally and professionally, positioning you as a thought leader in the industry.

GDC advisors do not accept product or vendor-related proposals through the Call for Submissions. If your talk is primarily intended to advertise or promote a particular product, technology, or service offered by your company, we encourage you to explore becoming a sponsor for a sponsored session. For more information, visit the Become a Partner page.

Core Synopsis

The heart of your proposal is an approximately 500-word synopsis that clearly explains what your talk will cover, and what attendees will take away from it. Don't hold back — share all relevant numbers, data, and supporting materials. This synopsis is confidential and only for the Advisory Board.

Additional Details

You'll also need to provide:

• Session title
• Format (lecture, panel, roundtable, etc.)
• Track category
• Speaker bio
• Website details

While not required, we highly recommend providing as many supporting materials as possible. This includes:

• Research data and statistics
• Screenshots and concept art
• Videos demonstrating techniques or gameplay
• Any other materials that support your case

For Unreleased Games

When applicable, include real gameplay footage, plot details, and post-release data (even if the game isn't available yet)—not just simple test content. The Advisory Board has extensive experience evaluating pre-release games and maintaining strict confidentiality.

Remember: Submissions are never rejected for including too much material.

No, but it's recommended that your game be scheduled to release at least two to three months before GDC week. This allows the quality of your work to be evaluated by the broader game development community.

Exceptions

Talks about pre-release or newly released games can be accepted if the technique or approach can be fully evaluated from visuals or documentation (e.g., a cloud rendering shader), but these cases are rare.

No, you don't need to submit actual slides during the proposal stage. However, provide detailed information about what your slides will cover — ideally in bullet-point format for easy assessment.

Example

Instead of: "I will discuss the problems we faced designing Game X."

Write: "I will cover the design space and constraints we faced, the specific nature of the problem, the steps we took to address it, the outcomes and learnings, and why this is valuable to the audience."

Be specific and comprehensive in describing your content structure.

Yes! Examples of standout proposals will be available soon. Feel free to use them as guidance for building your own proposal — while avoiding direct plagiarism, of course.

Each year, GDC accepts over 800 speakers for the non-sponsored program. While speaker fees are not standard, the conference organizers have implemented a Speaker Support Program to provide financial and/or hotel assistance to speakers who need it.

Speakers can apply for support upon notification of acceptance or Phase II conditional acceptance. Applying for speaker support does not impact final acceptance decisions.

Don't submit a "teaser."

Share all relevant information, including your talk's main takeaway and all supporting documents. The Advisory Board needs sufficient detail to properly evaluate whether your presentation will have impact. Vague or incomplete proposals are difficult to assess and less likely to be accepted.

Single speakers generally fare better than multi-speaker presentations, unless the talk is specifically formatted as a microtalk series or panel. Presenting to 300+ people is challenging, and coordinating with a co-speaker adds complexity.

When Co-Speakers Work

Co-speaker talks can succeed when:

• The talk covers related but distinct topics
• Each speaker brings a different point of view or expertise
• The presentation clearly benefits from multiple perspectives

Advisors consider the number of proposed speakers and each speaker's expertise, along with diversity of voice, experience, and perspective, when evaluating submissions.

Make It Accessible

While advisors are industry veterans, don't assume they're experts in every domain. The best speakers make complex material (specialized math, hardware internals, etc.) accessible to interested attendees and reviewers.

Be Clear About Trade-offs

Your submission should clearly articulate the wins and costs/drawbacks of your approach or technique. Include quantifiable data when applicable, even if from non-final stages (not shipped yet but will be by GDC).

Offer Flexibility

It's okay to suggest alternative structures for your talk that focus on different aspects of your approach. If you have other angles in mind, mention them — sometimes it's hard to see what might interest others most.

Show Structure, Not Just Subject

Describing your topic isn't enough. Go into detail about how your talk will be structured. Share key talking points and help advisors understand the beats and flow of your presentation. Bullet points are excellent for mapping this out.

Yes! Please get clearance from your company's PR or legal department before submitting. If you suspect you'll need approvals for your materials, start the process immediately.

Every year, approximately a dozen talks are lost due to legal and corporate issues. Don't let this happen to you!

If your legal team has questions, they can contact sam.warnke@informa.com.

Phase II Notification Timeline

After reviewing submissions, the Advisory Board notifies submitters whether their proposal has been Accepted, Declined, or advances to Phase II Conditional Acceptance.

What is Conditional Acceptance?

If your proposal receives Conditional Acceptance, you'll be asked to make revisions, typically due about one month after notification. Note: Most proposals reach Phase II Conditional Acceptance before final acceptance into GDC.

The Phase II Process

During Phase II, you'll work with an experienced GDC advisor who provides guidance and support as you develop your talk. You'll produce an outline and supporting visuals that tell a strong, compelling story. Your advisor will help you create an outline that makes the final slide deck primarily a polish pass.

Goal: Substantially Complete Presentation

The objective is a "substantially complete presentation" — comprehensive content with identifiable takeaways, more than an outline but less than a polished deck. Advisors focus on content completeness and structure, not visual polish or exact wording. There will be plenty of time for polish in Phase III and beyond.

Phase II typically lasts 3-4 weeks.

The Advisory Board reviews Phase II revisions and sends out final acceptances or declines by November or December.

If you've been selected, congratulations! It's time to prepare for your presentation at the GDC Festival of Gaming.

For a full list of requirements, proposal examples, and other information, visit our Call for Submissions page here.

Stay Updated

Subscribe to the Call for Submissions mailing list for updates on deadlines and other key information.

Questions?

If you have further questions about submitting a proposal for GDC, please contact sam.warnke@informa.com.