GDC Festival of Gaming 2026 Launches on March 9

Since 1988 the Game Developers Conference has been a spot wherever the radical that marque the games you emotion person gathered to stock their insights, amusement disconnected the latest innovations and stock their stories from down the scenes of the games industry. In 2026 the GDC Festival of Gaming carries connected that legacy, with implicit 1000 speakers crossed much than 700 sessions. IGN volition beryllium determination reporting from the frontlines, and presenting a sheet of its own.

Some of the speech highlights this twelvemonth see talks focused connected Clair Obscura: Expedition 33, Battlefield 6 and Diablo Immortal. It's not conscionable astir the league during the time either, GDC Nights has a full programme of evening entertainments waiting for attendees, with the Independent Games Festival (IGF) Awards, Game Developers Choice Awards (GDCA) and a unrecorded performance from composer Austin Wintory and the San Francisco Conservatory of Music.

IGN volition beryllium hosting a sheet titled How Do I Get My Game connected IGN? with Peer Schneider, Ryan McCaffrey, Justin Davis and Miranda Sanchez speaking astir however developers tin champion collaborate with IGN.

"In a clip of large change, we tin physique walls oregon physique bridges — and the crippled manufacture has ever thrived by coming together," said Mark DeLoura, GDC’s Executive Director of Innovation and Growth. "The GDC Festival of Gaming strengthens those connections, celebrating creativity and supporting everyone who brings games to life, from napkin sketch to planetary launch."

GDC Festival of Gaming takes spot March 9-13, 2026 successful and astir San Francisco’s Moscone Center.

Rachel Weber is the Head of Editorial Development astatine IGN and an elder millennial. She's been a nonrecreational nerd since 2006 erstwhile she got her commencement connected Official PlayStation Magazine successful the UK, and has since worked for GamesIndustry.Biz, Rolling Stone and GamesRadar. She loves horror, fearfulness movies, fearfulness games, Red Dead Redemption 2, and her Love and Deepspace boyfriends.