The 2026 edition of the Game Developers Conference reportedly faces attendance challenges tied to concerns over ICE activity and U.S. safety.
A number of game studios and executives say they plan to skip the 2026 Game Developers Conference, citing safety concerns linked to heightened U.S. immigration scrutiny and ICE activity, among several other factors. As a result, this year’s GDC could look markedly different from recent editions of the event.
GDC is scheduled to take place between March 9 and 13 in San Francisco. The upcoming edition of the annual event has been rebranded as the “GDC Festival of Gaming,” with organizer Informa Festivals pitching it as a broadened, ecosystem-wide B2B industry gathering. Organizers say the shift is informed by community feedback and includes a simplified ticket structure aimed at making the show more accessible to smaller developers and independent studios compared to previous years, alongside a stronger emphasis on networking and cross-industry connections.
The only thing worse than being a known threat is being unpredictable. Tomorrow, next week, or whenever, Mango Mussolini might go on a 4AM rant about how much he hates the gaming industry. Then there’s the ongoing issue of ICE murdering and kidnapping with impunity.
There’s absolutely no way that I’d risk my life or freedom for something as trivial as GDC 2026.
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The only thing worse than being a known threat is being unpredictable. Tomorrow, next week, or whenever, Mango Mussolini might go on a 4AM rant about how much he hates the gaming industry. Then there’s the ongoing issue of ICE murdering and kidnapping with impunity.
There’s absolutely no way that I’d risk my life or freedom for something as trivial as GDC 2026.