The long-running Game Developer Conference (GDC) has officially rebranded as the GDC Festival of Gaming, a change unveiled via social media (on X among other platforms) last week that sent waves of interest and feedback from the game development community.
We’re changing the game. pic.twitter.com/jav81oEFJ1
— Game Developers Conference (@Official_GDC) September 22, 2025
Scheduled for March 9–13, 2026, at San Francisco’s Moscone Center, this shift for GDC reflects a broader industry pivot, events experiences included. In a statement to GamesIndustry.biz, organizers promise “more connection, more opportunity, more relevance,” positioning the festival as a one-stop destination for every stage of game creation.
In explaining the rebrand, GDC leaders highlighted seismic changes in development budgets, fragmented attention spans, and tougher discovery pathways for indie teams. They argued that new technologies have democratized game design but also intensified the need for community support. “Our community needs more connection, visibility, and support,” the announcement declared in the same statement to GamesIndustry.biz, framing the Festival of Gaming as the logical next step for an evolving sector.
A revamped pass structure underpins the rebrand. The new Festival Pass replaces the pricey All Access option at a significantly reduced rate, making sure that full entry is the baseline rather than a premium add-on. Start-ups and academic attendees will have access to additional discounts, eliminating a too-familiar trade-off between affordability and full programming access.
Last spring’s GDC drew nearly 30,000 attendees and expanded exhibitor booths from 325 to 400. Over 1,000 speakers led 750 sessions, workshops, and roundtables, while GDC Nights—a pair of after-hours gatherings—welcomed another 6,000 participants, hinting at some of the refreshed social dimensions the Festival of Gaming may amplify.
But, based on some of the feedback from individuals and organizations, there were definite hints that the experience may have hit a wall, especially in the last year or two.
Now, with the rebrand, across social media, developers and press alike have greeted the rebrand with a mix of cautious optimism and wariness about the shift from a developer-focused experience and a unified event pass — with some factors not changing yet, like the political situation in the U.S affecting travelers from abroad or the pricey San Francisco-based location.
Will the nay-sayers or enthusiasts for the rebrand be proven correct in the end? Perhaps the only way is to attend or, at least, follow the discussion online as we approach and enter GDC season in early 2026. Learn more at the official GDC website and follow along with E4G as we share news and updates as the Game Developer Conference approaches!
