The organizers of the Game Developers Conference (GDC) report that they have not observed any cancellations from international attendees, and attendance numbers are "tracking in line with expectations"
Officials from GDC, organized by Informa, have stated there is no noticeable decline in international participation, despite growing concerns within the industry regarding expenses and the political climate in the US.
Recurring discussions about the high costs of attending the conference have been intensified by worries over strict immigration measures and incidents like the recent tragedy involving two US citizens in Minnesota. This has made some overseas professionals hesitant to participate, as witnessed at Pocket Gamer Connects in London, where many companies have chosen to either limit their delegations or skip the event altogether.
GDC Executive Director Mark DeLoura acknowledged hearing similar concerns, but noted that ticket sales have not yet shown any decline. "The event's international nature is a significant advantage," he remarked, highlighting that typically 30% of attendees are international, which fosters global dialogue.
Efforts have been made to support international attendees by launching the content schedule earlier, giving participants additional time for visa arrangements. DeLoura emphasized the importance of maintaining a global dialogue and expressed hope for widespread participation.
Ashley Corrigan, GDC conference director and Head of Content, mentioned that attendance is currently aligning with expectations, with some regions seeing increased participation while others are experiencing declines. She highlighted the redesigned "Festival Hall" that will feature international sections from countries like Brazil, Portugal, and Germany, among others.
The event also offers scholarship programs in collaboration with various organizations, including the Latin American (LATAM) group and the International Game Developers Association (IGDA).
Despite the ongoing critique of GDC, several UK and European publishers revealed to GamesIndustry.biz their decision to forgo attending this year. Additionally, the recent rebranding of the event to GDC Festival of Gaming has been met with some mixed reactions.