Many game studios and executives have said they plan to leave by 2026 Game Developers ConferenceCiting security concerns linked to increased US immigration scrutiny and ICE activity, among many other factors. As a result, this year's GDC may 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 Festival pitching it as a sprawling, ecosystem-wide B2B industry gathering. Organizers say the shift is informed by community feedback and includes a stronger emphasis on networking and cross-industry connections, as well as a simplified ticket structure to make the show more accessible to smaller developers and independent studios than in previous years.
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GDC 2026 faces attendance challenges amid US immigration crackdown
Despite low pass costs, GDC 2026 faces attendance challenges. Several European and Canadian executives told MobileGamer.biz that they are reducing headcount for this year's edition of the event, with some even skipping the show altogether. Many cited increased U.S. immigration enforcement and related security concerns as one of the reasons for withdrawing or canceling their attendance.
Here's what developers are saying about their GDC 2026 concerns
Curran Games Agency founder Cassia Curran outlines four reasons why Canadian and European developers are reluctant to attend GDC 2026. In order of frequency, these include: San Francisco perceived as “unpleasant and expensive”, desire to oppose “US government aggression towards their countries”, concern about needing to disclose social media activities and needing to intrude on personal media activity. of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Echoing one of those concerns, NetSpeak Games CEO Callum Cooper-Brighting said his company will no longer attend GDC due to the current political situation. “There's no way in good conscience I'd send personnel there when I'm not willing to take the risk myself,” he said. He added that his company is both inclusive and “awakened” — qualities he doesn't believe are currently “welcome in America.”
The stateside immigration crackdown is raising tensions
Tensions around federal immigration enforcement in Minneapolis have risen after two fatal shootings involving federal agents this month: the Jan. 7 killing of Renee Nicole Goode and the Jan. 24 killing of ICU nurse Alex Pretty. U.S. authorities allege that Goode tried to ram an ICE agent with his vehicle, with a video stander trying to dispute his account. away
There is no way in good conscience I could send an employee there when I am not willing to take the risk myself.
In Pretty's case, the Department of Homeland Security said a Border Patrol agent fired in self-defense after Pretty approached with a handgun and “violently resisted” attempts to disarm him. However, Reuters later reported that bystander footage it verified and reviewed contradicted the federal government's account of the January 24 shooting. Videos show Pretty holding a phone instead of a gun to help protesters who were pushed to the ground by agents before more agents stopped him. The footage appears to show one agent removing the handgun from Pretty's waistband area and walking away, before another officer fired several shots at close range. Local authorities said Pretty legally owned and carried the gun. President Trump sent border czar Tom Homan to Minnesota on Monday, Jan. 26, amid growing political pushback against ICE's “Operation Metro Surge.”
GDC responds to game developer security concerns
“The safety of our community is always our top priority,” GDC President Nina Brown told MobileGamer.biz in a statement, adding that the festival has expanded safety training for all of its employees, offers safety escorts upon request, and has a 24/7 safety line. However, it appears that the conference may struggle to repeat its attendance numbers from recent years, which were in the ballpark of 30,000 for 2024 and 2025. Cooper-Brighting also pointed to European business events as a viable alternative to the San Francisco event, offering similar networking opportunities with fewer travel barriers. “I raised $2 million at PGC London and $12 million at Gamescom in Cologne and felt completely safe in those places,” he explained.
