The DeanBeat: What to expect at GDC 2022

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GamesBeat Summit 2022 returns with its largest event for leaders in gaming on April 26-28th. Reserve your spot here!

I’m very much looking forward to going in person to the Game Developers Conference 2022 event next week at the Moscone Convention Center in San Francisco. And just a year ago, during the height of the pandemic, I thought I might never be going to a GDC again.

I look forward to seeing many people in the game industry, watching their award sessions, and hearing interesting talks. But it’s going to be different in some respects, said Katie Stern, head of GDC, in an interview with me. The venue will feature fewer press events in contrast to past years. Companies like Microsoft, Epic Games, Google, and others aren’t doing their usual events this time. They don’t necessarily want to create large events where lots of people will gather within GDC, Stern said. (Google held an online developer event this week instead of going to GDC; other companies like Unity are moving forward with a number of GDC events).

“I would say it’s a really great mix of different types of games and talent,” Stern said. “And it’s pretty diverse in terms of the makers as well. So I think in that regard, it’s one of our better years. We’ll be streaming it on Twitch again. So even if you’re not at the show, you’ll be able to see it online.”

I think that return to tradition is a good thing, as it will give smaller developers a chance to shine, it will give me more time to see conference sessions, and it won’t be so crowded with announcements aimed at stealing the show. In other words, we’re going back to the old GDC. Of course, those anchor speakers from the big companies were kind of like the anchor stores at big malls — they were the reason the