The 39th annual Game Developers Conference is just around the corner, returning to the Moscone Center in San Francisco from March 17-21. As always, it promises five days packed with invaluable talks, workshops, cutting-edge tools, and technologies, along with plenty of networking opportunities.
This year, GDC will focus on some of the most pressing issues facing game developers in 2025, including industry layoffs, generative AI, the business side of gaming, publishing, financing, and more. But don’t forget there will be hundreds of sessions tailored to users of DCC software and game engines, led by their creators, covering everything from programming, game design, and visual art to leadership and beyond.
If you’re eager to get the latest updates on Unreal Engine and UEFN, join Epic Games at Moscone West for sessions on March 19-20. Here’s a rundown of the talks you can attend:
- Developer Iteration and Efficiency in Unreal Engine
- Epic Online Services: Use Easy Anti-Cheat and Player Moderation in Your Games To Help Create Positive Online Play
- Why Build with Unreal Editor for Fortnite
- Crash Course for New Unreal Engine Developers
- Best Practices for AAA Development in Unreal Editor for Fortnite
- Moving to Mobile: Workflows for Unreal Engine Mobile Development
- Preempting Challenges in AAA Unreal Engine Development
- KWS: Scaling Parental Consent and Verification in Fortnite and Beyond
- Dynamic Destruction in UE5 with the Chaos Destruction System
Epic Games
Want a sneak peek at the future of Unity? Join the team on March 17 and 18 at room 2020, West Hall, for two full days of advanced talks, technical deep dives, and live demos. Here’s a list of the announced talks from developers and industry experts sharing their hands-on experiences:
- The Unity Engine Roadmap
- Accelerating the Creation of Your Competitive Multiplayer Game
- Best Practices with 2D Workflows in Unity 6
- Stumbling into New Platforms: Taking Stumble Guys to Console
- Performance Tips & Tricks from a Unity Consultant
- Graphics Rendering: Getting the Best Performance with Unity 6.1
- Getting Dredge to Look Great and Run Cool on Mobile
- Immersive Experiences: Building Cross-Platform Mixed Reality
- Building Fear: The Tech Behind Phasmophobia
- Elevating the Ad Experience: A Playbook for Building Trust & Safety
- Player-First Monetization: How Metacore Balances Engagement & Revenue
Stop by Moscone West on the second floor to connect with Autodesk experts, get a behind-the-scenes look at the creation of some AAA games, and discover how AI-powered workflows can benefit your projects. Autodesk Developer Summit on March 18, a full day of presentations and panels, will provide you with valuable insights on:
- Leveling Up Creative Workflows with AI
- The Magic Behind Baldur’s Gate 3: Pipeline Efficiency Enabled by Production Management Tools
- Unleashing Creativity: Building Artist-Friendly Pipeline Tools and Workflows (LIGHTSPEED STUDIOS)
- Power Up Your Game Development Workflow with Bifrost for Maya
- Animation Workflow Hacks for Seamless Game Engine Integration (Riot Games)
- Ethical AI for Next-Gen Game Development
Autodesk
A small delegation from the Blender team will also be attending GDC from March 17-21. Their main goal is to connect with individuals and teams using Blender to create interactive content. The Blender Meetup will take place on March 18 at 10:00 AM at Yerba Buena Gardens (right in front of the Moscone Center). Look for the Blender flag, grab your coffee, and see you there!
From texturing with the intent to creating game-ready environments, Substance Days speakers will explore the workflows behind today’s top games on March 17. Stop by the Adobe Substance 3D booth in West Hall to watch exclusive technical demos and check out the latest features in the Substance 3D suite:
- Adobe Substance 3D Keynote
- Game Environment Creation Made Easier with Substance 3D Designer
- Silent Hill 2: Remaking a Horror Icon – An Artistic Journey into Fear
- Layer by Layer: Texturing with Intent in Substance 3D
- Helldivers 2: Diving into Biome Material Creation with a Tiny Team
Adobe
The afterparty later is free and open to all attendees of Substance Days at GDC, so come join and connect with others for some fun on the first evening of GDC 2025. Additionally, at booth S427, you can meet Substance 3D experts showcasing their workflows and work on game projects. Get tips and tricks on using Substance 3D and take part in a portfolio review session.
SideFX is coming to GDC this year with three sponsored sessions and a private meeting room at Canopy by Hilton. At the Moscone Center, you can catch the following talks on March 19:
- Twisting Terrain and Populating Forests on an Anomalized Olympic Peninsula for Pacific Drive
- Tool Development Principles from the
Houdini Game Tools Team - Moba: Non-Destructive Pipelines
Maxon’s booth at GDC 2025 will feature presentations from various artists showcasing their workflows with Maxon tools. You can catch these sessions from March 19 to 21 at booth S340.
Also, make sure to stop by Marvelous Designer at booth S1362 at the Moscone Center from March 19–21 to get the latest updates, preview the roadmap, and have a hands-on experience with Marvelous Designer at the interactive station.
GDC 2025 boasts over 800 sessions led by top industry experts, and it’s a space for developers to connect with peers and potential collaborators. Whether you’re looking for a job, learning new skills, or getting feedback on your game demo, you’ll find plenty of opportunities.
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