- Games
GDC is just around the corner, and anybody who cares about gaming should be watching
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Sandfall Interactive)
- Copy link
- X
Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more
Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.You are now subscribed
Your newsletter sign-up was successful
Want to add more newsletters?
Every Friday
GamesRadar+
Your weekly update on everything you could ever want to know about the games you already love, games we know you're going to love in the near future, and tales from the communities that surround them.
Signup +
Every Thursday
GTA 6 O'clock
Our special GTA 6 newsletter, with breaking news, insider info, and rumor analysis from the award-winning GTA 6 O'clock experts.
Signup +
Every Friday
Knowledge
From the creators of Edge: A weekly videogame industry newsletter with analysis from expert writers, guidance from professionals, and insight into what's on the horizon.
Signup +
Every Thursday
The Setup
Hardware nerds unite, sign up to our free tech newsletter for a weekly digest of the hottest new tech, the latest gadgets on the test bench, and much more.
Signup +
Every Wednesday
Switch 2 Spotlight
Sign up to our new Switch 2 newsletter, where we bring you the latest talking points on Nintendo's new console each week, bring you up to date on the news, and recommend what games to play.
Signup +
Every Saturday
The Watchlist
Subscribe for a weekly digest of the movie and TV news that matters, direct to your inbox. From first-look trailers, interviews, reviews and explainers, we've got you covered.
Signup +
Once a month
SFX
Get sneak previews, exclusive competitions and details of special events each month!
Signup + An account already exists for this email address, please log in. Subscribe to our newsletterThe Game Developer's Conference, aka GDC, is just weeks away, the Festival of Gaming running March 9 to March 13, and there's more than a few reasons to pay attention in 2026. GDC has a tendency to sometimes fly under the radar when compared to other industry events like Summer Game Fest and Gamescom, but what it has to offer is just as rich – arguably more so – than many other industry events.
Some conferences and showcases might emphasise headline reveals, but GDC has always held a specific niche – it's a window into the way that video games are made, and a look at the emerging technology and techniques that can shape the future of play. What GDC lacks in raw spectacle, it makes up for with a great depth and spirit that's always worth your attention.
You may like-
The Future Games Show is returning in 2026 with 6 new shows
-
GamesRadar+'s best of CES 2026: all the gaming gadgets you need to know about this year
-
Big in 2026: The ultimate guide to the video games that will shape 2026 and beyond
More than that though, GDC offers a unique opportunity for reflection. It's a space where developers look at what's happened in the last year, and offer insights into how key lessons learned will influence the future of gaming. The panels (many are exclusively for conference attendees, while some are made available to the public via portals like the GDC Vault and official Festival of Gaming YouTube channel) aren't just idle chat, but rather where game creators can gather to explain design philosophies.
Think of it as a space for creatives to share insight on what made their games great or, in some cases, what will make their games great in the future. Last year alone, we saw the creators behind Helldivers 2 argue that game balance wasn't even all that important (the scandal!), and a former GTA 6 developer explained the perils of open-world fatigue that are making sandboxes an increasingly exhausting proposition for most.
Naturally, a major talking point for GDC 2026 will be how AI is being (or could be) used to concept, develop, and maintain games in the years to come. The technology has proven to be exceptionally divisive to players and creators alike, so expect the rise of artificial intelligence to be a key point of discussion and debate. AI-focused developers from companies like Google, Capcom, NVIDIA, Xbox, and Sega are among the list of speakers present to dive into the topic, and the agenda includes more than a few talks exploring both sides of the debate.
It's for discussions like this that GDC is such an important moment on the calendar. The video game industry is notoriously secretive, so a moment for the development community to come together to share tips, tricks, and insights to aspiring creators and players alike is worthy of some time and attention. It's a place for the brightest figures in the industry to come together and show off why they – and the games they create – are so celebrated. And who could argue that that's not worth caring about?
Sign up to the GamesRadar+ NewsletterContact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.GamesRadar+ will be on the ground at GDC to bring you all the latest developments from the convention, so be sure to follow our GDC 2026 news and interviews right here starting March 9, 2026.
CATEGORIES Events & Conferences PS5 PC Gaming Nintendo Switch 2 Xbox Series X Platforms PlayStation Nintendo Xbox
Joel FraneySocial Links NavigationGuides Editor, GamesRadar+Joel Franey is a writer, journalist, podcaster and Very Tired Man with a BA from Brunel University, a Masters from Sussex University and a decade working in games journalism, often focused on guides coverage but also in reviews, features and news. His love of games is strongest when it comes to groundbreaking narratives like Disco Elysium, UnderTale and Baldur's Gate 3, as well as innovative or refined gameplay experiences like XCOM, Sifu, Arkham Asylum or Slay the Spire. He is a firm believer that the vast majority of games would be improved by adding a grappling hook, and if they already have one, they should probably add another just to be safe. You can find old work of his at Eurogamer, Gfinity, USgamer, SFX Magazine, RPS, Dicebreaker, VG247, and more.
View MoreYou must confirm your public display name before commenting
Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.
Logout Read more
The Future Games Show is returning in 2026 with 6 new shows
GamesRadar+'s best of CES 2026: all the gaming gadgets you need to know about this year
Big in 2026: The ultimate guide to the video games that will shape 2026 and beyond
Grand Theft Auto 6 will define 2026 and the future of gaming, for better or worse
10 predictions for The Game Awards 2025: Half-Life 3, Resident Evil Requiem, and more on Steam Machine please and thank you
What to expect from Xbox in 2026
Latest in Games
Stardew Valley creator went through it 6 months before launch, and the game didn't come together until "the last moment"
Princess Zelda actor "started practicing" Twilight Princess' Hylian language "over coffee" and is now fluent
World of Warcraft Midnight composer says Blizzard devs "feel very lucky and happy that we're not using generative AI
Pokemon FireRed/LeafGreen speedrunner finishes the re-releases in under 3 hours, discovers Legendary events are included
Pokemon Winds and Waves Browt already has quite the fan following despite agreement that the grass starter is kinda ugly
With Nier Automata, Overwatch is collecting JRPG crossovers like Infinity Stones, but fans aren't happy with the skins
Latest in Features
GDC is an opportunity to celebrate the games that defined 2025, and explore the technology that will shape the future of gaming
Marathon's UI is a headache that I fear will send me right back to Arc Raiders – tedious even for Bungie's standards
The 5-year wait for Pokemon Winds and Waves is unprecedented, but it looks like Nintendo has learned its lesson from Scarlet and Violet
Micron wants your next GPU to have 96GB of VRAM in it, but I don't really know who it's expecting will make it for you
"We had no idea this would be such a phenomenon": As Pokemon Red and Blue turn 30, here's how Game Freak created one of the most important RPGs of all time
I've been writing about new indie games for years, and these are the 10 best Steam Next Fest demos to play this weekend
GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS
1Lego Pikachu is in pole-position for one of the biggest releases this year, but a fragile build can be pain in the butt- 2Resident Evil Requiem review: "A soaring piece of survival horror theater"
- 3Demon Tides review: "Super Mario Odyssey and Wind Waker collide in this expressive 3D platformer"
- 4This Bloodborne-style board game is one of the best boss battlers I've ever played, hands-down
- 5Styx: Blades of Greed review: "What if Metal Gear Solid 5 went goblin mode? This fantasy open-world stealther delights"
1Scream 7 review: "Never as sharp or as smart as the series' best, but still has a few neat tricks up its billowing sleeve"- 2Return to Silent Hill review: "Neither an impressive adaptation nor coherent enough to act as a standalone film"
- 328 Years Later: The Bone Temple review: "The wildest and weirdest entry into the franchise yet"
- 4Avatar: Fire and Ash review: "Still a technical marvel, with some of the year's best action filmmaking"
- 5Five Nights at Freddy's 2 review: "We have waited two years for a Five Nights at Freddy's 1.5"
1Wonder Man review: "A low-key gem that's up there with the MCU's best"- 2Starfleet Academy review: "It may feel a little different to what we're used to, but this is Star Trek through and through"
- 3A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms review: "This Game of Thrones spin-off is a surprisingly heartfelt and fun return to Westeros"
- 4Stranger Things season 5 finale review: “Shows off both the best and the worst of Hawkins”
- 5Stranger Things season 5, Volume 2 review: “All set up for a finale that has so much to deliver”