Last month, the world’s largest tech show announced that CES would only go online in 2021 instead of expecting companies and journalists to encourage Las Vegas in January. But the Game Developers Conference (GDC) just announced that it is not following suit: it will hold a “hybrid event that takes place physically in San Francisco” that also includes a “robust virtual offering.”
While it is not yet clear how robust the virtual part will be, GDC 2021 actually has one thing ahead of it: it will be held July 19-21 next year, instead of the typical March time frame. Maybe then we will have a fax or at least be more confident about gigantic business and social gatherings.
Or maybe it’s just going to be a smaller event: GDC was never known as a showcase for announcements for big game industries, and developers have sometimes been cruel when companies use the show for that purpose.
Following the virtual event “GDC Summer” of GDC’s makeup, it sounds like organizers aim to roll the virtual ball this year as well, with a set of “virtual GDC Master Classes” taking day-long deep dives into the game will offer development later this year. They also aim to fill the March 2021 gap left by GDC with a ‘GDC Community Celebration’:
Finally, a week-long single-track “GDC Community Celebration” will run from March 1 to March 5, 2021, streaming behind-the-scenes lectures on last year’s top games, high-profile conversations, Q&A and more interactive content. Organizers will extend invitations to speakers to present interviews and Q & As, with the lineup and sponsorship programs to be confirmed in the coming weeks and months.
GDC promises more info about the hybrid event, including instructions for companies that want to participate, in the near future. It sounds like the idea is still very much coming together, so do not be surprised if plans change as society recovers from COVID-19.
