Overview
- The turnout marked the conference's lowest since 2011 after surpassing 30,000 in 2024 and 2025.
- Organizers and industry sources cited high attendance costs plus U.S. immigration and visa worries, which discouraged many international visitors.
- Widespread layoffs and budget cuts led some companies to skip or downsize their presence, with spending redirected to shows like Develop Brighton and Tokyo Game Show.
- Despite fewer attendees, the rebranded festival staged more than 700 sessions with 1,100 speakers and over 300 exhibitors representing 85+ countries, including major tech firms.
- GDC lowered some ticket tiers this year, confirmed a March 1–5, 2027 return to San Francisco, and replaced canceled keynoter Hideo Kojima with Rob Pardo.