8Bit/Digi

A Look at Everything We Saw at the GDC 2024

The 2024 Game Developers Conference was a week-long event that allowed game developers an insight into what is happening in the industry. Guests also got the chance to check out the latest tech while studios showcased their upcoming titles. The event took place during the week of March 18th until March 22nd at the Moscone Center in San Francisco.

8Bit/Digi was present to cover the event and to gain some insight from professionals in the industry. After a week of learning from industry experts and meeting new people, these are the highlights of our time at the 2024 Game Developers Conference.

The Expo Floor

The expo floor had a good number of studios and publishers who wanted to share their work while also being on the lookout for new talent. Also present were a number of hardware and software companies trying to showcase their tech to the industry. Each booth allowed guests to learn about the company and the projects they are working or sample a demo of their upcoming game. Here are some of the booths and setups that got my attention during the week.

The Industry

Meta once again had a commanding presence on the expo floor as they highlighted the upcoming titles for Meta Quest 3. Visitors could sign up and demo some upcoming games. They could also speak with Meta developers regarding their work in the games or VR industry. 

PUBG Studios was present mostly looking to recruit new developers for their ever expanding team. Visitors could speak to a recruiter about working on the hit battle royale game.

Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) is an organization that works to promote mutual trade and investment between Japan and other countries. During GDC, they were present to highlight the games made by Japanese developers while showcasing some upcoming titles. They also invited guests to try some sake while learning about the Japanese game scene. 

Resilio Inc. is well known for its peer-to-peer file synchronization tools that are used by numerous major companies. Among their clients are some of the major game studios. They were present during GDC to showcase their work to other studios and developers while bringing greater awareness to their services. 

Unity Games is responsible for creating, maintaining, and licensing one of the most popular engines in the industry. During the GDC week, they were showcasing the many new titles that have been built using the Unity engine. Developers also got the chance to chat with the Unity team to learn more about the engine. 

Niantic was present to showcase some of the work they have been doing with AR technology. Visitors were invited to explore the latest advancements in AR through demos, presentations or just talking to the team. 

The Community

The Museum of Arts and Digital Entertainment (The MADE) was once again present to showcase some of the classics at GDC. Visitors could enjoy classic titles like 007 GoldenEye for the Nintendo 64. Guests could also learn about The MADE’s work in preserving video game history and culture while finding a way to contribute. They also had a project to map out the attendees’ career history from the earliest studios to where they are present. 

Black Voices in Gaming is a non-profit organization dedicated to highlighting and supporting Black game developers. They do this by providing community support, organizing showcases, and helping to provide funding. They also have partnered with major publishers and studios to help elevate the voices of the community. 

The International Game Developers Association (IGDA) partnered with NVIDIA and Dell this year for a combined showcase during GDC. Developers could learn about the work of the IGDA while also checking out the latest tech from NVIDIA and Dell.

Independent Games Festival and Game Developers Choice Awards

The Independent Games Festival and Game Developers Choice Awards were an opportunity for the industry to honor the best works of 2023. Here is a rundown of all the winners from both award ceremonies.

Independent Games Festival Award Winners

• Excellence in Visual Art – Phonopolis (Amanita Design)
• Excellence in Audio – Rhythm Doctor (7th Beat Games)
• Excellence in Design – Cryptmaster (Paul Hart & Lee Williams)
• Excellence in Narrative – Mediterranea Inferno (EYEGUYS)
• Nuovo Award – Anthology of the Killer (Thecatamites, Tommy Tone, A. Degen)
• Best Student Game – Once Upon a Jester (Bonte Avond)
• Audience Award – RAM: Random Access Mayhem (Xylem Studios)
• alt.ctrl.gdc Award – Chú Mó (The Chú Mó Team @ ArtCenter)
• Seumas McNally Grand Prize – Venba (Visai Games)

Game Developers Choice Awards

• Best Debut – Venba (Visai Games)
• Best Visual Art – Alan Wake 2 (Remedy Entertainment / Epic Games)
• Best Audio – Hi-Fi Rush (Tango Gameworks / Bethesda Softworks)
• Best Narrative –Baldur’s Gate 3 (Larian Studios)
• Social Impact Award – Venba (Visai Games)
• Innovation Award – The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (Nintendo)
• Best Technology – The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (Nintendo) 
• Best Design – Baldur’s Gate 3 (Larian Studios)
• Audience Award – Baldur’s Gate 3 (Larian Studios)
• Game of the Year – Baldur’s Gate 3 (Larian Studios)
• Ambassador Award – Fawzi Mesmar
• Lifetime Achievement Award – Yoko Shimomura

Off-Site Mixers and After Party

Given the significance of the 2024 Game Developers Conference, there were plenty of after parties and mixers to check out. For anyone who wants to break into the game industry, these are the places to go just to meet the right person. Here are a few that I got to check out:

A staple of the Bay Area games scene, Day of the Devs brought together indie developers from all over the world to showcase their work. This was an opportunity to check out some of the latest indie game titles while also a chance for developers to mingle with each other. 

Gameplay Summit was a day-long event that allowed indie developers an opportunity to showcase their work. Here you could try some creative titles that are in the works, getting ready to launch or have already launched. At the same time, one can also mingle with the creative team and learn more about their work. 

Ending the week was the Level Up Mixer + After Party at Temple SF, one of the most popular events during the Game Developers Conference. The Mixer allowed indie developers to showcase their work and network among the guests. The After Party was all about hitting the dance floor and having a good time. 

This article is part of our coverage of the 2024 Game Developers Conference. If you attended the event, please share your thoughts in the comment section below.

Disclaimer: GDC provided 8Bit/Digi with press passes for the event.

8Bit/Digi is an independent media outlet that provides an insight into the gamer community of the San Francisco Bay Area.