Some International Developers Plan to Skip GDC 2026 Over Safety and Immigration Concerns

The 2026 Game Developers Conference appears likely to attract fewer international participants, based on conversations on social networks such as LinkedIn.

An increasing number of professionals from the global games industry have said they intend to skip the event, citing concerns about personal safety, stricter U.S. immigration policies, and a heightened presence of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Developers, former GDC attendees, and other industry members have publicly shared their concerns on platforms such as LinkedIn.

Those fears have been amplified by increased ICE activity across several U.S. cities, as well as recent fatal incidents involving ICE agents in Minneapolis. Renee Nicole Good was killed on January 7, followed by the death of ICU nurse Alex Pretti on January 24. Some potential attendees also cited anxiety over unpredictable border inspections and broader safety issues tied to travel.

As one industry member wrote, “It’s not worth taking the risk of going.” Another added, “The U.S. is just a very problematic location for an international event.”

The conference, rebranded as the “GDC Festival of Gaming,” is set to take place in San Francisco from March 9 to March 13.

In addition to immigration and safety concerns, some developers pointed to more general factors — particularly cost — as reasons for opting out. Independent developers and small studios said the combined expenses of travel, accommodation, meals, and admission fees make attending difficult to justify.

Responding to these concerns, GDC president Nina Brown told Mobilegamer.biz that “the safety of our community is always our top priority.” Brown said the organisation works closely with local officials and legal experts to stay informed on U.S. policy changes and to share the latest guidance with attendees. She also advised international participants to begin visa applications early and consult their embassies about any specific requirements.

Brown outlined several safety measures in place for the event, including a 24/7 safety hotline, staff safety training, and security escorts available upon request. San Francisco’s Safety Community Ambassadors program will also be present to provide additional support during the conference.

TechCrunch said it has contacted GDC for comment and will update its coverage if it receives a response.

To address cost concerns, GDC has introduced a simplified, lower-priced ticket option to make the event more accessible to indie developers and smaller studios. The new Festival Pass replaces the former All-Access pass and is priced 45% lower, starting at $649, while still granting access to the main conference programming.

🚨 THE WAIT IS OFFICIALLY OVER! 🚨
Registration for the 2026 GDC Festival of Gaming is NOW LIVE!
Calling ALL game changers - devs, creators, publishers, investors, marketers & everyone in between!
🎮 Experience the NEW GDC:
🚀 Next-level networking
💼 Career-boosting sessions &… pic.twitter.com/tH70wYwHoV — GDC Festival of Gaming (@Official_GDC) October 23, 2025