At the 2025 Game Developers Conference (GDC), a palpable sense of optimism emerged among attendees, contrasting the previous year's despair following significant industry layoffs and company mismanagement. While some major companies like Unity and Epic opted out of showcasing, leading to a noticeably smaller event, conversations revealed a consensus that, despite ongoing struggles, the industry might be on the cusp of recovery. Attendance numbers remained flat year-over-year, reflecting cautious spending among participants amid economic uncertainties, yet there’s a resurgence of hope for a brighter future ahead.
A common phrase around the video game industry last year was the mantra of "Survive 'til 25". Times were hard, layoffs were rife - and people felt bad.
On the ground in the Moscone Convention Center's expo halls, GDC felt a little smaller. For starters, key partners and mainstays like Unity and Epic had eschewed booth.
The industry has certainly shrunk. Forcibly, at the hands of layoffs caused by money-grubbing executives, company mismanagement, and pandemic boom over-reach.
Despite the challenges faced, many attendees at GDC seem to share a sense of renewed optimism for the future, a shift from the previous year's jittery mood.
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