Concerns Loom Over GDC as International Developers Avoid US

Tense 2026 Game Developers Conference reflects industry unease amid safety fears and immigration crackdowns.

Published on Mar. 10, 2026

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The 2026 Game Developers Conference in San Francisco is marked by a somber mood, as many international developers opt to skip the event due to concerns over safety, immigration issues, and the high costs of attending. Reports indicate a sharp decline in attendance from overseas, with developers from Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and even Canada describing a climate that is openly hostile to foreign visitors, especially those who are outspoken, gender-diverse, or part of minority communities.

Why it matters

The absence of international developers at GDC, a once-vibrant global gathering, highlights the growing challenges facing the video game industry in the United States. The industry's sustainability is being called into question as global partners reconsider their ties to the US market amidst political tensions, economic uncertainty, and concerns over worker safety and wellbeing.

The details

Many developers cite past incidents of detainment, interrogation, and device searches at the border as reasons for their reluctance to attend GDC. Studios have had to provide additional safety briefings and legal paperwork for their teams traveling to the event. Transgender developers express heightened fears, worried about potential profiling and mistreatment. Even those who have traveled freely in the past, such as a Microsoft employee, now hesitate, saying "You can't seem to be safe." The high costs of San Francisco and the conference itself are also deterrents, with some developers describing the city's struggles with gentrification, drug use, and harassment as "alienating."

  • GDC 2026 took place in March.
  • The 2025 GDC conference, held during President Donald Trump's second term, was a breaking point for many international developers.

The players

Emilio Coppola

Executive director of the Godot Foundation.

Nazih Fares

French-Lebanese creative director.

Neha Patel

Audio director.

JC Lau

Senior producer.

Felix Kramer

Toronto-based producer, a visible trans man.

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What they’re saying

“I honestly don't know anyone who is not from the US who is planning on going to... GDC. We never felt super safe, but now we are not willing to risk it.”

— Emilio Coppola, Executive director of the Godot Foundation (Ars Technica)

“citizens getting arrested by border control over their views on the US is not something I would like to test for myself.”

— Nazih Fares, French-Lebanese creative director (Ars Technica)

“The agent at the border was very intrusive, more than the usual 'Ah, brown people' racism; I lied and said that I did not have American clients. I was too scared.”

— Neha Patel, Audio director (Ars Technica)

“I'm a visible trans man… but my ID still says 'female.' I'm not worried about visiting America—I'm worried about what happens if something goes wrong while I visit America.”

— Felix Kramer, Toronto-based producer (Ars Technica)

“I work for Xbox, and I am white, so it shouldn't be a problem for me. Until it is.”

— International Microsoft employee (Ars Technica)

What’s next

GDC organizers have responded by implementing measures such as a 24/7 safety hotline, visible security escorts, and assurances of monitoring the climate, but many attendees feel these steps are too little, too late.

The takeaway

The absence of international developers at GDC reflects the growing challenges facing the video game industry in the United States, as global partners reconsider their ties to the US market amidst political tensions, economic uncertainty, and concerns over worker safety and wellbeing. The industry's sustainability is being called into question, and the future of GDC as a truly global gathering hangs in the balance.