Game developer conferences are invaluable for anyone in the games industry, from aspiring solo developers to seasoned professionals at major studios. Whether you want to showcase your latest project, network with peers, or stay current with industry trends, these events are the place to be.

We’ve scouted the globe to bring you a slice of the essential conferences for game developers. While this isn't an exhaustive list, it covers many of the key events you should know about.

Where possible, we’ve listed approximate full ticket prices for an individual developer, excluding early-bird discounts. Many conferences offer cheaper online-only options, as well as discounts for students or studios. It's also common for keynote sessions to appear on YouTube for free after the event.

Premier Global Game Industry Events

Game Developers Conference (GDC)

• Location: San Francisco, CA, USA
• Approximate Full Ticket Price: $2,300 (All-Access Pass)

The Game Developers Conference (GDC) is the world’s largest and longest-running event for game development professionals. Held annually, it is a cornerstone of the industry, attracting thousands of attendees for a week of learning, inspiration, and networking. GDC features over 700 sessions, workshops, and panels led by industry experts, covering everything from programming and design to audio, visual arts, and business management. The expo floor is a hub for discovering new development technology, while the GDC Awards and Independent Games Festival (IGF) celebrate the year's best games.​

Gamescom

• Locations: Cologne, Germany; São Paulo, Brazil (Gamescom Latam); Singapore (Gamescom Asia)
• Approximate Full Ticket Price: Varies significantly. A business pass for Cologne is around $642, while a public day ticket is much cheaper. Latam tickets are around $120, and Asia passes are about $41.

Gamescom is the largest video game trade fair in the world as measured by attendance, making it a vital platform for the entire industry. While the main event in Cologne is a massive celebration for both consumers and professionals, it also incorporates Gamescom Dev (previously Devcom), a dedicated developer conference.​

• Gamescom Dev: Held just before Gamescom in Cologne, Gamescom Dev is Europe's biggest game developer conference, featuring a wide range of talks, panels, and networking opportunities for international developers and publishers. A standard ticket is approximately $642.
• Gamescom Latam: This event merges the global power of Gamescom with the BIG Festival, Latin America's largest gaming festival. It offers a mix of consumer exhibits, esports tournaments, and a significant business area for industry networking.
• Gamescom Asia: Serving the Asia-Pacific market, this event showcases a broad spectrum of the gaming industry, from AAA and indie titles to esports and cosplay, with both physical and online components.

Develop:Brighton

• Location: Brighton, UK
• Approximate Full Ticket Price: $1,487 (3-Day Pass)

Develop:Brighton is the UK's premier conference that brings the entire game-making industry together in a friendly and inclusive environment. The event is designed to cater to every discipline, with sessions focused on practical, vocational content that allows attendees to "skill-up". It offers tracks on coding, art, audio, design, and business. The conference also features free roundtables, an Indie BootCamp, and the Develop:Star Awards, which celebrate the best talent and games in the industry.​

Pocket Gamer Connects

• Locations: London, UK; Helsinki, Finland; San Francisco, CA, USA; and other global locations.
• Approximate Full Ticket Price: $580

Pocket Gamer Connects (PGC) is a leading conference series focused on the mobile gaming industry, though it covers all platforms. Events are held multiple times a year in various global gaming hubs. PGC sessions delve into global publishing strategies, market trends, and developer-focused topics on creativity and business models. Its standout features include the "Investor Connector" program, which pairs developers with investors, and dedicated tracks for indie developers to pitch their games to press and publishers.

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Key Regional and Specialised Game Conferences

DevGAMM

• Locations: Gdańsk, Poland; Lisbon, Portugal; and other European cities.
• Approximate Full Ticket Price: $275

Since 2008, DevGAMM has been a key networking hub for game industry professionals from Eastern Europe and beyond. The conference features packed sessions from speakers at major companies like Nintendo and Ubisoft. Attendees can showcase their games, schedule meetings with publishers via a matchmaking service, and gain visibility through contests and awards. A Career Wall also helps connect job seekers with studios.

Digital Dragons

• Location: Krakow, Poland
• Approximate Full Ticket Price: $243

Digital Dragons is a major B2B event in Europe for the game development community. It fosters innovation and business growth through a program of keynotes, workshops, and panel discussions. The conference includes an Indie Zone where independent studios can showcase their games to media, investors, and publishers. The prestigious Digital Dragons Awards ceremony celebrates the best of the Polish games industry.

Nordic Game

• Location: Malmö, Sweden
• Approximate Full Ticket Price: $791

Nordic Game is a prominent event that brings together the best of the Scandinavian and global games industry. The conference is known for its high-quality speaker program, demo stations for showcasing new projects, and extensive business development opportunities, including organized matchmaking sessions. It is celebrated for its strong focus on community building, innovation, and industry advancement.

Reboot Develop Blue

• Location: Dubrovnik, Croatia
• Approximate Full Ticket Price: $597

Held in a breath-taking seaside location, Reboot Develop Blue is a high-end conference known for its inspiring atmosphere and A-list speaker lineup. The event features multiple stages with talks from industry leaders, an indie expo area, and two separate award ceremonies. It's designed to facilitate networking and collaboration among established and emerging talent in a unique, resort-like setting.

Noteworthy Consumer & Hybrid Events

Penny Arcade Expo (PAX)

• Locations: Seattle, WA (West); Boston, MA (East); Philadelphia, PA (Unplugged); Melbourne, Australia.
• Approximate Full Ticket Price: Varies, but single-day passes are typically around $60-$70.

While primarily a consumer-focused festival celebrating gaming culture, PAX is an essential event for developers to connect directly with their player base. With events across the United States and in Australia, PAX features massive exhibitor halls where developers can demo their games, as well as panels, concerts, and tournaments. It offers an unparalleled opportunity to receive direct feedback and build a community around your game.​

Tokyo Game Show (TGS)

• Location: Tokyo, Japan
• Approximate Full Ticket Price: Public day tickets are very affordable, while business passes are more expensive.

The Tokyo Game Show is one of the world's top gaming events and a crucial window into the Asian gaming market, particularly Japan. While heavily focused on consumers, TGS includes a business-to-business area and dedicated days for industry professionals. It's a key venue for major announcements from Japanese publishers and for understanding the unique trends of the region.​

South by Southwest (SXSW)

• Location: Austin, TX, USA
• Approximate Full Ticket Price: $2,295 (Platinum Badge)

SXSW is a massive, multi-disciplinary conference covering tech, film, music, and culture. While not exclusively a gaming event, its gaming track is highly influential, focusing on the future of interactive entertainment. The sessions are designed to be forward-thinking, exploring topics like the intersection of gaming with other media, accessibility, and new business models. It's the ideal conference for developers looking for creative inspiration from outside the traditional games industry bubble.

E3 (Electronic Entertainment Expo)

• Location: Los Angeles, CA, USA
• Approximate Full Ticket Price: Historically, industry passes were free or several hundred dollars.

For decades, E3 was the premier video game trade show in North America, serving as the stage for the industry's biggest announcements. However, the event's future has become uncertain, with recent cancellations and plans for a major reinvention. While its traditional format may be gone, it remains a significant name, and the industry is watching to see how it evolves.​

Choosing the Right Game Conference For You

Perhaps like us, this list has made you want to spend your life savings and the whole year attending conferences. Game developer conferences aren't like Pokémon though; you don’t have to catch ‘em all. The key is to choose one or two events that align with your specific goals. Are you looking for a publisher, seeking to learn a new skill, or hoping to connect with players? Answering that question will help you find the perfect conference for you and your team.

This list is just a starting point. More events are constantly popping up, so be sure to check online conference guides to find new and local opportunities that fit your needs and budget.

Game and Game Developer Conference Summary

Month	Conference	Location
January	Pocket Gamer Connects	London, UK
	Taipei Game Show	Taipei, Taiwan
February	DevGAMM	Various, including Lisbon, Portugal
March	Game Developers Conference (GDC)	San Francisco, CA, USA
	South by Southwest (SXSW)	Austin, TX, USA
	PAX East	Boston, MA, USA
April	Reboot Develop Blue	Dubrovnik, Croatia
	Gamescom Latam	São Paulo, Brazil
May	Digital Dragons	Krakow, Poland
	Nordic Game	Malmö, Sweden
June	XP Games Summit	Toronto, Canada
July	Develop:Brighton	Brighton, UK
August	Devcom & Gamescom	Cologne, Germany
September	PAX West	Seattle, WA, USA
	Tokyo Game Show (TGS)	Tokyo, Japan
October	Pocket Gamer Connects	Helsinki, Finland
	Gamescom Asia	Singapore
	PAX Australia	Melbourne, Australia
November	India Game Developer Conference	Hyderabad, India

 

References

1. https://wordsmiths.blog/game-development-conferences/
2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Game_Developers_Conference
3. https://www.gameindustrycareerguide.com/best-game-industry-events-conferences/
4. https://www.developconference.com
5. https://expomarketing.com/blog/top-10-gaming-conventions/
6. https://thectoclub.com/career/best-developer-conferences/
7. https://gdconf.com
8. https://gameconfguide.com
9. https://gameconfguide.com/
10. https://www.reddit.com/r/gamedev/comments/qpf8jz/game_development_conferences_list/
11. https://www.igamingcalendar.com
12. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_gaming_conventions
13. https://schedule.gdconf.com
14. https://x.com/eventsforgamers?lang=en
15. https://dev.events/game