Opening | This Could Be Anywhere
“This could be everywhere” — Dead Kennedys
Calm at the center of a storm. Focused outward, the raw power of nature transforming the landscape around you. Your presence, observing and preparing for change, a vibrational fight-or-flight, on standby and ready for action. The world, in a state of upheaval and flux, movement to stasis, action to rest. Poised on the edge, simultaneously aware and unsure of when a return to relative stability might arrive. Waiting for the quiet that comes after. (If the section titles feel a little intense, well, it’s a punk rock kind of year so far for me. Read on to the end to find out why.)
Whether you carry this analogy to this year’s Game Developers Conference’s newly rebranded and expanded Festival of Gaming, record layoffs across a games industry suffering from unrealistic projections of eternal growth, the unraveling of democratic norms and civil liberties in the United States, or other instances of oppression globally, the weight of reality these days is heavy for anyone paying attention. Which is not to say that changes in format at GDC in any way compare to bigger-picture concerns.
With such seismic cultural shifts taking place around the world, what place does participating in a conference bring to help balance out the instability around us?
Across every presentation, conversation, and interaction, we come to the process of trying to understand different perspectives. Sometimes, we’re in the right place to hear the words, messages, and intentions encoded in this information. Other times, we struggle to bridge the gap between what we know and what’s being communicated. Even when we’ve taken in and digested this new data, it often must be applied in practice to truly understand. Through this process, hopefully arriving with a better understanding than where we started, we begin to grow together.
Maybe you’re new to all of this, wading into a sea of people and possibilities as part of the larger game development community at GDC. Maybe you’ve been on this carousel of annual assemblage for years, as a way to inject and invigorate a career already in progress. Maybe you’re seeking the kind of perspectives that can only be found in person, shared between people, to help make sense of what you’re working on or the world you’re living in. Regardless of the local context on the ground in San Francisco, we are all part of a global context that shapes our experience.
Right, we’re talking about a conference…isn’t that where people go to party?
“Each year I attempt to frame the opportunities that exist in the biggest multiplayer game-of-game developers in the world. A choose-your-own-adventure of: education, community, celebration, and camaraderie. There’s no wrong way to play, no points or high-scores. You’ll need all of your wits, a few maps, a bag of holding, at least some gold (and likely a bit of magic) to get you through. You’ll emerge on the other side having gained experience, witnessed wonders, and hopefully bent an ear, and had your ear bent, in the direction of all that’s good in the world of interactive audio.
You’re an adventurer and an audio advocate on the wild streets of San Francisco, where there’s safety in numbers (and a fair-share of dragons). It’s dangerous to go alone! Take this. I hope that there are some words and ideas to help you through the times ahead.”
Last year, as part of the “Purple Guide to Game Audio GDC,” I said that, for me, “There’s a comfort in repetition.” I came back from GDC last year energized, with feelings about the community and the people participating in game development—in the best way. I still carry the last fumes of that energy with me this year, hoping to fill my tank with good vibrations. I hope that this process of what I think of as “understanding” is an arc that continues to bend in the direction of positivity, for everyone.
Find the community, take care of yourself, and take care of each other. If you see me on the ground, please say hello!
Recurring | Stars and Stripes of Corruption
“So this is where it happens” — Dead Kennedys
Morning Audio Community Meetup
The best place to start your day. 222 2nd St.
Lunch Behind the Carousel
Audio community lunch in Yerba Buena Gardens.
CarouselCon
Crowd-sourced community presentations.
Discord: Game Audio GDC!
Real-time coordination and community support.
#GameAudioGDC on BlueSky
Follow the hashtag for live updates.
Monday – Friday | 8:00 am – 9:00 am-ish | Morning Audio Community Meetup
Like a dawn chorus whose voice fills the forest with ecstatic communication, the Morning Audio Community Meetup is the sound of people coming together to share their experience throughout the conference. An annual conversation grown from the roots of the Game Audio Podcast, this community conversation is all about filling in the gaps of the GDC experience.
• By giving people a platform to surface what happened the day before, it provides access to other knowledge that may have been missed.
• At some point things shift to surfacing plans for the day ahead, a chance to highlight something good while hearing about other possibilities.
• This is simply the best place to find game audio and begin your day informed about events.
The meetup location is just a short block away from Moscone at 222 2nd St. so grab your beverage of choice en-route and start your day in the best way. (…and if you can’t make it in-person, check out the daily recordings and uploads thanks to Jocelle Bautista & Nicholas Soriano Smith, with an extra-special thanks to Anton Woldhek, co-founder of the Game Audio Podcast!)
Here’s a map, so you don’t get lost:
Monday – Friday | 12:00 pm | Daily Lunchtime “Behind” the Carousel
Lunch behind the Carousel is always a thing. The default location for audio community sustenance and an open invitation for unwinding in-between. When the weather is good, behind the Carousel (ideally, in the amphitheater set-back from the road) is simply the best place to target when you’re looking for a place to land during lunch. Grab some food and see you there! (In-case of rain, feel free to head over to the Audiokinetic Community space at the Metreon Theater!)
Wednesday – Thursday | 12:30 pm | CarouselCon “Behind” the Carousel
Photo Credit: Dinah Bakeer
In 2017, Matthew Marteinsson began organizing and hosting a series of crowd-sourced presentations under the name CarouselCon, running parallel to the lunchtime game audio meetups behind the Carousel (see above). Since then, CarouselCon has been handed off to the community as a way to continue surfacing community perspectives in an equitable and inclusive way. This event is a great way for folks to share top-of-mind experiences, important findings, and random thoughts, or just plain connect over a shared experience as part of a free and open platform to listen and participate. Find the folks pulling it together and get signed up to share—or sit back and listen to the voices of the community.
“Carousel Con will be taking place Wednesday March 11th – Thursday March 12th, starting around 12:30 each day. Will run half an hour+ depending on how many talks we have. Meet at the Amphitheater in the Yerba Buena Public Square, up the steps behind the Carousel. Come bring something to talk about for a short length of time, anywhere from 30 seconds to 5 minutes. Looking forward to seeing you all again!”
Online | Discord: Game Audio GDC!
Folks have been rallying over at the Game Audio at GDC! server that was spun up over the past few years to support communication on the ground. There’s some great discussion over there about what to expect for your first time, with great perspectives being lent by the community. I’ve seen folks call out for accompaniment on a late-night walk, spontaneous evening plans form from a suggestion, and the best of our community pulling together in service of the greater good.
Invite here: https://discord.gg/dae9RPuShy
…and there’s always the Game Audio Pavilion (coordinators of multiple meetups and working behind the scenes) that stays active year-round: https://discord.gg/gdqXU3GApY
Online | BlueSky: #GameAudioGDC
Whether you keep it tuned to servers on Discord or trained on the #GameAudioGDC hashtag or grab this #GameAudioGDC Feed link over on Bluesky/Socials, information (still) travels faster in the modern age. Be sure to blast out your experience on the ground to the wider world across socials to share the knowledge.
Events | Nazi Punks Fuck Off
“If you’ve come to fight, get outta here” — Dead Kennedys
With a week of presentations yet to unfold, planning your time outside the conference can be the most exciting and overwhelming task—if you let it be! Another path you can take is to go with the flow. But before you go, here’s what I know: the best conference experience is one that balances the known and the unknown in equal measure. So, give yourself a chance to improvise; let the mood and the moment determine the way forward.
Meanwhile, the School for Video Game Audio 10 Tips for #GameAudioGDC 2025 includes wisened perspectives for a successful experience.
Leonard J. Paul’s tips for pacing yourself:
Parties are where you chat with new people the most. Talking over meals outside is a great way to connect.
Be respectful of others. Everyone wants to have a fun time. Check the DEI guidelines and Code of Conduct.
Take a chance, dive in and talk with people. Note that networking isn’t an even playing field — be mindful.
Stay healthy: drink water, get sleep, pack snacks. Earplugs are essential, protect your voice!
GDC is like a workout. Eat healthy when you can. You’ll be walking a lot.
Early adventurers can find their way to Bender’s Bar in the Mission District on Sunday night. If you are so inclined, after jumping on BART heading south, it’s just a short walk from either the 16th or 24th St. Mission stops. Excited conversations full of speculation for the days to come should be expected… and plenty of tater tots!
Power Up Audio – Mentorship Roundtable
Open-book mentorship. Ask about sound design, contract terms, biz dev, conference tips, demo reels.
?? Moscone West 3rd Floor (location approx.)
Asian Game Audio Network Meetup
Open, welcome space for the Asian game audio community to grow together.
?? Behind the Carousel · 4:00 – 6:00 pm
Game Audio Denizens & GADA Pizza with a Purpose
Mention GADA ? 20% donated to the Game Audio Diversity Alliance!
?? California Pizza Kitchen (53 3rd St) — RSVP
GDC Developer’s Concert
Led by Grammy-nominated Austin Wintory. Requires Festival or Game Changer Pass.
?? GDC Main Stage, North Hall · 6:00 – 8:00 pm
Audio Community Karaoke
Full venue buyout sponsored by Audiokinetic! RSVP required. Password sent day-of.
?? The Mint Karaoke (1942 Market St) · 8:00 pm – 1:00 am
G.A.N.G. Awards — 24th Annual
Requires Festival or Game Changer Pass. Wear your #SocksOfGameAudio!
?? Room 2006, West Hall · 7:00 – 9:00 pm
IASIG Mixer
With IGDA. Food, drinks, EastWest ComposerCloud+ giveaway.
?? Children’s Creativity Center (221 4th St) · 6:00 – 10:00 pm
End-of-Conference Meetup — If You Want It
Last chance for high-fives and hugs. Catch the last embers of conference conversation!
?? Behind the Carousel
Yeah, of course there’s a 2026 GDC Parties List you can keep an eye for other ideas.
GDC Festival of Gaming | Hop With The Jet Set
“Our chameleon tongues catch the flies in the air.” — Dead Kennedys
This year brings the restructuring of the Game Developers Conference under the newly minted title: “GDC Festival of Gaming”. While you can peer into the marketing perspective of what actually changed this year, a couple of things make intentions clear:
“GDC is now the Festival of Gaming: a five-day experience that extends beyond the Moscone halls and brings learning, connection, and celebration together.”
“The conference agenda has been unified. No more siloed All Access/Core/Summits pathways. One program, one ecosystem, all five days.”
Previously split into a Monday/Tuesday block of Summits, Workshops, and Tutorials, the new schedule attempts to weave these formerly siloed aspects into a single weeklong occasion. The side effect of this unification is an increased pressure to navigate a full week of mixed sessions.
Meanwhile, the Audio Summit has been absorbed into the Audio Track program and spread throughout the week. One aspect that lives on is the Audio Lunchtime Surgeries, running Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 12:35 pm – 1:35 pm — an opportunity for deeper conversations with Audio Summit speakers over lunch.
The pass structure has been simplified — fewer tiers, clearer value. But the consolidation removed the “Expo Pass,” the least expensive way to attend. The $1,200 “Festival Pass” makes attending on a budget difficult without going full-on “Free-DC.”
Sessions | I Am the Owl
“In ten years we’ll leek the truth” — Dead Kennedys
With multiple parallel Audio presentations, how can one possibly be expected to choose? You have the GDC Main Conference Audio Advisory Group to thank for this burden of choice. Give thanks to the Conference Associates (CAs) too, who shine a bright light when you’re lost.
Every presentation is a reflection of hard-won knowledge learned over the course of development. Equipped with this insight, attendees file out into the hallway where the discussion continues: unpacking terminology, expanding on concepts, and gaining a greater understanding through shared perspective. Be mindful in these moments of group conversation. Invite folks on the periphery to lend their thoughts, leave space for alternate points of view, and help create an equitable and inclusive environment. Your action (or inaction) may make the difference for someone finding their way in game audio, shaping the world as it unfolds outward.
You’ll start the conference as a sponge with unlimited potential for absorption. When the last official day arrives, you’ll be desperately seeking the last precious drops of knowledge while simultaneously overflowing with a burden of fresh thoughts. Pace yourself. If you’re cueing up for the Morning Audio Community Meetups (see above), it’s likely someone will share their experience and help fill in the gaps left by unseen presentations. Regardless, it’s up to you to soak it all up so you can water the garden of game audio for the year ahead.
Audiokinetic @ AMC Metreon Theater
For 25 years, the interactive audio community has been our greatest inspiration. The AMC Metreon 16 will host two days of presentations that are free and accessible without a GDC Pass. Sign up for updates and reminders.
Three years in the making, SOUNDS OF DREAMERS captures voices and stories from across the world—bringing together the passion, creativity, and innovation that make our game audio community extraordinary. Sign up for reminders.
Roundtables | Insight
“We’re all planning our careers” — Dead Kennedys
Roundtables represent the best in open-format conversation. The catch: they’re only accessible in person and don’t live on as part of GDC Vault. That often puts attending these ahead of recorded presentations.
Understanding AI in Game Audio
Audio Directors
Game Audio Programming
Diversity in Game Audio
AI Audio Roundtable
Town Halls | We’ve Got a Bigger Problem Now
“You closed your eyes, can’t happen here” — Dead Kennedys
Each of the organizations that represent the audio community will meet and discuss the work being done while opening the stage for individuals to bring forward issues. Worth attending if you have energy to spare or issues to bring.
IASIG Town Hall
G.A.N.G. Town Hall
Expo | Gone with my Mind
“He’s been talking to paintings in the hall” — Dead Kennedys
The Expo has been reworked into “five themed neighborhoods.” Don’t forget to have fun with Marquee Experiences like GDC Play, alt.ctrl.GDC, IGF Pavillion, and Neighborhood Stages. Audio-related exhibitors on the floor:
bHaptics
Full-body haptics: TactSuit Pro, Air, TactSleeve, TactGlove.
FMOD
End-to-end solution for game sound and music.
Miraisens
3DHaptics with AMPTIX™ middleware and authoring tools.
Closing | Moon over Marin
“There will always be a moon over Marin” — Dead Kennedys
There’s a comfort in repetition.
here’s a comfort in repetition.T
ere’s a comfort in repetition.Th
re’s a comfort in repetition.The
This is the 20th anniversary of my first GDC, where I landed in San Jose (at the time) and famously fell down the rabbit hole of game audio. The years have provided a wonderland of knowledge sharing, community, and friends for life. To say again that “There’s a comfort in repetition” is an understatement. As long as I stay honest with myself and acknowledge that the “Game of GDC” has changed fundamentally for me since that first time.
I have a job and feel connected to people doing incredible work, many of whom have participated in my education along the way. I have support from the company I work for to continue investing in the community, alongside helping to grow interactive audio workflows. The Morning Meetups, which evolved from the early days of the Game Audio Podcast, help bring a heartbeat to the conference. And finally, this guide—something I’ve been creating yearly since 2016—attempts to tie together threads on the ground.
It’s my hope that after twenty years of iteration, attending as someone new to the industry no longer feels like a random series of coincidences, but that there’s a semblance of structure to help people find the community. I’ll be there on the ground to try and help catalyze any positivity that I can. If you see me on the ground, please say hello! See you soon!
Words from previous guides:
2025 Purple Guide: “If I have one piece of advice it would be: Ask how you can help.”
2024 Imaginary Guide: “How will this time together change the outcome of our way forward?“
2023 Drifting Guide: “If it’s your first time, try to find folks to navigate the streets with…especially in the evening.”
2019 Bohemian Guide: “We choose this opportunity as ambassadors of audio…lead with optimism, collaboration, humbleness, and grace.”
P.S. Each year’s Guide contains an homage to some of my favorite bands. This year’s section titles have been embedded with song titles from the Dead Kennedys catalog. Their critical lens on politics, expressed through high-energy punk, struck a chord in my early years. The themes make visible a negativity that poses questions about the world and how we operate within it.
Bio: Damian Kastbauer is a Software Product Manager at Audiokinetic helping to grow the future of interactive audio along with the interactive audio community.
See you at GDC 2026!
Find the community, take care of yourself, and take care of each other. If you see me on the ground, please say hello!
— Damian Kastbauer, Audiokinetic