International Game Developers Reconsider GDC Attendance Amid Safety Concerns

This week, the Game Developers Conference (GDC) will once again take place in San Francisco, drawing tens of thousands of industry professionals. However, many international developers are opting out of attending this year, citing safety concerns related to traveling to the United States. These concerns are particularly pronounced among developers from minority groups, those with transgender identities, and individuals with outspoken political views.

Emilio Coppola, Executive Director of the Godot Foundation based in Spain, expressed a common sentiment among international developers, stating, "We never felt super safe, but now we are not willing to risk it." This reluctance to travel has been building since 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic led to the cancellation of that year's GDC, prompting many to reassess the necessity of in-person events. The situation worsened during the 2025 conference, held during President Donald Trump's second term, which saw increased scrutiny and aggressive border control measures targeting international visitors.

Stories of international travelers being detained or sent back home at the airport have circulated widely, contributing to the fear. Nazih Fares, a French-Lebanese citizen and creative director at Le Cabinet du Savoir, noted the apprehension among European citizens regarding potential arrest over their views on the US. Neha Patel, a freelancer and audio director at Pamplemousse Games, recounted her intrusive experience at the border during the 2025 GDC, where she felt compelled to lie about her employment status to avoid complications.

In response to these challenges, some companies have taken proactive measures to protect their employees. For instance, a developer from a major studio mentioned that their company provided safety briefings and legal paperwork to employees attending the 2025 conference. Despite these precautions, the fear of encountering issues at the border remains prevalent, leading some companies to forgo physical attendance at the 2026 GDC.

Individual developers have also adopted personal safety measures. JC Lau, a senior producer at Amsterdam's Twirlbound, shared that she sent copies of her travel documents to multiple people with instructions to contact the Australian consulate if she failed to check in after landing. Similarly, Emilio Coppola mentioned scrubbing his social media to avoid potential issues.

Despite assurances from GDC representatives about strong international attendance in 2025, the ongoing concerns about US border policies have prompted many developers to cancel their travel plans. Eline Muijres, founder of Cohop Game in Austria, cited news reports of tourists being detained as the final straw, while Tony Walsh of Phantom Compass in Toronto emphasized the growing risks at the border.

Ultimately, the pervasive fear among international developers regarding travel to the US has led to a significant reevaluation of the necessity and safety of attending events like GDC. This sentiment is echoed across the industry, with many developers expressing hesitance to risk potential detainment, deportation, or other negative experiences at the border.