"Many members of the international games industry have announced they will skip the event, mainly over concerns about safety, tougher U.S. immigration rules, and a stronger immigration and Customs Enforcement presence. Developers, past GDC attendees, and other industry professionals have taken to platforms like LinkedIn to publicly voice their concerns. ICE activity in numerous U.S. cities as well as the recent fatal shootings in Minneapolis involving ICE agents have compounded concerns."
"In response to these concerns, GDC president Nina Brown told Mobilegamer.biz, that the "safety of our community is always our top priority." In a statement, Brown said the GDC works closely with "local officials and legal experts to monitor U.S. policy changes" and to provide the most up-to-date guidance. Brown also advised international attendees to start their visa applications early and consult with their embassies regarding any special requirements."
International game developers and industry professionals are publicly announcing plans to skip the 2026 Game Developers Conference in San Francisco. The decisions stem mainly from concerns about safety, increased U.S. immigration rules, heightened Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity, and recent fatal shootings involving ICE agents. Attendees also cite unpredictable border checks, personal safety worries, and high costs including travel, hotels, food, and ticket fees. Organizers emphasized community safety as a top priority, said they work with local officials and legal experts to monitor policy changes, and advised early visa applications and embassy consultations.
Read at TechCrunch
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