GDC 2026 festival Game Pass for Indian Game Developers
We are supporting passionate Indian game developers with GDC Festival Game Passes.
OFFICALLY PARTNERED WITH GDC
Blog
About the opportunity
What is GDC & Why it matters.
The Game Developers Conference (GDC) is the world’s largest professional event for the game industry, held annually in San Francisco. It brings together thousands of developers, studios, and publishers from around the globe. For many, it’s a life-changing experience with opportunity to connect, meet, show and learn from the game developers of your favorite games.
Why this initiative exists
The Game Developers Conference (GDC) is the world’s largest and most influential event for game creators, held every year in San Francisco. It brings together developers, studios, publishers, and industry leaders from across the globe.
The GDNI is collaborating directly with GDC to bring this opportunity to Indian game developers. GDC is providing All-Access Passes (with the possibility of more), while GDNI is responsible for managing the entire selection, coordination, and preparation process.
This means:
- You get direct access to GDC through officially provided passes.
- GDNI ensures fair selection, guidance, and group support for all chosen candidates.
- GDC is actively following this program’s progress to explore future collaborations with the Indian game development community.
Our goal is simple: to give passionate Indian developers the chance to learn, connect and showcase their talent at the biggest stage in gaming.
What We Provide / What You Cover
We Provide:
- Sponsored GDC Festival Game Pass (worth thousands of dollars).
- Visa application guidance & interview preparation.
- Group travel & shared accommodation planning
- Briefings on San Francisco culture, safety, and GDC best practices.
- Networking tips, event lists, and preparation guidance.
What You Cover (~₹2.5 - 3.5 lakhs for 7 days ):
- Visa fees
- Flight tickets
- Accommodation & food
- Personal expenses
Selection Process
- Submit Application
Fill out the form with your personal details, professional background, and reasons for applying.
- Phase 1 Shortlisting
We will review all applications and filter candidates based on eligibility and selection criteria.
- Phase 2 Verification
Shortlisted applicants will be contacted for a short online call to verify the information provided and to confirm that they clearly understand the financial responsibilities of attending GDC.
- Final Selection
Selected candidates will be finalized (with 5 additional waitlist spots). Selected candidates will be invited to join the official group for further coordination.
Candidate Criteria
- Age 20+ preferred
- English speaking
- Indian citizenship
- With/without U.S. visa (special slots for new talent)
- Demo of game to showcase (preferred)
- Students & first-timers encouraged
Why This Matters ? Meeting developers we’ve admired for years changeS how we think about maKING GAME
Frequently Asked Questions
Please reach out to us, if you cannot find an answer to your question.
The GDNI is a collective initiative to connect, support and showcase Indian game developers on global platforms. Our mission is to create more opportunities for Indian talent and ensure our community is represented at major international events like GDC.
The Game Developers Conference (GDC) is the world’s largest professional event for the games industry. It takes place every March in San Francisco, USA, and features talks, workshops, networking opportunities, and an expo floor with the biggest and best studios in the world.
Yes. The Game Developers Conference (GDC) is directly providing the Festival Game Passes for this initiative. While the entire selection, coordination, and management process is handled by the Game Designer Network of India (GDNI), GDC is actively supporting us by issuing the passes and monitoring the program’s progress. This collaboration also helps build a foundation for future opportunities between GDC and the Indian game development community.
Even though you may not have a booth at GDC to officially showcase your game, being ready with a demo gives you a powerful edge. GDC is full of chance encounters with meeting publishers, studio heads, or fellow developers in hallways, networking events, or over coffee. Having a demo means you’re prepared to show your work on the spot.
It doesn’t guarantee success, but it creates the perfect “lucky opportunity” when the right person asks, “So, what are you working on?” Being ready in that moment can make all the difference.
We are sponsoring only the GDC Festival Game Pass. All other costs including travel, visa, accommodation, food and personal expenses must be covered by the applicant.
💡 Note: While you will cover your travel, visa, and stay costs, GDNI will assist you throughout the process. For first-time travelers especially, our goal is to make the entire journey safe, smooth, and well-coordinated.
Many first-time attendees underestimate travel time and costs. Staying far away (e.g., in the Bay Area suburbs) means long commutes that can ruin your GDC experience. If you have a reliable contact in San Francisco city itself, it may be acceptable, but we strongly recommend shared group accommodation for convenience and safety.
- Multiple sessions of briefing before and during the event to make most out of this opportunity
- Guidance for visa application and interview prep
- Coordinated travel and shared accommodation options
- Networking tips and event recommendations
- Safety and cultural briefings before travel
- Preparation guidance for GDC and stay in San Francisco
- A peer group (WhatsApp/Discord) for collaboration and support before, during, and after GDC
- Indie developers, freelancers, studio founders, and students
- Indian citizens
- Applicants 20 years or older, with English proficiency
- Priority given to first-time attendees and developers with demos
We maintain a waitlist of backup candidates. If a selected candidate’s visa is rejected, their slot will be offered to someone on the waitlist.
Contact Us
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