Italian gaming will take center stage at the GDC Festival of Gaming, taking place at the Moscone Center from March 9 to 13, 2026. The event, considered the leading global gathering for the video game industry, represents the most important annual meeting in the United States for developers, publishers, investors, and industry professionals.
The Game Developers Conference brings together professionals from across the video game ecosystem—including programmers, artists, producers, audio specialists, game designers, and investors—offering a key platform for discussion and networking on the future development of the sector. The 2026 program includes more than 750 conferences, panels, tutorials, and roundtables featuring leading international experts, with a focus on major areas of game development such as Audio, Marketing, Game Design, Production and Team Management, Development, and Graphics.
The event hosts more than 350 exhibiting companies and is expected to attract over 30,000 visitors. National pavilions include, in addition to Italy, Spain, Germany, Portugal, Wales, Brazil, India, Chile, and Pakistan.
Italy is participating in the GDC with a delegation of nine companies within the “Games in Italy” Pavilion, organized by Italian Trade Agency in collaboration with IIDEA, the trade association representing the Italian video game industry. The delegation includes companies specialized in video game development for all major distribution platforms, offering a wide and diversified portfolio that spans multiple genres—from racing and action titles to both single-player experiences and competitive multiplayer games—as well as products designed for entertainment and e-learning.
To support the Italian participation, the Italian Trade Agency has arranged a structured package of services, including the creation of the Italy Pavilion—featuring dedicated videowalls and visual branding—a collective catalog of the participating companies, and a promotional page in the event’s official Welcome Guide.
To further strengthen the visibility of the Italian presence at the GDC, the agency has also organized a networking event in collaboration with the Consulate General of Italy in San Francisco. The initiative is expected to bring together around one hundred guests, including investors, publishers, developers, startups, and other qualified operators from the American and international video game and innovation sectors, alongside the Italian delegation.
The global video game market is currently experiencing sustained growth. Valued at $289.7 billion in 2025, the sector is projected to reach $593.3 billion by 2031, with a compound annual growth rate of 12.7%. This expansion is driven by the increasing use of smartphones for gaming, the rollout of 5G networks, the development of cloud gaming technologies, cross-platform experiences, and the growing popularity of subscription services.
In 2025, mobile gaming in the United States represented the largest segment of the market, accounting for 55.9% of total revenues, while in-app purchases remain the dominant monetization model with a 44.1% share. Subscription services, meanwhile, are the fastest-growing segment. In terms of content, shooter games lead the genre market with a 62.2% share, while the 18–34 age group represents the main audience, accounting for 39.35% of the market (source: Mordor Intelligence).
“Not just entertainment. The video game sector has always been a driver of digital innovation, both in software and graphics, all the way to the most advanced technologies—from mixed reality to artificial intelligence. As INNOVIT, we have previously dedicated space to Italian startups developing gaming products, and Italy is presenting an increasingly dynamic and interesting landscape. For this reason, as the Consulate General of Italy in San Francisco, we are very pleased to once again participate, together with the Italian Trade Agency, in the GDC Festival in San Francisco,” said Massimo Carnelos.
“Promoting the talent and innovation of Made in Italy video games at the GDC is a source of great satisfaction for us,” emphasized Giosafat Riganò. “The sector is growing thanks to the creativity of companies and various forms of public support, including international promotion. In this context, the Italian market surpassed €2.4 billion in revenue in 2024, positioning Italy among the leading European markets in the sector. Participating in a global event like the GDC also allows our companies to engage with new technologies, particularly developments related to artificial intelligence.”