GDC 2025: San Francisco, Video Game Capital, Welcomes Italian Trade Agency Delegation
The 39th annual Game Developers Conference (GDC) took place from March 17 to 21, 2025, at the Moscone Convention Center in San Francisco, bringing together the brightest minds in the gaming industry. This year’s theme, “Connecting the World through Games,” reflected the increasingly global nature of game development and the power of interactive entertainment to bridge cultural divides.
With over 30,000 attendees from more than 100 countries, GDC 2025 was a melting pot of ideas, innovations, and collaborations. The event featured an impressive lineup of over 1,000 speakers across 725 sessions, workshops, and discussions, covering every aspect of game development from design and programming to art and business strategies.
A highlight of this year’s conference was the strong presence of the Italian gaming industry, led by the Italian Trade Agency (ITA) in collaboration with IIDEA (Italian Interactive Digital Entertainment Association). Giosafat Riganò, Italian Trade Commissioner in Los Angeles in Los Angeles, and Sergio Strozzi, Consul General of Italy in San Francisco, proudly represented their country at booth C1647, where 18 Italian video gaming companies showcased their innovative projects.
The Italian delegation included a diverse range of studio animations and video game creators, representing the best of Italy’s thriving gaming sector. These companies presented a wide array of content, with a particular focus on educational and cultural themes, demonstrating the industry’s commitment to both entertainment and social impact.
Italy’s video game industry has experienced remarkable growth in recent years, transforming from a niche sector into an integral part of the country’s creative landscape. According to the latest IIDEA report, the Italian gaming market generated over 2.3 billion euros in revenues in 2023, marking a 28% increase over the previous five years. This impressive growth has positioned Italy among the top 5 European gaming markets.
The GDC Expo floor was bustling with activity, hosting 400 exhibitors showcasing the latest in gaming technology and services. Among the standout exhibitors, NVIDIA demonstrated its cutting-edge RTX Neural Rendering technologies and the newest Blackwell products, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in game graphics and AI-driven content creation.
As the industry continues to evolve, artificial intelligence, neural rendering, and digital human technologies took center stage at many sessions. These advancements are not only enhancing the realism and immersion of games but also streamlining development processes and opening up new creative possibilities for developers of all sizes.
The conference reached its crescendo on March 19 with the Independent Games Festival (IGF) and Game Developers Choice Awards (GDCAs), celebrating the most innovative and impactful games of the year.
To further promote networking and collaboration, the Italian Trade Agency – Los Angeles hosted a successful networking event for the Italian delegation. The event featured opening remarks by Trade Commissioner Giosafat Riganò, Consul General Sergio Strozzi, and IIDEA’s Business Development & Esports Manager, Amedeo Calzà. This gathering provided an excellent opportunity for gaming professionals from around the world to connect, share ideas, and explore potential partnerships with Italian companies.
To view the catalogue of the 18 Italian delegation companies, click here.
At the center: Giosafat Riganò, Italian Trade Commissioner in Los Angeles and Sergio Strozzi, Consul General of Italy in San Francisco, together with the Italian Trade Agency team and the Italian companies participating in GDC2025.
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The 39th annual Game Developers Conference (GDC) took place from March 17 to 21, 2025, at the Moscone Convention Center in San Francisco, bringing together the brightest minds in the gaming industry. This year’s theme, “Connecting the World through Games,” reflected the increasingly global nature of game development and the power of interactive entertainment to bridge cultural divides.
With over 30,000 attendees from more than 100 countries, GDC 2025 was a melting pot of ideas, innovations, and collaborations. The event featured an impressive lineup of over 1,000 speakers across 725 sessions, workshops, and discussions, covering every aspect of game development from design and programming to art and business strategies.
A highlight of this year’s conference was the strong presence of the Italian gaming industry, led by the Italian Trade Agency (ITA) in collaboration with IIDEA (Italian Interactive Digital Entertainment Association). Giosafat Riganò, Italian Trade Commissioner in Los Angeles in Los Angeles, and Sergio Strozzi, Consul General of Italy in San Francisco, proudly represented their country at booth C1647, where 18 Italian video gaming companies showcased their innovative projects.
The Italian delegation included a diverse range of studio animations and video game creators, representing the best of Italy’s thriving gaming sector. These companies presented a wide array of content, with a particular focus on educational and cultural themes, demonstrating the industry’s commitment to both entertainment and social impact.
Italy’s video game industry has experienced remarkable growth in recent years, transforming from a niche sector into an integral part of the country’s creative landscape. According to the latest IIDEA report, the Italian gaming market generated over 2.3 billion euros in revenues in 2023, marking a 28% increase over the previous five years. This impressive growth has positioned Italy among the top 5 European gaming markets.
The GDC Expo floor was bustling with activity, hosting 400 exhibitors showcasing the latest in gaming technology and services. Among the standout exhibitors, NVIDIA demonstrated its cutting-edge RTX Neural Rendering technologies and the newest Blackwell products, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in game graphics and AI-driven content creation.
As the industry continues to evolve, artificial intelligence, neural rendering, and digital human technologies took center stage at many sessions. These advancements are not only enhancing the realism and immersion of games but also streamlining development processes and opening up new creative possibilities for developers of all sizes.
The conference reached its crescendo on March 19 with the Independent Games Festival (IGF) and Game Developers Choice Awards (GDCAs), celebrating the most innovative and impactful games of the year.
To further promote networking and collaboration, the Italian Trade Agency – Los Angeles hosted a successful networking event for the Italian delegation. The event featured opening remarks by Trade Commissioner Giosafat Riganò, Consul General Sergio Strozzi, and IIDEA’s Business Development & Esports Manager, Amedeo Calzà. This gathering provided an excellent opportunity for gaming professionals from around the world to connect, share ideas, and explore potential partnerships with Italian companies.
To view the catalogue of the 18 Italian delegation companies, click here.
At the center: Giosafat Riganò, Italian Trade Commissioner in Los Angeles and Sergio Strozzi, Consul General of Italy in San Francisco, together with the Italian Trade Agency team and the Italian companies participating in GDC2025.
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