I’ve posted the up to date and remaining agenda for our GamesBeat Summit 2025 occasion (25% off low cost code: gbs25dean25) and thought it might be good to submit a information on what to anticipate on Could 19-20 in LA. This submit is organized by material.
On our first day, Could 19, we’ll begin out with a few hours of networking beginning round 11:30 a.m. within the foyer of the Marriott Marina del Rey (4100 Admiralty Approach, Marina del Rey). Then we’ll get began at 1:30 p.m. with 4 small group periods at a time, all downstairs from the foyer. These are hour-long periods they usually reply our attendees’ need for extra engagement with audio system.
These small rooms have about 65-seats every (for 3 of the recorded periods) and 35 seats for the roundtable room (Catalina). Viewers Q&A can be inspired in these periods, although some will go for written questions. Our roundtables aren’t recorded, with Chatham Home guidelines, the place you may say what was mentioned however not who mentioned it. We’ll shut out day one with a reception at 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. (Kicked off by Dean Takahashi and Gina Joseph of GamesBeat and Peter Levin of Griffin Gaming Companions).
Gina Joseph and I’ll come out on stage at round 9:30 am after which I’ll kick issues off with a brief opening speech round 9:35 a.m.
Then, all through the day, we’ll have extra conventional 30-minute talks on two levels (California and Promenade rooms) in addition to two roundtable rooms (Malibu/Santa Monica and Venice/Peninsula). I’ll give closing thanks at 5:30 p.m. on Could 20.
The large matters: AI in video games and progress alternatives
As famous in a single one among our social posts, we’ve bought quite a few periods on AI and gaming. The hype round AI jogs my memory of some years in the past of how we had plenty of periods on blockchain video games or the metaverse, however AI is exhibiting early outcomes and we’ve heard that that is what individuals need to discuss.
I don’t see these as repetitive periods. Relatively, they current attendees with selection, with publicity to many various vibrant minds on their very own views of the AI revolution.
The periods embrace high-level strategic views of AI in leisure and video games with Owen Mahoney previously of Nexon, Bing Gordon of Kleiner Perkins, Mitch Lasky of Benchmark and Tynan Sylvester of Ludeon. (2:30 pm -3:30 pm in Palisades downstairs room on Could 19).
We’ll even have a chat on stunning makes use of of AI in recreation creation with Kayla Comalli, Neil Younger, and Irena Pereira (3:30 pm-4:30 pm in Malibu/Santa Monica on Could 19).
AI in Gaming introduced by Amazon Internet Companies (AWS) will embrace Ashwin Raghuraman, Hilary Mason, J. Aaron Farr, and moderator Chris Melissinos. They are going to discuss their very own perspective on the AI instruments which are rising for manufacturing. (4:30 pm – 5:30 pm in Venice/Peninsula room on Could 19).
On Could 20, Wealthy Vogel, CEO of T-Minus Zero Leisure. Vogel, who received our Up and Comer Award previously, will speak for the second 12 months in a row on the AI instruments which are reinventing recreation improvement. (3 pm – 4 pm on Could 20 in Malibu/Santa Monica room — not recorded, with Chatham Home guidelines).
Additionally on Could 20, we may have a roundtable entitled “From Participant Security to Youngster Wellbeing and the Position of AI” with moderator Chris Melissinos of AWS, Henderika (Heidi) Vogel Brockmann of Guardian Gamer and adviser Joel Silk. (1 pm – 2 pm on Could 20, in Venice/Peninsula room).
Throughout our mainstage periods on Could 20, we’ll contact on AI in “Residing Video games: The AI and Stay Companies Revolution Reshaping Video games,” introduced by Google Cloud with Catherine Hawayek of Google Cloud Video games and Dean Takahashi (2 pm – 2:30 pm within the California ballroom on Could 20).
And we may have one other AI subject come up in “Driving Change in Gaming: Enterprise Fashions, Participant Wants, AI, and the Highway Forward,” with Matthew Bromberg of Unity and Sarah Parvini of the AP at 3:30 p.m. – 4 p.m. within the California ballroom on Could 20).
Different large matters
We’ve additionally bought periods associated to the expansion alternatives for gaming, together with the conflict between builders and platforms over charges. On day two, our opening panel with Chris Hewish of Xsolla, Anthony Bartolacci of Sensor Tower and moderator Gina Joseph of GamesBeat will cowl the subject of Epic Video games’ current courtroom victory in opposition to Apple and the chance it creates for cellular gaming progress. (9:45 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. on Could 20).
Our Visionary Awards will happen at 10:15 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. on Could 20, with Andrea Rene as our host. The Visionary Award is for a recreation trade chief who confirmed imaginative and prescient all through their profession. And the second award, The Up and Comer Award, is for somebody whose potential lies forward of them. Our judges included They embrace Sarah Bond of Microsoft, Wealthy Vogel of T-Minus Zero Leisure, Don Daglow of AIAS Basis/Robust Nationwide Museum of Play, Perrin Kaplan of Zebra Companions, Elizabeth Olson of Strategic Advertising and marketing, Dinga Bakaba of Arkane, Tara Bruno of Tara Bruno PR, Charmaine Duff of Girls-Led Video games, Mark Chandler of TIGS, Meggan Scavio of the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences, Kat Jones of Motiv, Shelley Andagan of Qualcomm, onine recreation pioneer John Smedley and me.
Range periods
Greater than 54% of our audio system come from various backgrounds, and 35% girls. And we proceed to concentrate on variety within the gaming trade for a lot of of our matters.
On day two, we get began with our tenth Girls in Gaming Breakfast (meant for ladies, at 8:30 a.m. Pacific – 9:25 a.m.) Offered by Xsolla, that session (beginning at 9 a.m.) can be moderated by GamesBeat’s Rachel Kaser and embrace audio system Carla Bedrosian of Xsolla, Angela Dalton of Signum Development Dot Play and Nancy MacIntyre of World Winner.
Throughout lunch on Could 20, at 12:30 p.m. to 1 p.m, we’ll have our first accessibility in gaming panel, sponsored by the Leisure Software program Affiliation (ESA). Aubrey Quinn, senior vp for the Leisure Software program Affiliation (ESA), leads a dialog with Holly Wescott, Accessibility Lead at Amazon Video games, Kaitlyn Jones, Director of Scientific Outreach at Warfighter Engaged and Gaming Accessibility Lead at Xbox and participant, content material creator and accessibility advisor Steve Saylor, about how the online game trade is advancing efforts to make video games accessible for as many gamers as potential.
Gordon Bellamy, professor on the USC Faculty of Cinematic Arts and head of Homosexual Gaming Professionals, will lead a roundtable on how the “underestimated” can break into excessive ranges of gaming. (a roundtable 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. on Could 20 on the Malibu/Santa Monica room).
And for the primary time in a couple of decade, we’ll have a panel on ageism entitled, “Misplaced on the outsides: Ageism and belonging within the recreation trade.” The session can be moderated by Bellamy and contains Amir Satvat of Tencent, Jen MacLean of Dragon Snacks Video games, Richard Brown of Blue Moon Manufacturing Firm. (10:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. on the California ballroom on Could 20).
Gaming veteran Warren Spector not too long ago wrote about his resolution to speak about his bipolar situation and dealing within the recreation trade with it. TakeThis.org’s Kelli Dunlap will focus on psychological well being within the video games trade with Spector in a roundtable. This session will take written questions solely. (4:30 p.m. to five:30 p.m. on Could 19).
Psychological well being and video games may also come up for dialogue in a roundtable with Susanna Pollack of Video games for Change and Perrin Kaplan of Zebra Companions. They are going to speak concerning the topic within the context of labor by the World Psychological Well being Activity Pressure and the World Well being Group. (roundtable at 1 pm to 2 pm at Malibu/Santa Monica room).
The economics and progress potential of gaming
One in every of our longer big-stage talks can be moderated by Eric Goldberg of Playable Worlds with longtime recreation enterprise capitalist Mitch Lasky. They are going to discuss the best way to navigate video games within the new regular. They are going to deal with what the brand new regular is, the best way to get out of the field that the trade has put itself in and repair gaming funding. (10:15 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Could 20 within the Promenade room).
I may also reasonable Tian Xiao of Tencent, one of many giants of the sport trade, on its perspective on the worldwide recreation trade. (11:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Could 20 within the California ballroom).
Cellular gaming has develop into the largest sector in gaming, and so we’ll have a session on “Profitable in cellular gaming: Technique, progress and innovation with Playtika.”
Craig Abrahams of Playtika and moderator Michael Metzger of Drake Star Companions will speak at 2 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Could 20 within the California ballroom.
And following up on their big-stage periods, two trade thinkers will focus on “The restore room: Trade issues, group options.” The video games trade is overflowing with issues, however gentle on options. On this interactive roundtable hosted by Adam Boyes (Vivrato) and Amir Satvat, attendees will vote on the ten largest challenges going through video games in 2025. (a roundtable at 2 p.m. to three p.m. on Could 20 at Venice/Peninsula).
Jesse Meschuk, the brand new COO of Savvy Video games Group, will focus on a giant new frontier of video games in “Savvy Highlight: Investing within the long-term mindset.” I’ll reasonable the session with Meschuk with a concentrate on the long-term view of gaming and esports. (3:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. at California ballroom on Could 20).
And our lone debate of the convention is entitled, “Is there nonetheless progress forward for gaming?”
The years of double-digit video games market progress are over. COVID accelerated issues, however the writing’s been on the wall for some time. Even live-service video games have proven themselves to be principally zero-sum, whereas esports, the blockchain, and the metaverse have accomplished little or no to maneuver the needle. So what’s subsequent for the video games market?
This debate options recreation economist Catalin Alexandru, Michael Pachter of Wedbush and moderator Rhys Elliott of Alinea Analytics (1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. in Malibu/Santa Monica room).
Politics and gaming
Politics has divided us throughout the nation, and so it’s no shock that some political matters have risen to the fore at our occasion.
“Gaming the federal government” is concerning the experiences that gaming trade professionals have had within the U.S. federal authorities. Mark Deloura of Stage Up Video games (previously Obama’s White Home lead on video games) and Paul Fischer of Accenture (previously of the U.S. State Division). (It would happen 4:30 p.m. to five:30 p.m. on Could 19 within the Palisades room).
One in every of our periods is entitled, “Enjoying With Reality: Handing disinformation via video games.” It’s about storytelling can be utilized to problem false narratives. Karla Reyes (moderator) of Anima Interactive, Paul Fischer of Accenture and Susanna Pollack of Video games for Change will converse within the session (11 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at Promenade room).
Wealthy Hilleman of Cleanplay will discuss “Partnering for the planet: Adopting clear vitality for progress” to deal with vitality consumption within the recreation trade. (a roundtable at 4:30 p.m. to five:30 p.m on Could 19 within the Catalina room).
New enterprise fashions
André Swanston of Phynd will do a solo speak on “The gaming revolution can be televised,” with a concentrate on the brand new enterprise mannequin of ad-supported free cloud gaming companies. (11 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Could 20 within the Promenade ballroom).
Adam Boyes of Vivrato and moderator Andrea Rene of Shortie Media will speak concerning the want for extra transparency within the recreation trade and paths to concentrate on progress. (11 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. within the California ballroom on Could 20).
We’ll have a reside companies speak, “Get reside or die attempting.” Trade veteran Sheloman Byrd will take the viewers via a reside service train of resolution making primarily based on previous instances, the place every staff will weigh choices throughout a number of areas, together with an evaluation on the place they’d find yourself for market success at session’s finish.
Sheloman Byrd of Open Ocean Video games (1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. on Could 19 at Palisades room)
Byrd’s colleague, Jennifer Jo of Open Ocean Video games, is a seasoned knowledgeable with over 20 years of expertise in gaming monetization. She’s going to run a roundtable on unpacking the secrets and techniques of maximizing income whereas protecting gamers engaged. Drawing on her in depth work throughout corporations like Tencent, Kabam, Meta, WB, and Nexon, Jo will provide actionable classes realized from PC, cellular, console, AR, and VR video games. This session is a should for anybody looking for to refine their strategy to monetization in a player-first period. (roundtable at 2:30 p.m. to three:30 p.m. on Could 19 at Catalina room).
One of the vital attention-grabbing new fashions for serving to manufacturers join with gamers comes from Twin Galaxies in a session entitled, “The aggressive layer you’re lacking: How recreation manufacturers are constructing loyalty with out including additional code.”
In a world the place consideration is fleeting and communities are fractured, competitors would possibly simply be the key glue. This session explores how recreation publishers and types are utilizing no-code, community-driven competitions to generate constructive participant sentiment, drive repeat engagement, and foster long-term loyalty. Learn the way a novel strategy has turned informal gamers into invested communities and why aggressive codecs are rising as vital within the trendy reside ops toolkit.
A chat by Zack Rozga and Jace Corridor of Twin Galaxies (1:30 pm – 2:30 pm on Could 19 within the Venice/Peninsula room).
And we now have a session on recreation publishing dubbed, “The issue with publishing.” Moderated by GamesBeat’s Rachel Kaser, with Jon Snoddy of Operative Video games and Ben Kvalo of Midwest Video games (2:30 pm – 3:30 pm at Malibu/Santa Monica room).
New applied sciences
One in every of our tech periods is about “Moderation instruments and methods: the superior class.”
Immediately’s gaming audiences are demanding extra: security, clear communication, and smarter responses to points. On this hearth chat, Meta’s Blake Harper will share real-world methods for constructing resilient communities. Mark Nolan of Modulate and Blake Harper of Meta (3:30 pm – 4:30 pm on Could 19 at Palisades room).
And Matei Trebien of VoicePatrol will give on a chat on advances in voice moderation expertise in a five-minute sponsored session at 9:25 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. within the California ballroom on Could 20.
Typically previous applied sciences coming again. We have now a session on the evolution of movement gaming: Previous, current and future.
Nex Playground has launched to focus on youngsters and their love of movement gaming. It’s an instance of going after a distinct segment that gamers love and the {hardware} makers have left behind. How large a distinct segment will it’s?
Tom Kang of NEX and moderator Dean Takahashi of GamesBeat will focus on the subject. (3 p.m. to three:30 pm on Could 20 on the California ballroom).
Entrepreneurs and funding
Justin Woodward has lengthy expertise working with indies by way of The Combine. This session will have a look at the best way to curate indie video games and expertise. How can indies diversify their funding sources and interact with passionate, collaborative co-developers? I’ll reasonable a chat in a hearth chat at 1:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. on Could 20 within the Promenade room.
One once more, we’re delighted that Lightspeed is sponsoring our Recreation Adjustments 2026 checklist, which can discover the highest 25 recreation corporations within the trade and current them within the fall.
The Recreation Changers 2026 theme is “Constructing By way of Chaos.” From mass layoffs and financial headwinds to the rise of AI and shifting world insurance policies, the gaming trade is weathering continued volatility.
Audio system embrace Moritz Baier-Lentz of Lightspeed, Dean Takahashi of GamesBeat, Kieran Donovan of Okay-ID, Stephen Bell of Gardens and Cheryl Fichter of Inworld AI. (1 pm – 1:30 pm on Could 20 at California ballroom).
We’ll even have a session on investing in new markets. What are the tendencies that matter to recreation buyers now? How can we forge forward with investments throughout a tricky time for gaming? The place can we discover new gamers? This panel of recreation M&A and funding consultants will deal with these questions and extra.
The audio system embrace Hemal Thaker of Goldman Sachs, Lloyd Danzig of Sharp Alpha, moderator Emily Wang of Griffin Gaming Companions and Tyler Matheson of Makers Fund. (1 pm – 1:30 pm on Could 20 within the Promenade room).
Louis Gresham of Hydratec Dan Bunting, Enterprise Associate at 1am Gaming and former Name of Responsibility Recreation Director will focus on “The profitable area of interest: Constructing multibillion-dollar franchises from core preliminary group outward.” (3 p.m. to three:30 p.m. at Promenade room).
We’ll additionally cowl the trail from triple-A to solo recreation devs, with Adam Kugler, founding father of CyanAvatar Studios and solo developer behind MoteMancer. He’ll run an intimate roundtable exploring the transition from main giant triple-A groups to the deeply private journey of solo recreation improvement. (roundtable at 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Venice/Peninsula room).
Lastly, we’ll get the “360-degree view of elevating cash for recreation startups” in a panel with Garrett Younger of Emptyvessel, Jeonghee “JJ” Jin of NC America and Teppei Tsutsui of GFR Fund. Emptyvessel was one of many corporations that focused a distinct segment, created prototype and bought off the bottom with funding. We’ll speak concerning the strategy of elevating cash for recreation startups from a number of factors of view — and the way we bought to a full vessel. (4 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. on Could 20 at Promenade room).
Recreation communities
We’ll discover recreation communities in “Past the sport: Scopely and Discord’s strategy to constructing and sustaining thriving recreation communities.” Fostering thriving, vibrant participant communities isn’t just a aggressive benefit—it’s develop into essential for recreation discovery and significant engagement.
The audio system are Ryan Jacobson of Scopely, Stanislav Vishnevskiy of Discord and moderator Rachel Kaser of GamesBeat (1:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. on Could 20 within the California ballroom).
Shelby Johnson-Sapp SVP of Company Technique at Scopely, and Rachel Kaser of GamesBeat in a roundtable dialog on what it takes to construct a resilient, adaptive video games enterprise in at present’s dynamic market. (2 p.m. to three p.m. on Could 20 within the Malibu/Santa Monica room).
We’ll even have a session on understanding the subsequent era of avid gamers. Kevin Beatty of Samsung Gaming and Rising Applied sciences and moderator Stella Chung (2 pm – 2:30 pm on Could 20 at Promenade room).
We’ll even have a session about video games in Asia and the West, entitled, “The East-West Connection: Efficiently bringing Asian video games to western markets (and vice versa).”
There’s nonetheless a variety of circulate of video games between Japanese and Western recreation markets, as gamers are embracing world content material in each predictable and stunning methods. We’ll discuss the best way to foster this connection and get new initiatives off the bottom. The session contains Jeonghee “JJ” Jin and moderator Lisa Cosmas Hanson of Niko Companions (2:30 p.m. to three p.m. on Could 20 within the Promenade Room).
And lastly on the group entrance, we now have a session, “Leveraging trade non-profits for progress.”
Gaming nonprofits are a fantastic instrument to develop your viewers and develop your income. How working with nonprofits may also help you construct extra profitable video games and companies.
The audio system embrace Blair Durkee of GLAAD, Stephen Machuga of Stack Up and moderated by Jen MacLean of Dragon Snacks Video games and IGDA Basis (2:30 p.m. to three:30 p.m. on Could 19 at Venice/Peninsula).
Hollywood and video games
Since we’re doing this in Los Angeles, we might be remiss if we didn’t cowl the love affair between the films, TV and gaming.
We’ll discuss the place it’s going subsequent in a session with Hollywood and gaming veterans.
We’ll have a extra intimate roundtable entitled “Video video games: A performers’ perspective.
A glance contained in the world of online game performers offering insights into the realities of working as a online game actor; the state of the trade, the existential menace to performers livelihood attributable to Generative Synthetic Intelligence and the way forward for the gaming trade for performers who’re enthusiastic about their artwork and work.
Actors talking embrace Sarah Elmaleh, Zeke Alton and Andi Norris (3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Could 19 at Catalina room).
We may also have a small group session entitled, “The influencer playbook behind Murderer’s Creed: Mirage.
Within the fast-paced world of gaming, the place tendencies begin and evolve swiftly, and audiences crave innovation, solely probably the most artistic and genuine campaigns could make a long-lasting impression with audiences. This dialog brings collectively the visionary minds behind Ubisoft’s award-winning influencer marketing campaign for the launch of “Murderer’s Creed Mirage.”
Glenn Ginsburg of QYOU Media, Anna Ivanko of Ubisoft, content material creator and comic Adam W and moderator Amanda Perelli of Enterprise Insider (3:30 pm – 4:30 pm on Could 20 at Venice/Peninsula room).
We’ll put a highlight on “How documentaries are shining a light-weight on video games.” This can be a roundtable documentary dialogue with Theresa Loong, who’s making Recreation On, a movie about recreation designer Brenda Romero and the best way to exist as a artistic particular person. Moderated by Shelby Moledina of Glowy Pixels Leisure and maker of Resting Pitch Face, a brief movie a couple of girl working the gauntlet of elevating cash for a startup. (1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. on Could 19 at Catalina room).
And lastly, we’ll have a chat from a tech/movie/gaming pioneer Territory on “The Movement Revolution: Redefining actual world experiences.”
Step into the forefront of innovation with The Movement Revolution to discover how interactivity is remodeling the best way we interact with next-generation applied sciences. Uncover how we carry the unimaginable to life, crafting movement design on the intersection of science fiction, expertise, and gaming.
As expertise takes middle stage the world is evolving into multi-dimensional realities, providing us new experiences like by no means earlier than. Uncover how our design work extends into this new period, honed on blockbusters equivalent to Iron Man, Avengers, Prepared Participant One and VR video games together with Batman: Arkham Shadow.
Russ Gautier of Territory Studio (5 p.m. to five:30 p.m. on Could 20 at California ballroom)
Our advisers embrace Peter Levin of Griffin Gaming Companions, Mark Chandler of TIGS, Jace Corridor of Twin Galaxies, Jeff Karp previously of EA Cellular, Ed Lu of Fandom, Mike Romo of DDM, Charmaine Duff of Girls-Led Video games, Don Daglow of AIAS Basis/Robust Nationwide Museum of Play, Eric Goldberg of Playable Worlds, Tammy McDonald of Fusion Level Studios, Noah Falstein of The Inspiracy, Perrin Kaplan of Zebra Companions, Ivan Fernandez Lobo of Video games Govt Summit Europe, Michael Metzger of Drake Star Companions, Elizabeth Olson of Strategic Advertising and marketing, David B. Hoppe of Gamma Regulation, Mike Vorhaus of Vorhaus Advisors, Zsuzsa James of personal household workplace, Kat Jones of Motiv PR, Wanda Meloni of M2 Insights, Lisa Cosmas Hanson of Niko Companions, Sibel Sunar of Fortyseven Communications, Michael Chang of Mavent Companions and Adam Boyes of Vivrato.
We hope you’re enthusiastic about this and admire your help. Our sponsors embrace Xsolla, Scopely, Tencent, Leisure Software program Affiliation, Modulate, AWS, Google Cloud, Lightspeed, GEEIQ, Sawhorse Productions, VoicePatrol and extra.
We couldn’t draw as a lot consideration to our occasion with out our nice group companions together with Girls-Led Video games, Girls X AI, IGDA Basis, Black in Gaming Basis, Video games for Love, Video games for Change, Mothers in Gaming, AIAS, GEMA and WIGI.
And due to our workers: Gina Joseph, CEO of GamesBeat; Cathy Simpson and David Glass of the occasions staff; Ji Bowlus of partnerships; our writers me, Mike Minotti, Rachel Kaser and Giancarlo Valdes; our advertising head Marta Ordeig. We additionally had a variety of assist from VentureBeat on this occasion, with contributors together with Marc Gartenberg, Todd Bokin, Gloria Lukos, Karen Horn, Nicole Patricio, Mike Rosinski, Alyssa Hill, Brian Thurman and Alexey Ilinikh.
