Game Developers Conference Looking to Set Up Hotline After Claims of Abuse and Harassment at GDC 2023; All We Know

Game Developers Conference 2023 was the place to be for gamers this week, until it wasn’t. The event drew a massive number of 28,000 in-person attendees. Developers had their own booths which showcased different types of tech as well as upcoming projects. Now, the event has come to a close, and the next big thing coming from them is the GDC showcase, which is a three-day virtual event.

That’s our show everyone! Thanks to everyone who joined us for #GDC23, we’ve had an unforgettable week of talks, events, and networking. We can’t wait to show you what’s next. Stay tuned for more on our all-virtual #GDCShowcase 3-day event, coming this summer. pic.twitter.com/nl77m51Hit

— GDC Showcase (June 27-29) (@Official_GDC) March 25, 2023

Despite the grand scale of the event, it seems that some attendees did not have the best of experiences at GDC 2023. There were several reports of harassment and abuse made by attendees which included the likes of assault and rude behaviour and much more that was directed towards them. There were also reports of women being harassed by men, some women also reported spiked drinks.

Women at GDC this year have been belittled and undermined in their roles, been hit on relentlessly, and had their drinks spiked by predatory men.

Two women were even lured up to a hotel room by a man in a position of power for a “pitch”, where he then assaulted them.

— Leena ???? (@LeenaVanD) March 24, 2023

However, a new report by GameIndustry.Biz states that GDC has acknowledged the issue and is setting up a hotline for victims of this abuse. GDC stated that the safety and comfort of their attendees is “obviously” their priority and comes “above all else”.

They added that they are “always looking for ways to make sure that all attendees are aware of all the safety and security measures available to them.” This now includes a GDC Hotline which will be published on the event website as wells as on all attendee badges for future iterations of the GDC.