The GDC2024 conference opens, and Web3 games become the highlight of the event?

The annual event of the global game development community, GDC (Game Developers Conference) 2024, will be held from March 18 to 22, 2024, in San Francisco, USA.
GDC provides a platform for game developers, technology providers, investors, and media from around the world to showcase the latest game development tools, platforms, and services, while also serving as an important occasion to discuss industry trends and share knowledge and experiences.
GDC 2023 attracted over 300 exhibitors, including Microsoft, Google, NVIDIA, Tencent, NetEase, Epic Games, Unity, and Ubisoft, all showcasing their products, and GDC 2024 is expected to attract these tech giants as well.

How high are the standards of GDC? A look back at last year's GDC conference

Since its first event in 1988, the Game Developers Conference (GDC) has developed into one of the most important annual gatherings for the global game development community. Each year, this event attracts thousands of participants, including game developers, game designers, programmers, artists, producers, game marketing experts, and executives, who come together to share knowledge, discuss industry trends, and showcase the latest technologies and products. GDC is not only a platform for technical exchange but also an important venue for industry professionals to network and seek collaboration opportunities.

GDC 2023 saw significant expansion in both scale and content, reflecting the rapid development and diversification of the gaming industry. This year's conference particularly emphasized the application of AI technology, virtual reality, augmented reality, and blockchain technology in game development, attracting top companies and industry pioneers from around the globe. Tech giants like Microsoft, Google, NVIDIA, and Tencent, along with many innovative startups, showcased their latest achievements and insights in the field of game development.
In addition to technical demonstrations and academic lectures, GDC 2023 also included events like the Independent Games Festival and the Game Developers Choice Awards, which not only showcased the art and innovative spirit of game development but also provided recognition and accolades for outstanding game developers and works.
Through a series of tutorials, lectures, roundtable discussions, and networking events, GDC 2023 offered participants an excellent opportunity to learn new technologies, gain inspiration, and expand their networks, further promoting the development and innovation of the gaming industry.
Like the previous year, many blockchain-related projects were involved, with Gala Games, Polygon Labs, and Wemade (Wemix) being notable diamond partners of GDC 2023.

Overview of GDC 2024: A series of social events for game developers, with Web3 likely to be a hot topic

GDC 2024 will continue and expand the scale and scope of the previous year's conference, expected to cover a broader range of topics, including but not limited to technological innovation, game design, market trends, and a special emphasis on the application of AI technology in game development. Additionally, with the increasing prevalence of cryptocurrency and blockchain in the gaming industry, GDC 2024 will explore how these technologies can bring new opportunities and challenges to the gaming sector.
The organizers of GDC 2024 are committed to creating an inclusive and diverse environment aimed at promoting communication and collaboration among members of the game development community. The conference will feature multiple thematic lectures and workshops hosted by industry experts, covering various aspects such as game programming, art design, sound production, and game marketing. These sessions aim to provide learning and growth opportunities for both novice and experienced game developers while encouraging them to share their experiences and insights.
In addition to professional academic exchanges, GDC 2024 will host a series of networking and social events, including iconic activities like the Independent Games Festival and the Game Developers Choice Awards. These events not only provide a platform for outstanding game developers and works to showcase and receive recognition but also offer valuable opportunities for attendees to interact and communicate, helping to establish new collaborations and expand personal or corporate influence.
GDC 2024 will also pay special attention to the latest trends and challenges in the gaming industry, such as sustainability, diversity and inclusion, and how to leverage emerging technologies to create meaningful and impactful gaming experiences. Through these discussions and exchanges, GDC 2024 aims to promote the healthy development of the gaming industry, encourage innovation and creativity, while also focusing on social responsibility and ethical issues.
In summary, GDC 2024 will be an unmissable event, providing an unparalleled platform for game developers seeking the latest industry knowledge and companies wishing to showcase innovative technologies and products, all working together to shape the future of game development.

Highlights of GDC 2024: Notable blockchain projects like Avalanche and Arbitrum participating

The GDC 2024 conference not only marks a frontier exploration of game development technology but also showcases the deep integration and innovation of the crypto sector within the gaming industry. This year, the participation of crypto technology is particularly noteworthy, with several leading projects such as Avalanche, Arbitrum, Gala Games, Sui, and Oasys showcasing how they leverage blockchain technology to drive innovation in game development and player experience.
Avalanche, based on its high-performance blockchain platform, provides game developers with a low-cost, high-throughput environment, making the creation and operation of decentralized games more efficient. Arbitrum, as a layer two scaling solution, offers better options for game developers by optimizing transaction processing speed and costs. Gala Games demonstrates how blockchain technology can create new game economies and participation methods for players through its decentralized gaming platform.
Additionally, Sui and Oasys, two blockchain infrastructure projects designed specifically for gaming, provide efficient and scalable solutions, offering game developers and players richer interactive experiences and broader innovation spaces. The participation of these projects not only showcases the application potential of crypto technology in the gaming industry but also brings new possibilities for game development and player experience.
GDC 2024 has become an important platform for demonstrating how crypto technology can combine with game development to drive industry innovation and development. Through the participation and innovative showcases of these crypto projects, GDC 2024 further proves that the gaming industry is in a rapidly developing and constantly changing new era, with the integration of crypto technology paving new paths for the future of game development and player experience.

New forces in the gaming industry? A look at the Web3 game projects participating in GDC 2024

In the diamond partner list of GDC 2023, there were three well-known projects related to blockchain or chain games: Gala Games, Polygon Labs, and Wemade (Wemix). However, in the diamond partners of GDC 2024, only Wemade (which owns Wemix) remains related to chain games, and this time Wemade has also become the Registration Sponsor for this GDC.
Here are some other Web3 projects participating in GDC 2024:

1. aelf: Aiming to provide technical solutions for Web3 DApps at the conference

Since its establishment in Singapore in 2017, ælf has been committed to becoming a high-performance layer one blockchain designed to promote the development of Web3 and its future. However, it has rarely made an appearance until now. From its participation in GDC, ælf aims to be a one-stop solution for Web3 DApps, providing a cloud-native, efficient blockchain system that supports decentralized finance (DeFi) and metaverse applications, ensuring a secure, fast, and low-cost operating environment. Through its main chain and multi-sidechain architecture, along with built-in cross-chain design, it offers developers and users almost unlimited scalability and high-performance network experiences.

Previously, on February 20, the chain game platform Crystal Fun completed a $5 million seed round financing, with ælf as an investor.

2. Game development studio ANIMO: Collaborating with Moonbeam to develop a blockchain game

ANIMO is a game development studio in partnership with Moonbeam, working on the development of the third-person shooter game "ANIMO Stars Arena." The studio has AAA game publishing experience and technology.

Additionally, ANIMO plans to bring the game "Stars Arena" to the Epic Games Store and Steam, and develop blockchain-supported versions for PlayStation and Nintendo Switch.

3. Crypto Unicorn: Has migrated the game from Polygon to Arbitrum L3 Xai

The chain game Crypto Unicorn, which participated in the last bull market, is also attending this GDC. Earlier this year, they announced their migration from Polygon to Arbitrum L3 Xai.
Previously, the chain game Crypto Unicorns announced on platform X that they would migrate from Polygon to Xai, with all CU assets and game logic being transferred to Xai. Currently, Crypto Unicorns is operating a node for the DAC committee and will collaborate with the Xai and Arbitrum teams to expand the network. In March 2022, Crypto Unicorns announced the completion of $26 million in financing through token sales, led by TCG and Backed VC, with participation from BITKRAFT Ventures, Delphi Digital, Infinity Venture Crypto, Polygon Studios, CoinFund, BreederDAO, Emfarsis, and ACME Capital.

4. Parallel: Two chain game projects will attend, with plans to build new games based on the Solana chain

The TCG chain game Parallel is attending this GDC with two projects, Echelon and Parallel. Previously, the chain game Parallel announced plans to build a new AI-powered game, Parallel Colony, on Solana.

5. MetaCene: Recently completed $10 million financing, about to launch Alpha test V.3

The popular chain game MetaCene announced on March 12 that it had completed $10 million in Series A financing, led by Folios Ventures and SevenX Ventures, and is also participating in GDC 2024, likely aiming to attract traditional players to try this MMORPG game that combines blockchain technology. Currently, the game is open for Alpha 3 testing.

MetaCene is primarily building the next-generation MMORPG chain game, supporting features like guild DAO governance, sustainable economic systems, and in-game AIGC editing. The funds from this round of financing will be used to expand the team and promote user acquisition plans.
MetaCene is collaborating with Mocaverse, YGG, and Ancient8, planning to launch Alpha test V.3 in March 2024.

6. Tevaera: Previously had no actual products, attending with obvious speculation

The zkSync-based blockchain game ecosystem Tevaera is also participating in GDC 2024. This project previously had few notable finished products and seems to be aiming to draw attention within the community by attending GDC 2024.
According to the official description, the Tevaera ecosystem includes two core products: Teva Games and on-chain game infrastructure.
The on-chain game infrastructure includes Teva Core, Teva Chain, Teva Dex, and Teva Market. Teva Core is the first intelligent and modular multiplayer game framework designed for game studios. Teva Chain is an L3 game HyperChain built on zkSync, providing unlimited scalability, fast performance, and secure transactions. Teva DEX is a decentralized game exchange that promotes a sustainable play-to-earn economic system, while Teva Market is used for NFT trading and staking.