Powering Games,
Empowering Creators

Xbox and Microsoft celebrate Game Developers Conference 2024 by inviting game developers onsite and online to learn more about how we're continuing our commitment to support game developers on any platform, anywhere in the world, at every stage of development, by powering their games and empowering their teams.

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Where You'll Find Us

From March 18 - 22, the Xbox Lobby Lounge in the Moscone Center South can’t be missed – an easy meeting point, and a first step toward learning more about the ID@Xbox publishing program, the Developer Acceleration Program (DAP) for underrepresented creators, Azure cloud gaming services, and anything else developers might need.

This year's GDC sessions feature dozens of speakers from across Xbox, Activision, Blizzard, King and Bethesda who will demonstrate groundbreaking in-game innovations and share community-building strategies. Microsoft technology teams, with support from partners, will also host talks that spotlight new tools, software and services that help increase developer velocity, grow player engagement and help creators grow. See below for more details.

Featured GDC 2024 Content

GDC 2024: Community Sift & the Future of Content Moderation

We're excited to share how Community Sift is creating healthy and safe communities for players with the use of innovative tools and solutions.

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GDC 2024: Xbox Releases Gaming for Everyone Product Inclusion Framework for Game Developers

The framework provides a set of actionable resources to help game developers weave intentionality and inclusion into their products and games.

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GDC 2024: Meet the Developers Behind Some of the Year's Biggest ID@Xbox Games

From ninjas to Greek gods, there's something for everyone in this year's ID@Xbox lineup.

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GDC 2024: How Minecraft Puts Players at the Center of the Universe of Big Data

How do you represent the views of millions of Minecraft players around the world? With data, of course!

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GDC 2024: Unlocking the Success of Gun Interactive’s The Texas Chain Saw Massacre with PlayFab's Game Services

How leveraging PlayFab's services enabled rapid prototyping and development and allowed Gun Interactive to focus on delivering an exceptional gaming experience.

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Unlocking the Power of PlayFab Economy: Game-Changing Features for GDC 2024

Discover the power of PlayFab’s new game-changing features designed to enhance your in-game economies, improve performance, and maximize engagement.

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Monday, March 18

Skyscraper Zombies: Advancing 'Call of Duty's' Systems for Giant AI

Speaker: Andrew Hoyt (Treyarch)
Time: 3:50 pm - 4:20 pm

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Tuesday, March 19

H2O in H3LL: The Various Forms of Water in Diablo IV

Speaker: Aaron Aikman (Blizzard Entertainment)
Time: 10:50 am - 11:50 am

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The Synergy of Architecture and Structural Engineering in Game Art and Design

Speaker: Joshua Haun (Activision)
Time: 3:50 pm - 4:20 pm

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Audio Summit: How do you make casual games players turn their audio on?

Speaker: Dominique Devoucoux (King)
Time: 4:40 pm - 5:10 pm

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Harvesting 10 Years Of Success: How Farm Heroes Saga Has Super-Served It's Players For A Decade

Speaker: Sabrina Carmona (King)
Time: 2:40 pm - 3:40 pm

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Wednesday, March 20

Developing Hi-Fi RUSH "Backwards" and Finding Our Positive Gameplay Loop

Speaker: John Johanas (Tango Gameworks)
Time: 9:00 am - 10:00 am

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The First 30 Years of 'Warcraft': The Making of a Game Universe

Speaker: John Hight (Blizzard Entertainment)
Time: 9:00 am - 10:00 am

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The Pillars of Hell: Achieving the Artistic Vision of Diablo IV

Speaker: John Mueller (Blizzard Entertainment)
Time: 9:00 am - 10:00 am

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Sugary Statistics: What we have learned about Candy Crush content after 10 years and over 15,000 levels

Speakers: Jan Wedekind (King) and Xavier Guardiola (King)
Time: 9:00 am - 10:00 am

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Xbox’s Product Inclusion Framework & Inclusive Growth Doorways

Speaker: Katy Jo Wright (Microsoft)
Time: 12:30 pm - 1:30 pm

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Gaming For Everyone Feedback Crew logo

Automated Testing of Shader Code

Speaker: Keith Stockdale (Rare Ltd)
Time: 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm

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Diablo IV – Audio Systems Deep Dive “Living Audio”

Speakers: Kris Giampa (Blizzard Entertainment) and Michael Bartnett (Blizzard Entertainment)
Time: 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm

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Optimizing Game Development Workflows with Visual Studio and AI

Speakers: David Li (Microsoft) and Greg Denton (Microsoft)
Time: 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm

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Visual Studio 2022 Recap Hero image

All things Azure & OpenAI for Game Development

Speakers: Jon Kefaloukos (Microsoft) and Uthappa Kattera Chengappa (Microsoft)
Time: 3:30 pm - 4:30 pm

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10 Years in Tamriel: Success of The Elder Scrolls

Speaker: Matt Firor (ZeniMax Online Studios)
Time: 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm

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3D Toon Rendering in Hi-Fi RUSH

Speakers: Kosuke Tanaka (Tango Gameworks) and Takashi Komada (Tango Gameworks)
Time: 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm

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The View From Above: Designing Compelling Quests for 'Diablo IV'

Speaker: Harrison Pink (Blizzard Entertainment)
Time: 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm

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Thursday, March 21

Diablo IV: The Art of Open World Sanctuary

Speakers: Mahreen Fatima, Sam Gao, and Justin Whitehead (Blizzard)
Time: 10:00 am - 11:00 am

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Levelling Up: How AI's Transformative Role in Level Automation Production Adds Business Value in 'Candy Crush Saga'

Speaker: Anna Hernandelius (King) and Sahar Asadi (King)
Time: 10:00 am - 11:00 am

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Keeping Online Communities Healthy

Speakers: Jennifer Mills-Perov (Microsoft) and Ivory Harvey (Microsoft)
Time: 11:30 am - 12:30 pm

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DirectX State of the Union Featuring Work Graphs and Introducing DirectSR

Speakers: Shawn Hargreaves, Austin Kinross (Microsoft), Wessam Bahnassi (Nvidia), and Rob Martin (AMD)
Time: 12:45 pm - 1:45 pm

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Minecraft Players at the Center of the Universe of Big Data

Speaker: Francisco Rius (Mojang Studios)
Time: 12:45 pm - 1:45 pm

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MergeBot: Activision's Merge and Resolve Infrastructure

Speaker: Damianos Gkouzkouris (Activision)
Time: 3:00 pm - 3:30 pm

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How PlayFab Helped Texas Chainsaw Massacre Succeed

Speakers: CJ Williams (Microsoft) and Rob Fox (Gun Interactive)
Time: 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm

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Operation Innovation: How Xbox Employs Military Talents in Gaming

Speakers: Fiona Cherbak (XGS), iAsia Brown (XGS), Lisa Elswick (USO), Jenn Panattoni (Microsoft), and Jason Coon (Microsoft)
Time: 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm

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Friday, March 22

Game Career Seminar: Who Are You? Building Your Profile Outside the Job

Speaker: Ashley Poprik (High Moon Studios)
Time: 10:10 am - 10:40 am

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Shipping Diablo IV

Speakers: Michael Bybee (Blizzard Entertainment) and Tiffany Wat (Blizzard Entertainment)
Time: 1:30 pm - 2:30 pm

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Building the Minecraft Creator Platform Block-by-Block

Speaker: Kayla Kinnunen (Mojang Studios)
Time: 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm

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Embracing Art Performance on Diablo IV

Speaker: Evan Edwards (Blizzard Entertainment)
Time: 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm

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Visual Effects Roundtable Day 3

Speaker: Gabriel Boileau (Activision Blizzard)
Time: 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm

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