"Adapting to Adversity: GDC 2024 Navigates Industry Layoffs and Embraces Tradition"

The annual Game Developers Conference in San Francisco is taking place amid mass layoffs in the game industry, with roughly 8,000 workers laid off since the start of 2024. Experts attribute the layoffs to various factors, including the cyclical nature of the industry, the end of a generation of video game consoles, and the shift towards "live service games." The layoffs have impacted California significantly, with some 44,000 jobs located there, and have created a fiercely competitive job market. Despite the challenges, industry professionals are looking to connect and find support at the conference, with sessions focusing on layoff preparedness and networking opportunities.