Game Devs of Color Expo Will Kickoff On September 16 With Over 30 Game Announcements

The four-day event will kick off with a livestream called GDoCExpo Direct that will feature more than 30 game announcements from creators of color. It will go live at 4 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT on September 16 and can be watched on YouTube. The following days will include live panels and developer interviews in addition to game announcements. This year’s Game Devs of Color will see the return of in-person watch parties where viewers can see the event together. Locations include but are not limited to New York City, Pittsburgh, Rochester, Poughkeepsie, and Portland. A Steam sale that features both demos and discounted games will also coincide with the conference. 

Lastly, the conference will also see three $7,000 no-strings development grants be awarded to creators of color. These recipients will be announced on the last day of GDoCExpo. This has been a tradition for the event since 2019, with a total of $405,000 in grants having been awarded to creators. Any parties interested in attending GDoCExpo can currently find tickets for sale now. For anyone interested in planning ahead of time, the full event schedule is available online.

The Game Devs of Color Expo started in 2016 and has since been focused on, as the non-profit organization puts it, “amplifying the creative power held by people of color in games.” The group is interested in fighting “to create a better games industry that is intersectional and equitable by organizing revolutionary events, uniting our vibrant community, and building access to knowledge, funding, and opportunities.” Considering the snail pace at which diverse representation has improved in today’s (often hostile) game industry, the event is a welcomed reprieve and shows that there are many actively invested in seeing the game industry’s full and diverse potential be realized.