I’m delighted to reveal the agenda for our GamesBeat Next 2023, which takes place in San Francisco on October 23-24.
We’ve got at least 94 speakers (updated) this time, with more being added before we finalize the roster on what’s coming next for the game industry.
Registration is available here and you can use this code for 25% off: deangbn2325. You can still apply to be a sponsor here. Our theme for the event is “Playing the Edge,” which encapsulates the spirit of pushing boundaries, taking risks, and venturing into unexplored territories within the gaming world.
It will also feature our seventh Women in Gaming Breakfast on the morning of October 24. Women professionals in games can get into the entire event for free using this code: GBN23WIG.
GamesBeat Next will be a live, in-person only event. You’ll see a handful of TBDs below, and we’ve got a lot of candidates poised to be confirmd. On top of that, we’re holding some back.
It represents an invitation to embrace the thrill of being at gaming’s forefront, where innovation and excitement converge. Last year, we had more than 500 people turn out for this event and we had some memorable talks like the fireside chat I did with Neal Stephenson, author of Snow Crash and chief instigator of the open metaverse vision that remains with us three decades later.
We’ll talk about things like generative AI’s impact on games, the gaming economy, esports and creators, Web3, the metaverse, cloud gaming, games and Hollywood, diversity and talent, mobile games, VR/AR (like Apple’s Vision Pro and its clash with the Meta Quest 3), gaming for good, user-generated content and deals and investments. This is a major community event for GamesBeat, and we’ll get into building gaming communities. We’ll hit a lot of other topics too.
Day 1 October 23 GamesBeat Summit Next 2023
1 pm
Registration opens
1:30 pm Virtual-only talk shown in main room
How developers can power brands and creators with immersive experiences
Nicola Sebastiani, chief content officer at The Sandbox
Moderator: Dean Takahashi, lead writer for GamesBeat at VentureBeat
1:50 pm – 1:55 pm Welcome
Rachel Kaser
1:55 pm emcee welcome
Zsuzsa James, senior trade commissioner, consulate general of Finland
2 pm
Navigating the future of UGC in games: Empowering player expression, representation and innovation
In this session, we will delve into the multifaceted world of User-Generated Content (UGC) in games, exploring how it empowers players to shape their gaming experiences and how brands can embrace player creations to push creative boundaries. Join Lyndsay Pearson, VP of Franchise Creative for The Sims and Joe Ferencz, CEO of Gamefam in conversation as they discuss the critical aspects of player expression, autonomy, the significance of representation within games, lessons learned from past experiences with The Sims and how UGC options can continue to evolve and expand.
Moderator: Andrew Willson, partner at Makers Fund
Gamefam CEO Joe Ferencz
2:30 pm
Old friends and new ventures
Sebastien DeHalleux
Kristian Segerstrale, CEO of Super Evil Megacorp
2:50 pm
What Unity tells us about the future of platforms
Emily Greer, CEO of Double Loop Games
Tyler Cloutier, founder at Clockwork Labs
David Cohen, senior business development director, iLogos
Moderator: Dean Takahashi
3:20 pm
Leveraging LinkedIn to counteract game job losses and foster career opportunities
Recognized as a LinkedIn Top Voice in Video Games, Amir Satvat will delve into his experiences and best practices from leading one of the platform’s most extensive gaming communities, boasting over 53,000 members, for the past year. He provides a wide array of free services centered around finding jobs for people in gaming. By gathering timely job opening data and making it easy to access, Satvat has empowered his community to more efficiently find work. These initiatives have helped close to 700 individuals to land positions in the gaming sector, counterbalancing an estimated 10% of the industry’s global job losses (7,000) in the previous year.
Amir Satvat, business development director at Tencent
Moderator: Ninel Gryuner Anderson, CEO of Devoted Studios
3:40 pm
Is the metaverse dead?
Absolutely not. After the hype of 2022, where does the metaverse stand now? And – even more importantly – what are its challenges and opportunities for the future? As one of the true pioneers of virtual worlds, Philip Rosedale offers a unique perspective and unparalleled insights into these critical questions. He will discuss who is still standing in the metaverse space – and why. He will bring some of the honest truths to light based on what he has seen and learned over not only the past two years of hype but over 20 years of Second Life.
There is still a lot that virtual worlds can teach us for the real world, including new and better social structures and ways to combat some of the real world’s biggest challenges, including economic inequality.
Looking to the future, Philip has strong opinions regarding AI – how it could support and make virtual worlds better and also the threats it may offer. He will discuss where he believes VR is going – and how we will ultimately get the rich engagements we want in virtual worlds and games – and not by wearing a computer.
Philip Rosedale, founder of Linden Lab
4 pm
Fostering community with technology: Insights from Thatgamecompany
It’s rare to see a friendly community arise in gaming. Thatgamecompany scored a both a big hit and a collegial community with the game Sky: Children of the Light. The studio managed to attract a community of fans who enjoyed experiencing an inspirational game together. And then it created an even greater community experience using new technology to bring thousands of players together at the same time. We’ll talk about the intersection of community and technology – and the opportunity to do more cutting-edge community engagement in the future.
Jenova Chen, CEO of Thatgamecompany
Moderator: Dean Takahashi
4:30 pm
The future of game hardware
John Spitzer, vp of developer and performance technology at Nvidia
Mike Lucero, Samsung
Moderator: Chris Melissinos, AWS principal evangelist
5 pm – 5:30 pm
Ambitious game startups: When senior developers call the shots
Moderator: Michael Pacther, Wedbush
Steve Chiang, president of Fortis
Michael Chow, CEO of Believer
Chris Bell, CEO/creative director at Gardens
5:30 pm to 6:30 pm Reception
Day 2 October 24 GamesBeat Summit Next 2023
8:30 am – 9:45 am: Women in Gaming Breakfast
SPONSORED by Amazon Games
If you think your career is going to be a straight line, guess again!
The best career journey is filled with twists and turns, all of which come with many learnings that will help you grow – if you’re open to it. Join us as top women leaders in games share their professional paths and how it shaped who they are as executives today. They’ll discuss when to take risks, when to question if you’re too comfortable and need to challenge yourself, and what you can learn from mistakes made along the way. Plus, the importance of building your network from the start and how to use your experience to help guide the next generation of women leaders.
Monika Madrid, vice president of games at Magid
Erica Larson, head of industry, media & entertainment at Google
Perrin Kaplan, cofounder at Zebra Partners
Sarah Anderson, Amazon Games
Moderator: Rachel Kaser, GamesBeat writer
9:40 am – 9:45 am
Emcee welcome
Chris Melissinos, games evangelist at AWS
9:45 am – 9:55 am Welcome by Dean Takahashi
Dean Takahashi, lead writer for GamesBeat
9:55 am — 5 minute room transition break
10 am – 10:30 am SPONSOR Google Cloud
Build Beyond: The Future of Game Development with Cloud and Generative AI
Creating and running games at a world-class level is getting harder, requiring more people and expertise while staying on top of the latest technology and industry trends. In this session, Dean Takahashi talks with Jack Buser (Google Cloud) about how cloud-powered technology can help game developers. From compute and networking to cutting-edge artificial intelligence, we’ll discuss how the cloud is helping the game industry meet the challenges of today and tomorrow.
Jack Buser, director for games – strategic industries at Google Cloud
Dean Takahashi, GamesBeat
10 am – 10:30 am Room 2
Keys to survival in Web3 Games
The industry has seen the rise and fall of numerous Web3 projects in the past 18 months. In this panel, game veterans from Jam City, Zynga, Forte, and others talk about their visions for effectively growing player economies, the importance of regulatory compliance, lessons learned so far, and what not to do when it comes to creating and sharing real-value for games and player communities.
Josh Williams, CEO of Forte
Neil Young, Forte
Matt Wolf, vice president of Web3 games at Zynga
Johnny Casamassina, CCO at Plai Labs
10:30 am – 11 am
Sponsor Xsolla
Are You Ready for the EU’s Digital Markets Act?
This panel will delve into the implications of the European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA) on the gaming industry. Will the EU succeed in opening markets such as app stores with this new regulatory framework.
The EU’s Digital Markets Act aims to regulate major online platforms and gatekeepers, ensuring fair competition, consumer protection, and data privacy. As the gaming industry operates in a digital ecosystem heavily influenced by platform dynamics, it is crucial for industry stakeholders to understand the implications and prepare for the changes brought by the DMA.
They will address topics such as compliance requirements, potential changes in business practices, and strategies to navigate the evolving regulatory environment. Whether you are a game developer, publisher, industry professional, or simply interested in understanding the impact of regulatory frameworks on the gaming industry, this panel offers a unique opportunity to gain valuable insights from industry leaders.
Dean Takahashi, lead writer for GamesBeat, moderator
Felix Hilgert, partner at Osborne Clark
Nicholas Longano, CEO of Scuti
Josephine Friday, Xsolla
10:30 am – 11 am ROOM 2
Practical steps to making the metaverse
The Metaverse may have suffered from too much vision and not enough substance. At our session, we’ve got some industry visionaries who have been working on metaverse ideas for decades. But instead of giving us some far-off vision, they’re going to talk about what’s doable now, and offer practical ideas that won’t take forever to build when it comes to bringing digital realms for all of us. Wagner James Au will do a book signing after the session.
Raph Koster, CEO of Playable Worlds
Cory Ondrejka
Wagner James Au, moderator, author of Making a Metaverse That Matters
11:am – 11:30 am
AI and gaming: Shaping the future of interactive experiences
AI stands poised to revolutionize the gaming landscape, impacting everything from game design and development to player experiences, art and virtual worlds. The panelists, each a trailblazer in their respective domains, will explore how AI is shaping the future of interactive gaming experiences, shedding light on the latest advancements, trends, and challenges in this dynamic field. The panel will explore topics such as AI-driven game mechanics, player personalization, ethical considerations, and the future possibilities that AI holds for the gaming industry.
Negar Shaghaghi, CEO of Auxworld
Kylan Gibbs, cofounder of Inworld AI
Stef Corrazza, head of Roblox Studio
Jon Radoff, CEO of Beamable, moderator
11 am -11:30 am Room 2 Emcee David Hoppe
The changing world of games by the numbers
CJ Bangah, PwC
Moderator: Jordan Fragen
11:30 am – 12 pm
The right and wrong way to do blockchain games
Blockchain games have the potential to disrupt the gaming industry This panel will delve into the nuances of blockchain-based games that offer both fun and fairness, juxtaposing successful approaches with pitfalls demonstrated by first-generation blockchain games like Axie Infinity.
Topics include the promise and peril of play-to-earn: While the concept has democratized earnings in gaming, it also runs the risk of becoming a pay-to-win model that excludes casual players. Who cares about Blockchain games: Emphasizing who benefits from disruption and who benefits from the status quo. What works and doesn’t: what are the suitable economic models? What works and doesn’t? Why blockchain games will win: why this trend is inevitable (or not) and why all gaming will eventually be blockchain powered.
Sean Pinnock, Avalon
Canaan Linder, CEO of Stardust
Matt Wolf, vice president of Web3 gaming at Zynga
Moderator: Miko Matsumura, managing director of Gumi Crytpos Capital
11:30 am -12 pm Room 2
Navigating the challenges of AI in gaming
Emmanuel de Maistre, CEO of Scenario.com
Hilary Mason, CEO of Hidden Door
Sean Kauppinen, SVP at Hiber
Moderator: Edward Saatchi, CEO of Fable
12 pm – 12:30 pm SPONSOR Animoca Brands
Building and operating a game with a symbiotic bridge between Web2 and Web3 gamers
Join us as Taehoon Kim, CEO and co-founder of nWay shares valuable insights gained from the development and operation of Wreck League — a competitive mech fighting game that caters to both the Web3 and Web3 audiences. Taehoon will talk about how to develop and service a separate build of the game for each audience that establishes a mutually beneficial partnership between Web3 creators and Web 2 gamers. Explore the intersection of traditional gaming and blockchain technology in this thought-provoking talk.
Taehoon Kim, CEO of nWay, a division of Animoca Brands
Dean Takahashi, moderator
12 pm – 12:30 pm ROOM 2
Using AI to personalize games
Join us for an inspiring session at the game conference as Chethan Ramachandran, an industry visionary and representative from Skillprint, takes the stage to explore the groundbreaking advances in utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) to customize gaming experiences based on individual players’ unique attributes.
Chethan’s talk will delve into the intersection of games, neuroscience and personalization, offering attendees valuable insights into how AI can revolutionize the gaming industry. Games affect the mind, and with AI, the mind can affect games – making them adaptive and personalized to each player. By driving innovation in game design, enhancing player engagement, and fostering player fulfillment, AI has the potential to transform the way we experience and interact with games.
Skillprint, a pioneering company at the forefront of AI technologies, has been dedicated to enhancing gaming experiences for players worldwide. With a focus on neuroscience research, player gameplay data, and comprehensive game characteristics and ratings, Skillprint recently launched the AdaptivePlay AI Platform into beta. This platform represents a significant leap forward in personalized gaming experiences.
Whether you are a game developer, industry professional, or gaming enthusiast, this session offers a rare opportunity to gain deeper understanding and explore the possibilities of AI in the gaming industry. Join us to discover how AI-driven personalization can shape the future of gaming, creating immersive and satisfying experiences that resonate with players on a whole new level.
Chethan Ramachandran, CEO Skillprint
1230pm – 130 pm LUNCH
12:30pm – 1:30pm: Lunch Roundtable Bain SPONSOR
The Future of immersive media: Gaming, talent and tech
Brace for a paradigm shift in how entertainment is consumed. Join Bain & Company for an eye-opening discussion on the new immersive era in entertainment and what it means for gaming companies. We’ll explore the implications for talent, tech strategy, and business models, in a lively discussion that will help you level up ahead of your competitors.
Anders Christofferson, partner at Bain & Company
1:30 pm – 2: pm
SPONSOR
Crossing the divide: Bridging sports fans to games
Game makers have plenty of models to monetize games smarter and increasing the LTV of sports audiences. But one opportunity provides game makers access to a global audience in the billions.
This panel will provide insights on how game makers can access and convert sports audiences to their games. A new cross-industry monetization models provides every game makers free access to those billions of global sports fans and can convert them to in-app purchases and drive retention and monetization.
Moderator: Nicholas Longano, Scuti CEO
Mario Alioto, San Francisco Giants
Ceo Wimmer, Partner and Head of Revenue at Rally Cry
Troy Jones, CEO of Status Pro
1:30 pm – 2: pm
Corporate VCs take on games: The Enterprise Strikes Back
In the bleak midwinter of the 2022-2023 downturn of venture funding for games, a significant new set of players are emerging, again diversifying the sources from a game start-up can raise money. Unlike the crypto game funds that largely came and went, CVCs are longer-term investors, usually the progeny of a company in the games business, and increasingly operate semi-independently of the companies that spawned them. Come here several of the more prolific investors describe how this maturation of games VC can support a maturation of games start-ups.
Eric Goldberg, cofounder of Playable Worlds
Joe Tou, Sony Ventures
Andrew Sheppard, Transcend Fund
Jake Perlman-Garr, global head of corporate development, Riot Games
2: pm – 2:30 pm SPONSOR ESA panel
Keeping creativity alive in the world of indie games
Dive deep into the waters of indie game development and publishing to understand how JumpButton Studio is shattering the status quo. Join content creator BarefootTasha as she moderates a panel discussion on the ways a Black-owned indie studio is disrupting the gaming industry with a range of upcoming original IPs, all while keeping diversity and global representation at the forefront. This discussion promises a fresh narrative on the world of indie game development and publishing, offering invaluable insights into rewriting industry standards and thriving on the edge of innovation.
MODERATOR: Barefoot Tasha
JumpButton Studio’s Nicodemus Reuben Madehdou (CEO)
Jay-Ann Lopez (COO of JumpButton Studio and Founder/CEO of Black Girl Gamers)
Michael Berthaud (Game Designer and Programmer)
2 pm – 2:30 pm ROOM 2
Exploring mixed reality’s potential ahead of the Apple Vision Pro
Meta has launched the Meta Quest 3 and Apple is planning to launch the Apple Vision Pro next year. That means that mixed reality hardware will open new opportunities for gaming. Our panel will discuss the challenges, opportunities, and future directions of this new frontier in gaming.
Moderator: Rachel Kaser
Mirrorscape CEO Grant Anderson
Ana Belova, CEO of Devar
Jake Zim, senior vice president of virtual reality for Sony Pictures Entertainment
2:30 pm – 2:50 pm BREAK
2:50 pm -3:20 pm
Building games within the Unreal Engine Fortnite community
New platforms are emerging for user-generated games and giving indie game studios new choices for game launches. We’ll talk about the power of community in generating support for new titles and the opportunity for the birth of a new ecosystem.
Moderator: Jordan Fragen, GamesBeat writer
Alex Seropian, CEO of Look North World – Games for Unreal Engine Fortnite
Anne-Margot Rodde, founder of Creators Corp.
TB
2:50 pm – 3:20 pm Room 2
Exploring the emerging game markets of the world
This panel will explore the exciting opportunities, challenges, and trends shaping these dynamic markets. From Africa to Asia and beyond, gain valuable insights into the unique player demographics, cultural nuances, and market dynamics that are driving the growth of these regions. We’ll have an engaging discussion that will inspire game developers, publishers, and enthusiasts to unlock new frontiers in the global gaming landscape.
Lucy Hoffman, cofounder at Carry1st
Lisa Cosmas Hanson, president of Niko Partners
Moderator: Fan Shen, investor
TBD
3:20 pm – 3:50
Best practices for moderating game communities of all sizes
Text. Voice. Image. UGC. Developing a strategy to effectively moderate content and communications from your players can be a daunting one. What should you do about the players who make it difficult for everyone else to enjoy the community? How should you incorporate threat intelligence into your player engagement strategies? What are some best practices for effective community codes of conduct? How do you effectively scale your moderation capabilities with both humans and technology? What improvements can we make to our community to boost engagement, reduce churn, and increase revenue? Join this panel of moderation and community experts and leave with a concrete set of strategic initiatives you can kick off this quarter.
Hank Howie, Game Industry Evangelist, Modulate (moderator)
Tomer Poran, VP Solution Strategy, ActiveFence
Akash Pugalia, Global President for Gaming, Media, Entertainment & Trust & Safety, Teleperformance
Alexis Miller, Director of Product Management, Schell Games
3:20 pm – 3:50 pm ROOM 2 SMALL SPONSOR
New games for new audiences
Steve Zhao, CEO of Sandbox VR
TBD
TBD
Moderator: Dean Takahashi
3:50 pm- 4:30 pm
40 years of Tetris: How falling blocks changed pop culture: A special talk al with The Tetris Titans
Join the ‘Tetris Titans’ as they delve into the iconic journey of Tetris, as it readies for its 40th anniversary. Explore how a simple game of falling blocks transcended its digital boundaries to leave an indelible mark on pop culture. From its humble beginnings to its widespread influence today, this special session offers an unparalleled look into the legacy and enduring appeal of Tetris.
Alexey Pajitnov, Tetris creator
Henk Rogers, chairman of Tetris
Maya Rogers, president of Tetris
Moderator: Chris Kohler, editorial director, Digital Eclipse
4:30 pm- 5:30 pm
Meet the 2024 Game Changers
To close the conference, Lightspeed and GamesBeat will announce the 2024 Game Changers—an annual list to celebrate and accelerate extraordinary startups in gaming & interactive technology. In addition to meeting the winners for the first time, you’ll hear from a panel of Game Changers judges on their perspectives on the gaming industry and its startup landscape across studios, platforms, and technologies.
This year’s Game Changers initiative is supported by C-level executives and operators from Activision Blizzard, Amazon, ByteDance, DeepMind, Disney, Electronic Arts, Epic Games, Google, Kabam, Krafton, Meta, Microsoft, Niantic, Oculus, Riot Games, Roblox, Stanford, Take-Two, Tencent, TikTok, Unity, Valve, Xbox, YouTube Gaming, and Zynga.
Moritz Baier-Lentz, Lightspeed
Moderator: Dean Takahashi
Additional speakers from our judges:
Michael Chow, CEO and Co-Founder at The Believer Company
Bonnie Rosen, General Manager at Disney Accelerator
Kylan Gibbs, CPO and Co-Founder at Inworld AI
5:30 pm-5:35 pm Emcee finish Chris Melissinos