Game Developers Conference (GDC) is a premier professional event where we learn about new technology in gaming. It is also an event where developers come together to advance their craft. Recently GDC has become a hub for harassment, assault, and drink spiking, and multiple game developers have stepped forward to voice their concerns.
Harassment, Assault, And Drink Spiking At The Game Developers Conference (GDC)
Paige Wilson, who creates content for game devs and is the community developer at Aggro Crab Games and has formerly worked with Rose City Games and Wanderer VR, reports that she got roofied at night and that she was lucky enough to have close friends to protect her.
It's lingering around already so just wanna clarify that yes I got roofied last night
I'm safe because I was lucky enough to be around a lot of incredible friends to keep me safe, but the entire process was real scary – so PLEASE stay safe out there — 💛 paige wilson 💛 (@NeoSolarius) March 24, 2023
My experience with the hospital here was awful. They didn't even test me for the likely drug that it was and tried to convince me that I was just too wasted.
I had 4 drinks that night. I felt like I had 10. — 💛 paige wilson 💛 (@NeoSolarius) March 26, 2023
Julie Elven, Soundtrack Vocalist, who has worked on games such as Horizon Forbidden West and League of Legends, also voiced her concerns as mentioned in the following tweet.
Fucking infuriated by how many years in a row harassment, assault and drink spiking happens at #GDC. The results are traumatic and also retraumatize those of us who experienced assault and harassment before. For accessibility the bare minimum of "a safe environment" should exist. — Julie Elven 🎶 (@JulieElvenMusic) March 25, 2023
Kim MacAskill, narrative director at PlayStation who has worked on League of Legends and Fable, also voiced her concerns regarding the matter.
Can we seriously talk about the spiking going on at GDC over the last few years? One lassie had been spiked on both visits and no longer attends.
This is where games has yet to find the maturity of measures needed to protect our own. If this was TV or Film, their backlog of… — Kim MacAskill (@kimmacaskill1) March 26, 2023
This is not the first time that this has happened. Female game developers have had this happen to them a couple of times and have opted not to attend GDC at all.
Mistakes from the past have made it so these events (and unaffiliated events) are safety tight as possible.
This isn't a one off. This is continuous, growing and being allowed to do so.
GDC ( who I can't seem to tag ). Please reach out to professionals for help on this one. — Kim MacAskill (@kimmacaskill1) March 26, 2023
As a Director of a AAA Game Studio, I do not feel safe in attending.
What do you need? Who do you want consultancy from? Let's not be humble anymore. People are in danger and that fucks me right off. — Kim MacAskill (@kimmacaskill1) March 26, 2023
Game dev and writer Leena also had the same to say about the drink spiking and harassment at GDC.
Women at GDC this year have been belittled and undermined in their roles, been hit on relentlessly, and had their drinks spiked by predatory men.
Two women were even lured up to a hotel room by a man in a position of power for a “pitch”, where he then assaulted them. — Leena 🌵 (@LeenaVanD) March 24, 2023
Games and Online Harassment Hotline has taken note of the situation and has posted about it on Twitter.
Games and Online Harassment Hotline Twitter Post
Men have also come forward and shown their concern. Guy ‘Yug’ Blomberg, VP at Stide PR, has the following to say regarding the harassment culture at GDC.
I'm so very sorry they had to go through such a horrifying experience, it's absolutely not their fault, and we're already in the process of tracking down the fucking scumbag who did this.
[ 2/4 ] — Guy 'Yug' Blomberg 🔜 PAX East (@YugSTAR) March 25, 2023
Everyone has the right to feel safe at such events. Considering that this is a professional event where game developers from all over the world gather, all this is very surprising and shocking.
Let us know what you think about GCD becoming a hub for harassment, assault, and drink spiking and the fact that female developers no longer feel safe at such events. Assault and harassment have become increasingly common in the gaming industry. We recently covered how this is common in big companies such as Ubisoft. Popular individuals such as SayNoToRage and Witwix have also been accused of sexual assault.
Sonotmethen on March 26th, 2023 at 15:59 UTC »
GDC is almost purely industry professionals sharing their work, not really for fans or casual interests. There is a rot at the heart of game development that needs to be cleansed, this is happening too often.
_sideffect on March 26th, 2023 at 15:45 UTC »
At gdc? What the fuck, throw all those pricks in jail, the industry doesn't need them
bobthehills on March 26th, 2023 at 15:31 UTC »
That’s super fucked up.