Italy’s dynamic video game development sector was prominently represented in San Francisco during the 2026 edition of the Game Developers Conference (GDC) at the Moscone Center, the leading international gathering dedicated to game development, interactive media, and emerging digital technologies.
With global gaming revenues reaching nearly $455 billion in 2024 and continuing to grow at an annual rate of over 3 percent, the video game industry has become one of the most significant sectors of the digital economy, driving innovation not only in entertainment but also across a wide range of advanced technological fields.
Italy’s video game ecosystem continues to expand steadily, with more than 200 active companies and an industry value estimated at €2.3 billion annually, positioning the country among the emerging players in the global gaming landscape.
During the conference, Consul General Massimo Carnelos, Consul Davide Corriero and Scientific Attaché’ Romeo Beccherelli visited the Italian Pavilion, where nine Italian startups presented some of their most promising projects and technological solutions to the international community of developers, publishers, investors, and technology leaders attending GDC.
The pavilion was organized with the support of the Italian Trade Agency (ITA) – Los Angeles Office, in collaboration with the Italian video game industry association IIDEA, highlighting the creativity, technical expertise, and entrepreneurial spirit that characterize Italy’s growing community of game developers and digital innovators.
On the occasion of the conference, the ITA – Los Angeles Office, in collaboration with the Consulate General of Italy in San Francisco, also organized a special networking reception bringing together Italian and American professionals from across the gaming and digital entertainment industries.
The initiative offered an opportunity to spotlight the Italian companies and studios participating in GDC while encouraging dialogue with U.S. developers, publishers, investors, and technology leaders. As one of the most influential global platforms for the gaming industry, GDC provides a strategic environment for fostering new collaborations, promoting innovation, and strengthening international partnerships.
The evening reception opened with institutional remarks from Consul General Carnelos, who – alongside with the Director of the ITA Los Angeles Office Giosafat Riganò – welcomed guests and acknowledged the Italian companies contributing to this year’s conference. In his address, he emphasized the importance of cultural and technological exchange in sectors such as gaming and interactive media, where creativity, innovation, and storytelling converge.
Through initiatives such as this, Italy continues to strengthen its presence within the global gaming landscape while promoting the ingenuity, technical expertise, and creative vision that distinguish the country’s rapidly evolving gaming ecosystem.
