Several game developers attending GDC 2023 have reported concerning and illegal behavior at the conference on social media. The allegations include drink-spiking, harassment, and assault.
On Twitter, game developer Leena dan Deventer said that women at GDC were “belittled and undermined,” harassed, and roofied. “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,” they said.
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
These allegations were echoed by gaming PR figure Guy Blomberg, who helped organize n karaoke event where the drink-spiking reportedly took place. “I’m furious this not only happened, but that it tends to happen so frequently that it’s become almost commonplace,” they said.
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
GDC as a conference has become so known for alleged predatory behavior (especially the drink-spiking) that femme-presenting developers warn their colleagues about it every year. Last year, a Women In Gaming International event sponsored by Activision Blizzard was described as a “men’s preying ground” by one attendee.
