GDC Festival of Gaming

We had some mistakes with our scheduler during the takeover and wanted to make sure the following accounts were tagged.

@goodtrouble.bsky.social
@owlchemylabs.com
@abletoplay.com
@balloonstudios.bsky.social
@playhilltop.bsky.social
@safeinourworld.org

Three people laughing and playing video games together, overlaid with a purple tint. Text reads: "AbleToPlay Creator Ambassador Program.”

Takeover Repost: Today we’re announcing the AbleToPlay Ambassador Program, a partnership between us, top studios, and creators pushing the boundaries on accessible and inclusive content.

🏆 Tag a creator you’d like to nominate, or reach out here!
https://abletoplay.com/contact/creator-ambassadors

Four people smiling and gaming together, overlaid with a purple tint. Text reads: "AbleToPlay — Join the Community! [tinyurl.com/AbleToPlayDiscord."](http://tinyurl.com/AbleToPlayDiscord.%22) Good Trouble × GDC Festival of Gaming by Informa.

We gotta dash before the GDC team catches us, but we wanted to leave you with this: ✨ Accessibility matters because FUN matters, and we want every gamer to be able to join in! ✨ Join the AbleToPlay community on Discord here: [https://tinyurl.com/AbleToPlayDiscord]

Nintendo Switch 2 console and dock displayed in front of a TV showing Mario Kart World.

The Nintendo Switch 2 launched with an accessibility announcement featuring text resizing, button remapping, screen zoom, text-to-speech, and more! These features - and more - help some of the most common accessibility needs faced by millions of gamers around the world.

Close-up of two hands operating the Xbox Adaptive Joystick, a compact white controller with a thumbstick and small buttons, against a purple background.

A prosthetic hand operating the Xbox Adaptive Joystick, demonstrating its compatibility with assistive devices, against a green background.

Earlier this year, Xbox launched the Adaptive Joystick, designed for play with a chin, a toe, or a single limb. It’s compatible with regular Xbox controllers and the Xbox Adaptive Controller. It even comes with customizable toppers for added comfort!

Product view of the Sony Access Controller for PlayStation 5, showing its circular base with labeled buttons, interchangeable button caps, a ball-top joystick attachment, and various alternative input components against a grey background.

In 2023, PlayStation launched the Access Controller for PS5, a fully customizable controller kit designed for players with disabilities. It works from any 360° orientation, and it even ships with tons of swappable button caps and 3 stick caps, so every player can find what feels right!

A wide array of colorful 3D-printed adaptive switch accessories from the Makers Making Change Game Kit, including joysticks, buttons, pads, and grips in various shapes and sizes, laid out on a white surface.

We partnered with Makers Making Change, an initiative of the Neil Squire Society, who 3D print custom-made controllers as part of their Game Kit! In Canada, 80% of people with disabilities use assistive devices, and Makers Making Change ensures those needs are met with accessible technology.

The GLYDR foot controller sitting on a living room floor, featuring two textured foot pads and a touchpad module with RGB underglow lighting, with a gaming TV visible in the background.

If playing with your hands is a challenge, GLYDR is a foot controller that lets you get your feet in the game — literally! Whether on PC or in VR, every move is in line with 16 customizable actions and profile options to match your playstyle.

Exploded view of the Byowave Proteus modular adaptive controller, showing its customizable components — including thumbsticks, face buttons, and d-pad modules — floating against a bright blue background.

Time to hype up other forces across the industry! Around the globe, teams are innovating with adaptive controllers and software inputs to make play more accessible! One standout is the Proteus Controller, a customizable device with replaceable buttons, one-handed play, and more, built to fit you!

User testimonial from Donovan H, a gamer with PTSD, praising AbleToPlay for helping him find games that suit his needs. AbleToPlay × GDC Festival of Gaming by Informa.

We love hearing from gamers on why Mental Health is so important. For example:

“This is seriously the best thing I've found for finding games that work for me. I'm a veteran with PTSD and finding games can be really tough. I'm so glad I found AbleToPlay, it's the best!” - Donnovan H

"Safe In Our World" logo centered on a coral-red pixel-art background, surrounded by playful gaming and mental health themed doodles including controllers, a brain, planets, flowers, and a beanbag chair.

Mental Health is also a vital part of accessibility!! That’s why we’ve partnered with @safeinourworld.org, a UK charity dedicated to fostering global mental health awareness in the games industry. The mission? To eliminate stigma and make mental health challenges safe to express ❤️

A man holding a torch looks behind him. There is an old woman holding a card and a girl with a butterfly on her face in the background. Title says, “Curse of Resthaven”

And wrapping up the developers making a difference is @playhilltop.bsky.social, makers of the witty & accessible Lil' Guardsman. They just announced their NEW GAME: Curse of Resthaven. We took an early look & think it’s great! Definitely check it out here: [https://tinyurl.com/CurseOfResthavenSteam]

Close-up cinematic screenshot from South of Midnight featuring the protagonist Hazel, a young woman with braided hair and a quiver on her back, seated atop a large creature in a misty, atmospheric landscape.

South of Midnight screenshot showing a mystical scene with a human figure emerging from the roots of a massive flowering tree, surrounded by pink wildflowers, with two robins perched on nearby rocks.

South of Midnight is a masterpiece tbh. The game has a unique stop-motion animation style, but you can disable it if needed! The game is also Blind-accessible with menu narration, customizable volume, pace, and pitch — all introduced during the initial onboarding. How cool is that?!

EA FC 26 gameplay screenshot showing Atlético Madrid (pink) vs. Real Madrid (blue) at kickoff in a La Liga match, with the score 0–0 and players Alvarez and Bellingham highlighted.

EA FC 26 Accessibility settings menu showing the High Contrast Mode option, which applies bold colors to players and referees for easier visual distinction on the pitch.

GOOOOAAAALLLL! ⚽️ 🥅 Shout-out to EA’s commitment to accessibility! They created the world’s first high-contrast mode (plus a saturation slider) in a sports PvP game with EA FC 26! It helps visually separate key gameplay elements, making it easier to lock in and outplay your opponents!

Colorful VR game screenshot showing four cartoon avatars roasting marshmallows around a campfire, with player name tags including "Alan," "Andrew," "Vanessa," and "Claire.”

VR cooking game screenshot showing a first-person view of cartoon hands salting a steak, with a "Salt Steak" recipe card and another player character visible in the background near a "ConglomniGrinder" station.

In Dimensional Double Shift by @owlchemylabs.bsky.social, cross-dimensional cooking with friends in VR is made accessible with predictable interactions, reduced cognitive load, and the best part? You can play the game while sitting down; it has helpful locomotion assistance!

A lush, green landscape with a pond and gazebo in the background. In the foreground is a painting of the landscape.

A dining room with a golden chandelier hangs from the ceiling. There are several chairs around a long, wooden table with plates set up.

Let’s celebrate some more developers doing amazing work – Botany Manor is SO GOOD! Created by @balloonstudios.bsky.social, this game blooms as a peaceful escape, offering clear navigation, no time pressure, and quality tutorials. 🪴

Statistic graphic on a dark blue background reading: "There's over 650 Million Gamers with Disabilities." Source: Microsoft. Good Trouble × GDC Festival of Gaming by Informa.

Here’s the reality: there’s over 650M gamers with a disability in the world! That’s almost a BILLION people. When games lack accessibility, players get left out, and that sucks. At Good Trouble, and with GDC’s help, we’re making sure EVERYONE can play — because gaming is for all of us!

AbleToPlay app interface showing accessibility scores for games including Baldur's Gate 3, Infinity Nikki, Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, Forza Horizon 5, and Balatro. Text reads: "Discover games that fit your needs on AbleToPlay!" AbleToPlay × GDC Festival of Gaming by Informa.

We love games! So last year we made @abletoplay.com – a FREE site that helps you discover games that fit your needs (accessibility, phobias, etc). Whether you need UI resizing, adjustable controls, colorblind options, or more, we empower you to make informed choices about the games you play 👾

Three people laughing and pointing excitedly while gaming together, overlaid with purple and orange tones. Text reads: "Good Trouble × GDC Festival of Gaming by Informa.”

Hey there! We’re @goodtrouble.bsky.social – a team of gamers dedicated to accessibility in games. We help gamers find games that meet their needs (accessibility, phobias, etc) w/ our site, AbleToPlay! And TODAY? We’ve got control of GDC’s socials, so we’re taking over & making some good trouble! 🔥

6 days left before GDC Festival of Gaming 2026, and your friendly neighborhood social media manager is still packing their snacks. #GDC2026

promo for GDC that reads "GDC Festival of Gaming" gdconf.com, I'm speaking at GDC 2026, March 09 -13, 2026, with a photo of Jay Justice, a dark skinned Black person smiling, with her pink and purple braided hair pulled back and wearing a gold and red Thai sash.

With the state of *gestures widely* everything, it's been hard to feel much joy. But I am so grateful & honored to be invited to speak at GDC this year, especially as a gamedev who was impacted by layoffs last year. Check out our talk & hit me up for meetups! #GDC schedule.gdconf.com/session/1rea...

The image features large text stating "7 Days to Go" with a smiling sun emoji wearing sunglasses beside it. Below, smaller text reads "Out-of-office drafted." The background is pink.

Only 7 days to go?!? We can't believe it's so close to GDC Festival of Gaming 2026. #GDC2026

For those of you attending #GDC2026, we will be joining our friends on a panel on Thursday afternoon at 4:30 to chat about the realities of pitching and how we land gigs (and sometimes don't).

Details here 👉 : schedule.gdconf.com/session/the-...

@awintory.bsky.social @officialgdc.bsky.social

It's March 1st, that means that only 8 days remain until GDC Festival of Gaming 2026 and we're charging everything up to make sure we're ready. #GDC2026

That's a wrap for the Museum of Art and Digital Entertainment's takeover. Thanks for joining us on this journey and keep an eye out for MADE staff all throughout GDC this year. We can't wait to connect with you!

#GDC2026 #GameDevelopers @themade

On Thursday, March 12, it’s time to flex your gaming knowledge! Join us in West Hall, Room 2011 at 11:30am where the MADE will host game trivia filled with rare tidbits throughout gaming history. Think you know them all? Come find out!

#GDC2026 #GameDevelopers @themade

On Tuesday, March 10, MADE historians will host a Preservation Meetup in South Hall, Room 203 beginning at 10:45am. If you are interested in preserving gaming history for generations to come, this meetup is for you!

#GDC2026 #GameDevelopers @themade

Where will the MADE be at GDC this year? To kick things off, we're hosting a Halo LAN party at Opening Night at the Ballpark! Come say hi, play a match or two, and prepare for an epic Festival of Gaming all week.

#GDC2026 #GameDevelopers @themade

The MADE has brought the game industry map along with other playable exhibits, education initiatives, and even game trivia to GDC over the years. We hope you'll join in this year and share your memories with us!

#GDC2026 #GameDevelopers @themade

Some of these artifacts from 2011-2017 are in the MADE’s care as part of our ever-growing collection. In 2011, the MADE began what is now a semi-yearly tradition at GDC: a game industry map for attendees to note all the places they've worked.

#GDC2026 #GameDevelopers @themade