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Dear IGDA Community,

It’s been a while!

Would you believe me if I told you that January and February were so busy, I dropped the ball on making my video updates? Sorry about that! Between the new year rush, onboarding a new team member, and preparing for DICE and GDC, things have picked up pace faster than usual.

I hope whatever projects you’re working on or progressing are going well.

I know the start of this year has been grim for many folks, considering the continuous mass layoffs and industry volatility. If you’ve been impacted by this, please know you’re not alone. We have a community to support you, help you network, and relate to. If you’re not already a member, I encourage you to join today. We have free IGDA memberships still available for those experiencing financial challenges. Please take advantage of this.

There has been a lot of buzz around the industry about how to protect and empower workers and hold studios and companies to higher standards. While there are many avenues, one path is the topic of unionization that many have been bringing up. As the IGDA, we want to empower you with knowledge and resources. If you missed our panel on unionization and worker empowerment in December, you can find the live recording here along with the webpage of additional resources. Our industry needs to change. Developers are burnt out. People’s livelihoods are completely disrupted. Yet, we’re seeing reports of high profits paired with massive layoffs. This is not sustainable.

As our industry grows across the globe, it’s important for us to see the future of our craft and its pertinent value to society. The IGDA has turned 30 this year and we’ve seen iterations of initiatives and projects throughout the last three decades. As we finalize voting for the newest Board of Director candidates, I look forward to their ideas and contributions of how best to support developers around the world. With that said, please, leverage your voice and vote for who you believe are the best candidates for the role.

Community plays an important role in our humanity. As a sociologist and game developer, I am always promoting the benefits of community for other devs. I think community is more important now than ever before. And what’s most empowering is how we can build communities in which we thrive, while simultaneously building something that will attract others who need the same things as you: networks, support, connections, empathy, camaraderie, and solidarity.

GDC is coming up soon, and for those who are able to attend, I truly hope you reach out and connect with me and the IGDA staff. We’ll have a booth on the Expo floor (Booth S1341), and we’re hosting a few events as well. First, we’ll have our VIP Dinner on Wednesday night reserved for IGDA Leaders & Lifetime members. We’ll have our Annual General Meeting on Thursday, followed by our Mentor Cafe (speed mentorship) session. Closing off Thursday evening will be the IGDA Networking Mixer (you don’t want to miss it, trust me). You can see all the IGDA @ GDC events here. 

If you’re unable to attend GDC, no worries, we’ve got plenty of virtual activities planned throughout the year. More on that soon.

I am grateful for your continued support of the IGDA. Please stay strong during these times. And if you need support, I’m a phone call or email or text message away.

In solidarity,

Dr. Jakin Vela

IGDA Executive Director