The Game Developers Conference (GDC) in San Francisco this year faces a significant shortfall in international attendees. Dozens of developers from countries like Spain, France, and Canada told Ars Technica they are skipping the event due to pervasive fears about traveling to the United States. These concerns stem from stories of border agents detaining tourists, particularly those with minority backgrounds, transgender identities, or outspoken political views, since the Trump administration took office. Emilio Coppola, director of the Godot Foundation in Spain, stated, 'I honestly don’t know anyone who is not from the US who is planning on going to the next GDC. We never felt super safe, but now we are not willing to risk it.'

This reluctance marks a shift from pre-COVID attendance patterns. While some developers had already reconsidered GDC's value after its 2020 cancellation, the 2025 show, held during Trump's second term, intensified fears. Reports of expanded immigration crackdowns led to aggressive scrutiny of visitors at the border, including detentions and deportations based on social media posts or political beliefs. Developers like Nazih Fares, a French-Lebanese creative director, cited specific risks: 'Hearing European citizens getting arrested by border control over their views on the US is not something I would like to test for myself.'

Personal precautions became common. JC Lau, a senior producer at Twirlbound, sent copies of his itinerary to multiple contacts and scrubbed his social media. Neha Patel, an audio director, lied about her employment status to border agents. Companies like one anonymous big-budget studio scaled back their physical presence for 2026. The pervasive fear is now a fundamental consideration for any international developer planning a trip to the US, fundamentally altering the global game development community's approach to attending industry events.