Austria at the Gamer Development Conference in San Francisco

Photo: Open Austria San Francisco

From March 17-21, 2025 the Game Development Conference (GDC) was held in San Francisco and the “Austrian Play Room – Spielschön” curated by Open Austria Co-Director Michael Dobersberger as well as Natasha Chatlein and Lukas Reiff showcased the talents of Austria’s gaming community for the more than 30,000 visitors.

A standout feature was the increasing recognition of Austrian developers for their innovative storytelling, artistic design, and unique gameplay. One of the greatest successes came from Vienna's Belvedere Museum, whose game "Art Leap" won the prestigious GDC "Best in Play" Award. This innovative game immerses players in a world of masterfully recreated artworks, bridging the gap between art and digital entertainment.

Other notable Austrian titles included “The Dark Room” and “Echoes of the Past”, which impressed with their deep narratives and visually stunning designs. The GDC 2025 also spotlighted key technological advancements, like neural rendering and AI-driven graphics, and celebrated the future of real-time graphics with partnerships from Unreal Engine 5 and Microsoft DirectX. The event was a vital platform for celebrating achievements, exploring the future of game development and Austria’s presence was without a doubt a successful one.