GamesBeat Next 2023 brought together game developers, publishers, investors, executives, and industry leaders in San Francisco. The conference examined how the gaming sector is shifting, with agility and adaptability emerging as critical survival traits.
The 2023 event centered on several major themes: how the metaverse and web3 might reshape game development and play, the role of blockchain technology in creating better player experiences, and what makes web3 games actually work. Conversations consistently returned to user experience and game design as the foundations that matter most.
Generative AI's impact on game development drew significant attention, with industry experts weighing in on where the technology could genuinely help. Diversity in gaming earned dedicated discussion time, alongside analysis of how GenZ players think about and expect from metaverse experiences. The blurring line between Hollywood production and game development sparked debate among attendees.
Conference structure and awards
The program mixed roundtable discussions, Q&A sessions, VIP meals, diversity-focused breakfasts, one-on-one meetings, and an awards ceremony to create networking opportunities that felt purposeful rather than forced.
The inaugural Game Changers 2024 awards, presented by Lightspeed, recognized standout companies across five categories: game studios, gaming platforms, interactive technology, extended reality (AR/VR/MR), and blockchain/web3. Nominations came from the gaming and venture communities.
Over 100 entries from Lightspeed investors and editors went to a judging panel of C-level executives and leaders from Meta, Epic Games, Microsoft, and other major companies. Two days of deliberation produced the final scores.
The winners by category:
- Best Game Studio:Gardens
- Best Gaming Platform:Astrocade
- Best Extended Reality: StatusPro
- Best Blockchain and Web3 Technology: Horizon
Web3 gaming takes center stage
The conference revealed growing momentum behind web3 gaming. Bonnie Rossen of the Disney Accelerator noted that the industry is starting to see web3's practical benefits for developers and players. Companies like GGWP and Sequence/Horizon drew attention, with Horizon even appearing on the NASDAQ board in Times Square.
Horizon took home "Best Blockchain and Web3 Technology," with Sam Barberie accepting for the team. The company makes games and builds web3 infrastructure. It created Skyweaver, one of the first free-to-play blockchain trading card games, and Sequence, a development platform that handles web3 games, wallets, marketplaces, and more on the Ethereum blockchain.
Sequence is built full-stack, end-to-end for a reason. Everyone here knows you don't build half a game on Unity and half a game on Unreal and hope for the best. So whether that's wallets, marketplaces, or SDKs for Unity, Unreal, and mobile, Sequence makes sure that the developer journey is seamless and complete so the player journey is seamless and easy.
Horizon's co-founders built a tool that could change web3 game and app development. Creating a non-custodial, multi-chain smart wallet in two clicks represents a genuine shift. The Canadian company earned recognition as one of the World Economic Forum's Technology Pioneers of 2022.
Attendees cared less about the "web3" label than whether games were actually fun to play. The technology mattered only when it made the experience better.
Amir Satvat, CBO at Tencent, spoke positively about web3 after playing Champions Ascension and Tollan Worlds, reflecting broader industry optimism.
"Web3 gaming is not just a trend; it's a promising future."
The conference reinforced a straightforward principle: satisfied players generate revenue. The industry is working to build experiences that serve both creators and players, keeping web3 gaming's future viable.
Looking ahead
The 2023 conference demonstrated the gaming industry's willingness to experiment with innovation, web3 integration, and new player experiences. The sector continues to evolve, and the trajectory looks solid.
