GDoCExpo 2026 - New York City Watch Party
Join the NYC Watch Party for Game Devs of Color Expo 2026!
Hosted by DaPurpleSharpie, Organized by Game Devs of Color, Presented by the NYC Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment
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Watch GDoCExpo together + play games + meet other game devs. Expect conference sessions broadcast live to the big screen, game stations, and dedicated space to meet and network in-person. Admission includes an OS NYC day pass with access to all the PCs, consoles, and games.
Want to show your game? Sign up for a spot in the Community Arcade: https://forms.gle/JSp31gX3dpwcBQSJA
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More 2026 Watch Party activities and special guests will be announced soon! Last year, we had demos from local developers, in-person fireside chats, and Massively Multiplayer Rock Paper Scissors. All in a venue with PCs, Xboxes, PS5s, Switches, streaming booths, a bar, and plenty of food options nearby.
This ticket is for the in-person NYC Watch Party on Friday September 25 only. For full access to all of the online Game Devs of Color Expo, including live chat, speaker Q&A, online networking, industry AMAs, job board, and all 4 days of talks, panels, and interviews (Tuesday through Friday, September 22-25), please purchase a full ticket here: https://ti.to/GDoCExpo/2026
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Watch Party Schedule:
Bolded items are special in-person events.
- 12:00 PM - 6:00 PM: GDoCExpo Conference Sessions (full schedule here)
- 11:55 AM: How Games Influence Kids to Create - Geneva Heyward
- 12:30 PM: Dev Interview: Coalescent || Tidal Rapture - Hatim Benhsain & Hanwen Xu
- 12:50 PM: Making a Video Game for Humans Not Algorithms - Prateek Saxena & Rhea Gupte
- 1:25 PM: Survival is a System: Designing Resilience from the Global South - Nahir de Jesús Fajardo Hernández
- 1:45: All the World's a Stage: Lessons from Live Theater that Made Me a Better Game Audio Professional - Roc Lee
- 3:10 PM: Why Showcase Diversity Matters - Justin Woodward, Samantha Low, David Lucio
- 4:30 PM: Reframing Narrative Consultancy: How Dramaturgy Can Guide Our Writing Rooms - Hope Yoon & Amari O'Connor
- 5:05 PM: Dev Interview: Plum Road Tea Dream - Samuel Baidoo
- 6:40 PM: Speed Networking
- 6:00 PM: The GDoCExpo Direct
- 7:00 PM: GDoCExpo 2026 Grant Ceremony
- 7:20 PM: NYC Grant Winners Ceremony (group photo)
- 7:45 PM - 9:30 PM: Community Arcade (signup link here)
- 9:30 PM - 10:00 PM: After Party
Everyone is welcome!
Tickets Prices in USD
Additional Information
Frequently Asked Questions
I'm not a person of color. Can I attend?
Yup! We welcome all people to this event.
Are there ID or minimum age requirements to enter the event?
We welcome people of all ages! However, we ask that people under 18 attend with their parents, guardian, or a chaperone. The venue has security who will check your ID. The name on your ID must match the name of your registration. Your registration name is not public and will only be seen by security and GDoC staff. Once inside, you may use any name (such as on a name tag).
Do I need to be in the games industry to attend?
No! We welcome people from outside the industry. Whether you're a fan of games or just curious, you'll have a blast at our event.
What will be available to play at the game stations?
Several game stations will be dedicated to GDoCExpo curated games. Dozens of additional game stations will be available for unlimited open play from anything in the venue's library. More details to be announced.
Will food or beverages be available?
Please note, no outside food or beverages are allowed inside the venue. Food options are available. More details to be announced.
Is there re-entry?
Yes! The venue will check tickets at the door and have wristbands available for re-entry.
I need to make an accommodation request to attend. Who should I contact?
Please reach out to nycwatchparty@gamedevsofcolor.org as soon as possible and we'll do our best to support.
About Game Devs of Color
Our mission is to amplify the creative power held by people of color in games. We do this by organizing revolutionary events, uniting our vibrant community, and building access to knowledge, funding, and opportunities.
Game Devs of Color is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Financial contributions to the Game Devs of Color Expo are charitable and tax-deductible.