🎮 The Countdown Begins! #G4C2025 Schedule & More Speakers Unveiled

6 weeks until "Designing for Tomorrow"! Explore our festival lineup, Topic Tables, Masterclass Series, Next-Gen Summit, and exciting international events. Ticket prices increase on June 9! ⏰

Author

Games for Change
May 16, 2025

Welcome to the May Newsletter! The countdown to the 2025 Games for Change Festival begins! We're six weeks away from "Designing for Tomorrow" and thrilled to unveil the full schedule packed with game-changing leaders, educational innovators, and social impact pioneers. Dive into our newly announced speakers, explore intimate Topic Tables, and check out our first-ever Masterclass Series happening June 25! As we celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month and Mental Health Awareness Month, we're highlighting the powerful intersection between games, cultural representation, and wellbeing. Take a small break from The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion and gear up for an epic read! ⚔️ 

— Team G4C 

The moment we’ve all been waiting for is HERE! The full schedule for the 2025 Games for Change Festival is now LIVE! 🎉 Happening June 26-27 at Parsons School of Design, this year's festival focuses on "Designing for Tomorrow," bringing together game developers, creators, educators, and innovators who believe in the power of games and immersive media to drive real-world change.


🎤 Newly announced speakers include:

  • Allison Matthews – Head of Minecraft Education, Microsoft

  • Gordon P. Bellamy – Director of Cinematic Ethics, USC; CEO, Gay Gaming Professionals

  • Antonio Tijerino – President & CEO, Hispanic Heritage Foundation

  • Eric Zimmerman – Game Designer & Professor, NYU Game Center

  • Jessica Murrey – CEO & Co-Founder, Wicked Saints Studios

Topic Tables are also now open for registration! Offering intimate, small-group discussions with subject matter experts during lunch breaks, these conversations will explore topics like intergenerational gaming, global impact partnerships, mentorship in the games industry, game design in education, emerging regional markets, and diversity and inclusion initiatives. Registration is required, and space is limited to one session per day. Check out the Day 1 and Day 2 sessions to secure your spot.

🚨Grab your tickets before the June 9th price hike!

For the first time, we're offering an exclusive day of immersive learning experiences led by industry experts before the main Festival begins on June 25. These hands-on, 2.5-hour sessions connect industry veterans with emerging innovators to explore how games and immersive media can transform entertainment into measurable impact.

The Masterclass Series includes:

  • Making Games Meaningful: A Game Design Workshop with Eric Zimmerman

  • Creative Leadership with Drew Davidson

  • Best practices for in-platform game development with experts from Filament Games and Blockworks

No Festival pass is required to attend Masterclasses. Sessions are $75 each or $125 for two.

Over the past year, students guided by educators from around the world have created original digital and analog games to character designs, all addressing urgent global issues like climate change, world hunger, and peacebuilding. These themes were inspired by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and supported by our incredible partners: Earthwatch Europe, Take Action Global, World Food Programme USA, and the Whitaker Peace & Development Initiative. Don't miss the live Awards Ceremony on Twitch.

🗓️ June 12 | Hosted by Jaye 'Letta J' Watts, award-winning gaming and tech innovator.

The 2nd Annual Next-Gen Summit is taking place June 22 at the Microsoft Experience Center in NYC! The full-day event for youth ages 13–18 will blend creativity and innovation to explore how games can transform education, health, and science for the better. Participants can look forward to game-focused workshops featuring innovators from Discord, Unity, Microsoft, and Marvel, meet and greets with professionals from the games industry, discover pathways into tech careers, and an esports tournament.

🎮 Know a young gamer? Share the link and register today — space is limited!

G4C's global chapter expansion continues with the launch of the Games for Change Hong Kong Chapter! This milestone advances our mission to harness the power of games for social good in the region. The upcoming Hong Kong Festival, taking place from June 7–8, will feature keynotes from leading experts, interactive workshops, game demos, networking events, and a student showcase highlighting emerging talent. Join us and save the date for the Games for Change Hong Kong Festival 2025!

Breaking new ground in Korea! "Ctrl+Alt+Game: Rebooting Creativity" marks our first collaboration with SKKU University in Seoul, happening May 28-30. This groundbreaking mini-summit brings together luminaries like Eric Zimmerman, Jesper Juul, and Takashi Tokita to explore game design innovation and social impact. Programming includes keynotes, workshops, and discussions across venues in Seoul and Pangyo, connecting creators, educators, and industry professionals to examine how games can drive positive change.

Persona 3 Reload: Dive into the Dark Hour and awaken the depths of your heart. Persona 3 Reload is a captivating reimagining of the genre-defining RPG, reborn for the modern era with cutting-edge graphics and gameplay.

Until Then: In a world where narrative-driven games are gaining more attention, Until Then stands out as a must-play for anyone interested in immersive storytelling, emotional depth, and beautifully crafted visuals. The game invites players into the world of Filipino teenagers as they navigate school life, friendships, challenges, and personal growth.