GamesBeat Next 2026

Be part of the conversations that will shape 2027.

GTA VI

$4.5B

“Roughly 5.8% of total pre-launch revenue is typically booked in the first week.”

Newzoo tracked $180M in GTA 6 pre-orders across the US and Europe’s five biggest markets in a single week, then modeled the game’s launch week at about $4.5B — 51 million units at $88. Konvoy’s forecast runs to $7.6B in 60 days. Read more

INDEPENDENT STUDIOS

60%

Andrew Pedersen took over Yahoo Games in January 2025 to reboot a dormant vertical.

DAUs are up 60% this year, and a King partnership put a Candy Crush-adjacent title in his top performers. Does an incumbent with mail, news, and finance traffic beat a studio at daily play? Tell us how you read it. Read more

GAMING & AI

$320M

“Gaming isn’t just characters and graphics and models. Gaming is engagement and retention.”

General Intuition raised $320M on gameplay clips. Songyee Yoon, former NCSoft president, thinks games’ most valuable asset is the part nobody’s licensing yet. Read more

GamesBeat Next, the meeting point between Silicon Valley, Tech, and Interactive Entertainment.

500

Sr. leaders to foster meaningful connections and close deals

80%

C-level from tech and entertainment looking to navigate 2027

92%

attendees would recommend GB events to a colleague

SPEAKERS

GamesBeat Next brings together the leaders shaping AI, UGC economies, platforms, live services, and new monetization models — giving sponsors direct access to the conversations and partnerships defining the future of the business.

Maureen Fan

CEO & Co-founder, Baobab Studios

Jonathan Knight

Head of Games, New York Times

Andrew Pederson

Head of Games, Yahoo

Jeff Gattis

Head of Gaming, Amazon

"It's really the conversations that happen in between... running into developers, running into fellow investors and talking about where we can co-invest. There's just so much opportunity for us at GB Next to align organically and get to connect."

"GB Next is really human-sized. It's welcoming, it's warm, people walk up to each other and introduce themselves... there's a lot of connections that I've been able to make in the last 24 hours."

"GB Next a great environment that really allows everybody to see each other and mingle, whether they're newbies, students, or really experienced leaders... it just has a density of people that I want to see that makes it worth coming back for."

"Every single person here at GB Next is interesting and has an interesting story to tell... it's sometimes harder to decide whether to go sit in a session and listen or just stand in the hallway and meet new people."

"I've been coming to GamesBeat events for many many years and what struck me then still strikes me now, which is how good socially connected these events are. You get to have real meaningful conversations with people. Dean and the team do an amazing job bringing folks together, connecting them, being open and approachable."

"This summit marks a major shift in how we think about the business of gaming, bringing together leaders across AI, tech, venture capital, Hollywood, and entertainment to explore where the industry goes next."

"GamesBeat Next was a great event. It was wonderful to connect with so many industry leaders and discuss the latest insights and endeavors."

NETWORKING

Let us help you close your next big deal

At GamesBeat Next, the conversations start before you even walk through the door. Our exclusive networking app lets you:

Browse Attendees

View the attendee list of executives, investors and innovators

Schedule 1:1 meetings

Schedule meetings in advance, so your calendar is packed with the people you want to meet

Community Board

Engage with the community board, join discussions, and discover opportunities in real time

Special Programs

Beyond the main stage, GamesBeat Next features a curated series of invite-only and community-driven special events — from executive lunches and private roundtables to networking experiences designed to spark real conversations, meaningful connections, and new deals.

GAMESBEAT

BOSS MODE >

Women driving the future

Breakfast

GAMESBEAT

VIP Lounge

1:1 NETWORKING

GAMESBEAT

EXECUTIVE BREAKFAST & DINNER

VIP Activation

RSVP at registration or request an invite for our executive dinners

Curated by the editorial team at GamesBeat

GamesBeat Next is where journalism meets leadership—where the people building the future of games come to understand what’s next.

Dean Takahashi, GamesBeat’s Editorial Director, brings decades of industry insight to shape the conversation at GamesBeat Next. Known for breaking major stories and chronicling gaming’s biggest shifts, Dean curates the content program to spotlight the ideas, leaders, and innovations that matter most. He is joined by Alex Lee and Rachel Kaser, whose reporting and analysis bring sharp perspectives on the business, culture, and technology shaping the future of games.

Their combined editorial leadership shapes a program grounded in insight, relevance, and credibility. Every session is selected with intention, designed to surface real conversations, meaningful connections, and forward-looking ideas that move the industry ahead.

GamesBeat Next is powered by GB MAX, our premium membership of senior leaders across gaming and interactive media.

GamesBeat Next isn’t just a two-day event — it’s where this community meets in real life.

When you attend, you’re not entering a conference. You’re stepping into an ongoing network of decision-makers, dealmakers, and operators shaping the industry year-round.

Who Attends?

The leaders shaping the next era of technology. 500 of the top executives in the gaming industry coming together for curated networking, deal generation, and to learn about the future of the interactive economy. GamesBeat NEXT is where those conversations happen before they become obvious.

Job Titles

Chief Executive Officer
Chief Technology Officer
Chief Marketing Officer
Chief Financial Officer
Chief Information Officer
Chief Commercial Officer
Founder
Head of Innovation
Head of Gaming

Investor
Chief Strategy Officer
Head of UA
Head of Content
Vice President, Gaming
Game Developer
Chief Experience Officer
Chief Gaming Officer
Head of Acquisition

Director of Marketing
Head of Digital Gaming
SVP, Strategy & Brand
Chief Digital Officer
Head of Media & Entertainment
Director of Digital Innovation
Vice President, Marketing
Chief Product Officer
Chief Customer Officer

Director of Corporate Development
Game Director
Game Designer
Game Producer
Director of Product
Director of Data & Analytics
Product Lead
Head of Studio
General Manager