GDC 2025

This past week, I had the incredible opportunity to attend GDC 2025 (Game Developers Conference)—its 39th edition and my very first time experiencing it. My mission? Meet creators, builders, and investors, playtest Gladiator, and, of course, have fun.

: Sup Cali!? It’s been a while

: Opportunity abound

: Leveling up isn’t easy

: Feels right to be here

: Loved seeing Adobe here

: Look up…

: Game 7 crew!

: Step forward

: Discord love <3

: This way

: Graffiti love

: Eye of the beholder

: Recharging with William

: Great meeting Kevin

: Awesome chat and meeting Kamal

: Keep going

: End to an awesome day

Playtesting, Feedback, and the Road Ahead

A special shoutout to David and the entire Ascent: Rivals team — fellow game devs at ETH Denver’s Blockchain Arcade earlier this year. We connected there, and they invited me to bring Gladiator to GDC and share it with their audience. That invite was a huge reason I made the trip, and I can’t thank them enough for their support.

Gladiator got some quality playtesting throughout the event, with fantastic feedback from passionate players and developers alike. Seeing the game resonate with people was rewarding, and I’ve already started implementing improvements for the next build.

: Great conversation with David

: Space Colosseum!

: Infinite possibilities

: Bringing Chaos to GDC

: Gladiator!

: Play testing and feedback

: Can he do it!?

: Choose wisely

: The one and only Flu

: In awe of ON1 Force and Starlordy’s comic

: LFG!

: Thank you so much

: Stan is the man

: Sunset

: Tempest and Tacos

: Enjoy the moment

: SF evening walk

: Light in the dark

On my final day in San Francisco, I took time to playtest other games at the main event, explore the city, and reconnect with the Ascent: Rivals team one last time before heading to the airport.

The Undercurrent of Hospitality

Beyond the networking, gaming, and walking, one thing stood out the most — hospitality. My ETH Denver friends from Pakistan graciously offered me a place to stay, and I had the pleasure of sharing space with genuine, talented people and had great conversations. Likewise, the Ascent: Rivals team and their friends welcomed me with open arms, supporting an indie dev chasing his dream. Their kindness meant the world.

Now that I’m back home, the building continues.

This trip was a quick sprint but a big step forward — a chance to learn from seasoned developers, gain fresh insights, and keep pushing Gladiator to new heights.

Thank you all for being here. The future is bright!