By David Yagudayev, Science and Technology Editor
Seven Yeshiva University students attended the 2025 Game Developers Conference (GDC) in San Francisco, California, from March 17 to 21. Nearly 30,000 registered attendees participated over the five-day event, featuring over 1,000 speakers and hosting 750 sessions that included workshops, roundtable discussions, networking opportunities and industry showcases.
The GDC serves as the premier event for game developers worldwide, offering participants an unparalleled opportunity to explore emerging technologies, share knowledge and connect with industry leaders. From AAA studios to indie developers, attendees were immersed in a dynamic environment that celebrated creativity, innovation and collaboration.
The YU delegation, organized and led by Yosef Siegel (YC ’26), President of the Game Design Club, represented a diverse group of passionate students eager to learn from experts and showcase their own skills. Siegel coordinated event details and secured sponsorships from the Office of Student Life, Yeshiva Student Union (YSU), Yeshiva College Student Council (YCSC), Sy Syms School of Business Student Council (SSSBSC), New York State Opportunity Funds and YU’s Shevet Glaubach Career Center for Career Strategy and Professional Development (SGC).
“It took a lot of time and effort to arrange this trip, and I am so happy that it all worked out,” Siegel told the YU Observer. “We all had an incredible time and learned a lot about the games industry.” Siegel gave a presentation on soft-body physics on the Moscone Conference floor, sharing insights into one of the most complex and fascinating technical aspects of game development.
Each day offered unique experiences for the students, who engaged with cutting-edge technology in the gaming space. From haptic suits and virtual reality headsets to advanced racing simulators, the group enjoyed firsthand demonstrations and were able to try out the technology for themselves.
Isaac Nahmias (SSSB ’25) was excited to experience different innovations in gaming at the conference. “The conference was awesome,” he told the YU Observer. “One of my favorite moments was sitting in the front seat of the new AFEELA car – a collaboration between SONY and Honda – and receiving an in-depth tour of its capabilities.”
“It was also very interesting to learn from Meta on how one can monetize the Metaverse and create a small business by fulfilling people’s online and virtual needs using their software,” he added.
Overall, students found the experience fun and educational. “It was quite chilly, but I had a great time,” Mark Kuznicki (YC ’25) told the YU Observer. “I learned much more than I expected and went to countless booths,”
Students also stumbled across and connected with Gabi Weinberg (YC ‘14) over dinner at Sabra Kosher Grill, an eatery near the Game Developers Conference. The group learned so much from him about his time at YU, his own personal experiences in the industry and the projects he is currently working on.
The conference’s inclusive environment, particularly for those who aren’t necessarily interested in pursuing game development as a career, stood out to Eliyahu Zylberberg (SSSB ‘26). “I am really happy I came to this conference. You don’t have to be a game developer or computer science major to learn about the gaming industry or even create networking opportunities,” he told the YU Observer. “Four of us are not game developers or pursuing computer science. We just have a small passion for gaming and wanted to learn more. People were really nice, and I connected with a bunch of cool people working in this incredible industry.”
The GDC 2025 trip proved to be a tremendous success for the Game Design Club, which hopes to attend again next year. “We have two more club events before the end of the semester. Whether you develop games, actively play video games, or are just curious and a complete beginner, stop by and join this awesome community,” Siegel said. “We definitely want to come back again next year. This conference was a blast.”
Photo Caption: Students at the GDC
Photo Credit: Noam Ben Simon