Electronic Arts returns to GDC Festival of Gaming 2026 to share insights on AI, game development, and the future of interactive entertainment.

EA at GDC Festival of Gaming 2026

Sharing insights on AI/machine learning, creativity, and the future of game development

March 12, 2026

Every year, the Game Developers Conference (GDC Festival of Gaming) brings together the brightest minds in interactive entertainment to share ideas, spark inspiration, and shape what's next for our industry. In 2026, we are proud to return to San Francisco to help lead that conversation.

Our speakers and presenters are touching on everything from advancements in artificial intelligence to the evolving craft of building immersive, connected worlds. Our teams will take the stage to share how we're innovating across technology, creativity, and global collaboration.

GDC Festival of Gaming is more than a conference. It's a celebration of the developers who power our industry, and we're excited to spotlight the talent and ingenuity driving the future of EA and our games.

Let's get into it!

"From reinforcement learning breakthroughs in EA SPORTS FC to evolving development support for Apex Legends, we're modernizing how we build games so our teams can focus on innovation, performance, and delivering exceptional player experiences."

Bridging cutting-edge technologies

From introducing path tracing in F1 25, to creating more human-like behavior in FC 26, our EA SPORTS sessions demonstrate how emerging technologies are reshaping player experiences and development workflows alike to deliver the most authentic and true-to-life simulations of sports for fans worldwide.

In "Reinforcement Learning in FC26: Shipping Human-Like Goalkeepers with a Designer-First Approach," members of our SEED and EA SPORTS teams will share how a designer-centered reinforcement learning pipeline enabled faster, more human-like behavior leveraging machine learning in EA SPORTS FC 26 goalkeepers, improving realism and reducing training time compared to traditional methods.

This talk highlights how we are bridging cutting-edge machine learning with practical production needs: training AI, building robust testing systems, and integrating designer feedback into iterative loops to ensure gameplay-ready agents.

Performance capture for Battlefield 6 cinematics

Members of our Battlefield 6 team will take attendees behind the curtain with "Performance Capture in the Trenches: Battlefield 6 Cinematics," a session that explores the challenges and breakthroughs of capturing high-fidelity performance for one of the franchise's most ambitious narrative experiences.

Developers will share how they balanced technical constraints with artistic goals, from stage setup and actor workflows to real-time feedback and integrating motion data into game systems.

The talk will spotlight practical lessons learned in producing expressive, cinematic moments that elevate player immersion and emotional connection.

By reflecting on both successes and iteration cycles, this session offers an inside look at how performance capture is evolving to support more dynamic gameplay storytelling.

"Connecting with our industry peers at GDC Festival of Gaming is always a treat. Together, we're helping shape the future of interactive entertainment."

Empowering developers

We continue to explore how to improve the day-to-day experience of making games with "Apex Legends Dev Support: Getting Bandwidth Back by Letting People Do Their Best Work."

A member of the Apex Legends team will share lessons learned from building support systems that help developers focus on creativity and problem-solving, rather than repetitive or administrative tasks.

Attendees will hear about practical approaches to reducing friction in development workflows, how feedback loops inform tooling and process improvements, and how investing in developer experience ultimately benefits both teams and the players they serve.

The session underscores our commitment not only to building great games but also to growing healthier, more effective development cultures across our studios.

Join Us at GDC Festival of Gaming 2026

We're proud to contribute to the global conversation shaping the future of games. Whether you're attending in person or following along from afar, we invite you to connect with our speakers and learn more about how we're building the future of interactive entertainment.

We look forward to seeing you at GDC Festival of Gaming 2026.

Check out other amazing EA stories on ea.com/news.

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