GDC 2025 Session Viewer

Everyone’s a fan of something, and finding ways to connect over shared love – or shared hate – is a tale as old as time. But what happens when the thing a bunch of people are loving, hating, and talking about is… your game?

Using Episode, a mobile storytelling platform, as a case study, this session will work to provide a look at developing and maintaining a successful game with an active fandom.

This talk dives deep into modern fandoms, including why they're worth fostering and respecting and how a healthy fandom can be a product resource for your game. Beginning with an overview of what fandoms are and how they function, the session explores strategies for productive engagement and the impact fandoms can have on games.

Takeaway

Attendees learn what fandoms are and how they form; why a fandom is worth cultivating as a product resource and how healthy fan engagement can prolong the life of your game; and how to engage with these communities in delightful, productive ways.

Intended Audience

This talk is open to everyone and there is no prerequisite knowledge, but community, design, or product team members that engage with players will find it the most useful.