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March 9-13, 2026
Moscone CenterSan Francisco, CA

Agenda

The Goose that Laid the Golden Egg: What to Do if You Have a Hit Game

Chris Zukowski  (Creative Director, HowToMarketAGame.com)
Location: Room 3005, West Hall
Date: Wednesday, March 11
Time: 11:50 am - 12:20 pm
Pass Type: Festival Pass, Game Changer Pass - Get your pass now!
Audience Level: Intermediate
Track: Independent Development, Discovery & Marketing
Format: Lecture
Vault Recording: Video
Audience Level: Intermediate

Did you release a hit game on Steam? Congrats! You actually found the goose that lays the golden egg! Now what? In this practical talk you will learn exactly what steps you need to take with your goose - I mean game - now that it's a hit. How do you get the most out of this much sought after prize?

Takeaway

Attendees will learn what defines a "golden goose game." If you potentially have one, you will see what steps you should take before launch, after launch, and when you are ready to launch your next game. You will learn about how to work with Valve to get the most visibility, and what to do so that you don't miss out on more exposure and more money after launch.

Intended Audience

This talk is for those fortunate developers who have a hit game. This talk will not tell you how to create a hit game (see my other talks on the GDC vault for that). However, if you have a hit game on your hands, or are working on a game that has early signs of being a hit, this talk will give you step by step instructions on making the most of it.