GDC Concert 2026: Expedition 33, Hades II, DOOM (2016), and more; feat. Austin Wintory & Troy Baker

GDC’s Developers Concert returned for its third year at the 2026 Festival of Gaming, turning the main stage into a live showcase for game music as a production pillar, not just a marketing beat. Austin Wintory conducted the orchestra, with Troy Baker joining for spoken and performance segments, alongside appearances from composers and performers including Darren Korb, Judy Alice Lee, Ashley Barrett, Erin Yvette, Danny Baranowsky, Kristin Naigus, Ben Starr, Jennifer English, and Laura Intravia.

The setlist spanned a wide range of eras and tones: Space Quest, Command & Conquer, Ocarina of Time, GoldenEye 007, Super Meat Boy, Undertale, ABZÛ, Hades II, DOOM (2016), and selections from Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. That mix matters because it shows how game audio now lives across genres and budgets, from legacy franchises to recent breakout indies and prestige RPGs.

For developers, the concert is a reminder that music and performance are no longer late-stage polish. These scores are part of how players remember a game, how trailers land, and how IP builds long-term identity. Wintory’s presence also reinforces how much visibility composers can have when their work is treated as a core creative discipline rather than background support.

GDC also used the event to tee up its next conference window: March 1-5, 2027 in San Francisco. For teams working in audio, narrative, and production, the concert is a useful snapshot of where the industry’s emotional and technical ambitions are heading.