Beyond Play: A French-American Community Event on the Future of Video Games

Organized by Villa Albertine, in San Francisco’s Gray Area,  in partnership with Institut français, La Région Occitanie, Game France, Game for changer, and  Gray Area, Beyond Play is the French-American community event during GDC dedicated to fostering collaboration, reflection, and artistic dialogue in the video game industry. This exclusive event will bring together industry leaders, creatives, and professionals for an evening of insightful discussions, networking, and artistic exploration.

Taking place on March 16, 2025, from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Gray Area in the Mission District of San Francisco, Beyond Play aims to engage the American professional community and gaming enthusiasts in meaningful exchanges. Attendees must RSVP. Please use the registration button to the left to RSVP.

The event will kick off with an Intellectual Property Marketplace, offering a unique opportunity for American publishers to meet with five leading French studios from the Game Changer delegation. This session will facilitate transatlantic collaboration and open doors for new business opportunities.

Following the marketplace, a series of expert-led discussions will highlight the dynamic interplay between France and the United States in the gaming sector.

The first panel will explore the unique strengths of the French and American gaming industries, their evolving collaboration, and their impact on the global gaming landscape. Panelists will examine cultural and technological exchanges, the growing interest of IP owners in expanding franchises across different media, and new opportunities to engage diverse audiences worldwide.

The second panel will focus on the significance of art, artificial intelligence, and impact-driven games, examining how video games transcend entertainment to shape storytelling, social change, and cultural expression.

Program Schedule:

5:00 PM – 6:30 PM – French-American Panel Discussions:

Panel 1: From League of Legends to Arcane: Adapting an Iconic IP for the Screen

Moderated by Diana de Sousa Pires, Promotion and Support Manager for Video Game and XR Projects, CNC with Fabrice Condominas Executive Producer, MMO @ Riot Games

This firechat with Riot Games will shed light on crossover IPs and the pivotal role played by the French industry in this domain. It will explore how Riot’s League of Legends franchise was successfully brought to screen as the globally acclaimed animated series Arcane, made by the French studio Fortiche Production. The discussion will highlight the dynamic collaboration between France and the U.S, as well as the growing interest among IP owners in expanding their franchises across different media, unlocking new opportunities to reach and engage diverse audiences worldwide.

Panel 2 : The Importance of Art, AI and Impact in Video Games   

Moderated by Zoe McCloskey, Adjunct Professor, Game Arts Program, CCA 

Speakers: Kristine Severson, Senior Director, Funding and Partnerships at Games for Change; Nicolas Brière, Old Skull Games; and Mélanie Courtinat, New Media Artist, Presentation of The Siren, recipient of the French Immersion Grant

The Importance of Art and Impact in Video Games emphasizes how art in video games goes beyond mere visual appeal, especially with the inclusion of AI-driven designs and interactive elements. It serves as a vital tool in enriching storytelling, evoking emotions, and providing cultural context. Art also influences social change, shaping generational experiences, while offering innovative forms of interactive expression, education, community engagement, and soft power. With AI enhancing dynamic environments and characters, it becomes an essential part of the gaming experience, shaping how players connect with the game and its world.  

6:30 PM – 8:00 PM – Cocktail and Networking Session

As a special highlight, The Siren, an innovative video game installation by French artist Mélanie Courtinat, will be presented. This immersive work challenges traditional gaming conventions, inviting audiences to reflect on their engagement with digital art and interactive experiences.

Beyond Play is part of the Game Changer program, an initiative developed by Villa Albertine in collaboration with the Institut Français, La Région Occitanie, and Games for Change. This program provides representatives from five selected French studios with a 10-day immersion in the American gaming industry, covering topics such as artificial intelligence, fundraising, adaptation, marketing, press relations, impact games, community engagement, legal contracts, and pitching.

During their stay from March 11 to 19, 2025, the selected representatives will participate in exclusive workshops and masterclasses led by U.S. gaming experts. They will also visit major industry players such as Riot Games, Ubisoft, Survios, Twitch, PlayStation, and CAA. The program includes two key networking events: a reception at the French Consulate in Los Angeles on March 13 and Beyond Play in San Francisco on March 16, coinciding with the Game Developers Conference (GDC). Delegates will also receive accreditation and access to the GDC, ensuring unparalleled exposure to the American gaming ecosystem.

Gray Area, the venue for Beyond Play, is a nonprofit cultural incubator in San Francisco dedicated to fostering interdisciplinary collaboration. Since 2008, it has established itself as a unique hub for critically engaging with technology and culture, empowering creative practitioners to drive social impact through groundbreaking work.

With an emphasis on cross-cultural exchange, technological innovation, and artistic exploration, Beyond Play promises to be a landmark event for professionals and creatives looking to shape the future of the gaming industry.

RSVP here to secure your spot at this exclusive symposium.

Panelists:

Stay tuned for more information on our full list of panelists and participants!

Diana de Sousa Pires

Production Support and Promotion Manager for Video Game and XR Projects, CNC

See more

Diana is Production Support & Promotion Manager for XR & Video Game projects within the Attractivity Department of the CNC (the French National Center for Cinema and Moving Images). The Attractivity Department is responsible for promoting France as a destination for film, TV, animation, VFX, XR. and video games production through Film France – CNC, the National Film Commission, and the Game France label. One of her main focuses of work is to offer insights and support for IP owners interested in collaborating with French studios to adapt their IPs into animation, live-action, video games, or VR.

Kristine Severson

Director of Partnerships and Development, Games for Change

See more

Kristine is a 25+ year industry veteran, with prior strategic roles at Meta, Sony, HTC Vive, and Rockstar Games.  She has spent much of her career at the intersection of emerging tech and storytelling, leading early forays into VR, AR, and AI content creation.  Kris headed HTC’s “VR for Impact” global initiative, and has spearheaded award-winning projects with partners such as Conservation International, UN Women, Rainforest Alliance, and the National Science Foundation.  She has served on the boards of various non-profits such as the International Ocean Film Foundation and is an active member of the Academy of Television Arts & Science. Kris currently heads up partnerships at Games for Change. 

Zoe McCloskey

Immersive Design Accosicate Manager, Accenture

See more

Zoe McCloskey is a former street artist and Social Practice Artist. She was a Creative Technologist at California College of the Arts where she managed their hacker-maker lab. She has been a lecturer and adjunct professor of Electricity and Electronics, Interaction Design, and Game Design at CCA, SF State, and the Art Institute. She currently is an Associate Manager of Immersive Design at Accenture. Her current project is designing a generative AI assistant. 

Fabrice Condominas

Executive Producer and Director R&D, Riot Games

See more

With over 20 years of professional experience and a diverse background spanning industries such as video games, cinematography, and computational ontologies, Fabrice Condominas brings a unique perspective to his work. His experience includes working on major franchises such as Mass Effect and Star Wars, as well as helping to establish studios like BioWare Montréal and Riot Singapore. He has a track record of building high-performing teams, driving product vision, and leading innovation. As a senior leader with a broad skill set and a passion for developing new ideas, he is always seeking exciting opportunities to collaborate and make a positive impact. 

Mélanie Courtinat

Artist

See more

Mélanie Courtinat (1993) is an award-winning immersive artist based in Paris. Considering video games a major artistic medium, she explores their properties in her practice, pushing their boundaries and forging new connections with fine arts, music, architecture, cinema, and fashion. She primarily uses new technologies to create immersive and interactive worlds, both in personal artistic projects and commissioned works for clients such as LVMH, Hermès, Cartier and Van Cleef & Arpels. A contemporary artist represented by New Galerie (Paris), her work has been exhibited worldwide, including at LISTE Art Basel, the Venice Immersive Biennale, and the Tokyo Game Show. Mélanie also teaches video game history at ECAL virtual reality at Beaux-Arts de Paris. 

Nicolas Briere

CEO & Creative Director, Old Skull Games

See more

A passionate entrepreneur and game designer (Activision, Ankama), Nicolas has been part of the video game industry for nearly two decades. As the co-founder of Old Skull Games, he has led the creation of numerous games and guided the studio’s growth to a 70-person team, establishing it as a key player in France. He has collaborated with Ubisoft, Apple, and Netflix on projects such as Valiant Hearts: Coming Home, SpongeBob: Patty Pursuit, and Cryptical Path.

Drawing from his entrepreneurial experience, he also supports young studios and specialized schools, helping creators structure their projects and anticipate market shifts. Convinced that the industry is undergoing profound transformations—from the rise of AI to new economic dynamics—he closely follows the changes shaping the future of gaming. His approach blends pragmatism with long-term vision, striving for sustainable and innovative models while questioning their social and environmental impact.

The Game France label, supported by the CNC, promotes the French video game ecosystem at home and abroad and connects French studios with international stakeholders. Game France is the gateway for video games companies and professionals who want to set up, invest in or work with France.