Rust Developer Facepunch Studios Cancels GDC Appearance Due To "IRL Threat"

“It's important to remember the developers are indeed humans," the team tweeted.

By Matthew D'Onofrio, News Editor March 16, 2023

facepunch studios

The 2023 Game Developers Conference (GDC) is happening next week, March 20 through March 24, but unfortunately, Facepunch Studios, the developer behind the survival shooter Rust, will not be in attendance... and for an alarming reason.

According to a tweet from the official Rust Twitter account, the team is canceling their plans for GDC in San Francisco “due to an IRL threat” that they “must take seriously.” Details regarding the exact warning were not given, but they did say: “It's important to remember the developers are indeed humans,” adding, “When threats arise we make their safety #1.”

Folks who are interested in sending Facepunch Studios their portfolios are still welcome to via their email though, which is good news in light of this unfortunate event.

This is not a statement we're happy to announce.

Due to an IRL threat we must take seriously, we're going to have to cancel the GDC meetup in San Fran next week. 😢

If you would like to show us portfolios, talk shop, or get feedback on your work reach out via email! (below)

— Rust (@playrust) March 15, 2023

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In this article: Rust, Facepunch Studios.

About the Author

Matthew D'Onofrio, News Editor
Matthew “dinofries” D'Onofrio is a writer, content creator, and — most importantly — a gamer. With such a strong passion for video games and a severe case of FOMO, it's no surprise he always has his finger on the pulse of the gaming world (And won't shut up about it). On the rare occasion Matt's away from a screen, you'll find him strumming away on his acoustic guitar or taking care of his cat Totoro.