GamesSoundCon 2026: Your chance to network with the composers for Call of Duty, Assassin’s Creed and Fallout

GamesSoundCon is coming back to LA next month, and some of the biggest composers and sound designers in gaming will be there. Speakers include Inon Zur (Starfield, Fallout 3, Fallout 4), Wilbert Roget II (Call of Duty: WWII), Garry Schyman (Bioshock, Middle-earth), Jason Graves (Dead Space), and Jesper Kyd (Assassin’s Creed, Hitman, Warhammer), who will all be speaking on a panel about probably the most in-demand topic for any burgeoning composer: Creating Iconic Themes for Franchises.

Many people reading this can likely hear the themes for at least one of the aforementioned franchises in their head right now. That’s the kind of knowledge that can make a career.

Beyond the art of writing an unforgettable melody, the conference will have plenty of discussions that fit with the technological nature of games. There will be a presentation about the field recording used on Battlefield 6. Given the hallmark of the Battlefield franchise is that everything in the environment can be destroyed, the amount of different sounds needed to create realistic destruction is bound to be extensive.

For the single-player fans out there, another talk will be on how Adaptive Music was used in Ghosts of Yotei. Players have so much control over what happens in this kind of open-world adventure, and the music needs to follow their actions precisely for a truly seamless experience.

The conference will also address a reality that is inseparable from gaming music: AI. So far, several discussions have been announced with no-frills titles such as AI in the Audio Department: What’s Actually Useful, A Frank Discussion About AI for Sound Designers, Games Music, AI and Human Connection, and Practical Advice for Game Developers Working with AI Under the SAG-AFTRA Agreement.

GamesSoundCon will take place October 20-21 at the Marriott Burbank Convention Center in Burbank, CA. Registration for online and in-person is open now.

For more information, head to GamesSoundCon.

Harry Levin is a freelance journalist with credits in SPIN, Billboard, MusicTech, Grammy.com, Los Angeles Magazine, and more. His musical journey began 20 years ago with a Led Zeppelin CD. He played jazz trombone through college, produced large-scale electronic music events, and now spends his professional time writing and editing.