Announcing WikiGameJam SF: The Power of Play Meets Open Knowledge March 13–15

Game developers, storytellers, designers, and Wikipedia enthusiasts invited to build playful, knowledge-powered games following GDC

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--As the global games community descends on San Francisco for the annual Games Developer Conference (GDC), WikiGameJam builds on the energy of its sold-out New York debut with a second event on March 13–15 at Gray Area. The spirited, open-collaboration three-day hackathon invites developers, designers, and Wikipedia enthusiasts to transform the world’s largest free encyclopedia into bold, playable game experiences.

WikiGameJam SF is cohosted by the Bay Area Wikipedians and Gray Area, and supported by Jam City, WikiHaus, and the Wikimedia Foundation, the global non-profit that operates Wikipedia. WikiGameJam is designed to spark creativity and collaboration across gaming, technology, and open knowledge communities.

“Games entertain billions of people every day, and that reach carries both responsibility and opportunity,” said Josh Yguado, co-founder and CEO of Jam City. “Supporting WikiGameJam SF reflects our commitment to not only bringing joy and connection to players, but also advancing knowledge sharing, empathy, and civic engagement through play.”

“Our goal as Wikipedians is to ensure that everyone has access to knowledge, in whatever format works best for them,” said Dr. Émeline Brulé, president of the Bay Area Wikipedians user group. “Bringing WikiGameJam to San Francisco and our expertise as editors to game makers, is how we help make knowledge approachable and fun.”

WikiGameJam SF takes place immediately after GDC, inviting participants already in town for one of the most influential gatherings in gaming to extend their week into hands-on creation and experimentation. Participation is free, but registration is encouraged to secure a spot for the full weekend: https://wikigamejam.org/sf-2026/

Who: Open to all! Game designers, artists, programmers, writers, Wikipedia editors, games enthusiasts, or anyone looking to contribute.

Where: Gray Area, 2665 Mission Street

When: March 13-15, 2026. Doors open at 5 pm on Friday. Doors open at 9 am on Saturday and Sunday.

Schedule:

• Friday, March 13: Doors open, lightning talks, team forming, and early pitches
• Saturday, March 14: Jam sessions, collaboration, and creation
• Sunday, March 15: Public demos, feedback, prizes, and celebrations

Event Registration: https://wikigamejam.org/sf-2026/

WikiGameJam is part of a global community that champions the creative remixing of free knowledge into playful formats — from digital games to interactive art — and highlights how open information can fuel new forms of expression and connection. Previous WikiGameJams have resulted in dozens of prototype games celebrating imagination and curiosity and can be explored here: https://wikigamejam.org/sf-2026/

About Jam City

Jam City is a leading mobile entertainment studio with a proven track record of creating some of the world’s most beloved casual puzzle and story-driven games. As the creative force behind fan-favorite, award-winning titles such as Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Cookie Jam and Panda Pop, Jam City develops engaging, polished, and dynamic games that become an enduring part of our players’ lives. The company is headquartered in Los Angeles with a global network of studios and talent located in Los Angeles (HQ), Burbank, Cedar Falls, San Diego, San Francisco, and internationally, in Berlin, Buenos Aires, Montevideo, and Toronto. For more information, please visit www.jamcity.com.

About the Wikimedia Foundation

The Wikimedia Foundation is the nonprofit organization behind Wikipedia and other free knowledge projects, dedicated to making knowledge freely accessible to everyone.

About Bay Area Wikipedians and WikiHaus

Bay Area Wikipedians and WikiHaus are community partners supporting engagement with Wikipedia, Creative Commons, and open content through collaborative, creative events.

About Gray Area

Gray Area is a San Francisco-based nonprofit cultural incubator, which cultivates and sustains collaborations — integrating art, technology, science, and the humanities — towards a more equitable and regenerative future. Since our inception in 2008, Gray Area has established itself as a singular hub for critically engaging with technology and culture in the Bay Area, while also reaching a global audience.