'Borderlands 4' Launch Load Testing by Jeffrey Waldron

Gearbox Software shares how its online engineering team prepared the backend platform for the launch of Borderlands 4 through large-scale, full-system load testing. Rather than validating individual features in isolation, the team built a unified test that simulated real player behavior across all online systems, from matchmaking to cross-platform play. This session details how the team generated realistic data, leveraged AWS and Serverless technology, and balanced test fidelity against cost and complexity. Attendees learn how Gearbox overcame late-stage technical challenges such as spot instance terminations and adopting Serverless Redis, and how these efforts led to both platform stability and improved team readiness. The talk provides practical takeaways for studios looking to conduct high-fidelity load testing at scale and highlights how holistic testing can strengthen both technical confidence and cross-team collaboration before launch.

Data Talks to You: If You Know How to Listen by Sahana Halady Subraya

As a PM it is considered crucial to have data understanding and utilize data to make decisions in product. This talk will touch key areas where data reveals who your users really are, which features are worth building, and whether your last decision actually moved the needle.