TV is Fading, But Gaming is Booming at SXSW 2025: The Future of Pharma Marketing
Photo Courtesy of SXSW
By Clara Faulkner
As SXSW 2025 prepares to bring together the brightest minds in technology, media, and healthcare, the Health & MedTech track stands at the forefront of discussions on medical advancements, biotech breakthroughs, and evolving marketing strategies in the healthcare industry. Selected through the PanelPicker process, this year’s sessions reflect a global, community-driven approach to programming, ensuring that the most pressing topics in health and technology take center stage.
With over 450+ community-sourced sessions announced, the Health & MedTech track will provide a dynamic platform for experts, innovators, and industry leaders to discuss the shifting landscape of medical technology, patient care, and healthcare marketing.
Among the standout sessions, one particularly relevant discussion will focus on the declining influence of traditional TV advertising in pharmaceutical marketing. Once the cornerstone of pharma marketing strategies, television is seeing a significant drop in viewership, pushing brands to reinvent how they reach healthcare professionals and consumers.
With two-thirds of the U.S. population engaged in gaming, in-game advertising is emerging as a powerful tool for brands looking to connect with a large, highly engaged audience. This session will explore the strategic fusion of interactive experiences and brand messaging, revealing how the intersection of pixels and play can reshape pharma marketing and redefine the future of entertainment media. Attendees will gain insights into opportunities and challenges in this new landscape, learning how to unlock the next level of audience engagement in the digital age.
A crucial session at this year’s Health & MedTech track addresses a growing concern among scientists: What if the next global pandemic is already looming? Experts warn that avian influenza (Bird Flu), mpox, or an unidentified “Disease X” could trigger the next worldwide health crisis.
With public perception, government regulations, and misinformation playing significant roles in pandemic response, private industry, and academia are turning to AI, big data, and advanced technology to improve preparedness, surveillance, and treatment accessibility. This session will offer insights from past pandemic experiences, explore how technology can mitigate misinformation, and examine the intricate connections between animal, human, and environmental health.
To dive deeper into SXSW 2025’s expansive programming, explore the full conference schedule and discover more community-driven sessions at SXSW.com.