Washington Official: Video Games Are America's 'Soft Power'

Ever thought of video games as a tool of diplomacy? Washington's top elections official apparently has.

Washington Secretary of State Steve Hobbs took the stage during SLICE and PAX West 2026 to pitch developers on a bigger idea: that video games can function as "soft power" for the United States. Yes, the same person who oversees elections in Washington state spent time talking to game makers about the cultural and global reach of their craft.

If you're wondering what "soft power" even means here, think of it as influence that comes from culture, ideas and creativity rather than force. Movies, music and TV have long carried American stories around the world. Hobbs' argument, as pitched to the developers in the room, is that games belong in that same conversation.

That framing is a notable shift for anyone used to hearing games discussed only as entertainment, or worse, as a punching bag in political debates. Instead of regulation talk or moral panic, here's a sitting secretary of state telling a room full of developers that what they build matters on a global stage.

And the setting wasn't random. SLICE and PAX West bring together indie creators, industry veterans and fans in Washington state, a region that's home to a huge chunk of the American game industry. Having a state official show up at those events signals that games are being taken seriously as a cultural export, not just a hobby.

For developers in the room, the pitch may have landed as both flattering and practical. If games are framed as soft power, that opens the door to conversations about support, recognition and the value of the local industry. It's the kind of language that can travel further in policy circles than "please fund our studio."

Whether Hobbs' soft power pitch turns into anything concrete remains to be seen. But it's a rare moment of a prominent Washington state politician talking about games in terms of influence and culture rather than controversy.

What do you think? Should games be treated as a form of soft power, or is that putting too much weight on what's supposed to be fun?