The force is strong with director J.J. Abrams. Chosen to direct a new Star Wars film, Abrams will also give the opening keynote discussion at the 2013 D.I.C.E. Summit with Valve president and co-founder Gabe Newell.

Scheduled for Feb. 6 in Las Vegas, the conference gathers industry leaders from the video game world to discuss current trends. Newell and Abrams will open with “Storytelling Across Platforms: Who Benefits Most, the Audience or the Player?”

“From TV to film, and now award-winning mobile apps, there’s no question that J.J. has his finger on the pulse of the entertainment industry; and we’re thrilled to welcome him and our 2013 Hall of Fame inductee, Gabe Newell, to the D.I.C.E. stage,” says Martin Rae, president [of the] Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences. “J.J. thoughtfully weaves together suspense, action, emotion, and fun into every one of his projects – elements every game developer aspires to capture as well. Each year, the D.I.C.E. Summit sets the tone for the year ahead in games, and adding J.J. and Gabe’s shared insights is a natural fit as we see all forms of entertainment converge.”

Newell will also talk about where the video game industry is heading, and the advances Valve is making with Steam and Big Picture to prepare for the future, at a conference keynote on Thursday. Valve’s president and co-founder will also be honored at the upcoming 16th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards as the Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences Hall of Fame inductee.

The D.I.C.E. Summit takes place Feb. 5-8.