Gaming Events: The Biggest Expos and Conventions in the Gaming Industry

Gaming is a multi-billion dollar industry that attracts an audience of hundreds of millions of people from all over the world. Gamers from all over the world meet occasionally for a variety of gaming events and conventions. There are hundreds of gaming events and conventions, but some are more noteworthy than others. Here is an overview of some of the biggest expos and conventions in the gaming industry.

Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3)

This is undoubtedly the biggest gaming event of the video game industry. It brings together the who’s who of the gaming industry. Every year, major gaming developers, including Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo, grace this event to keep up with developments and announce their own new developments. This is where gamers get to know all about new games and gaming technology.

E3 used to be an event exclusive to gaming developers, insiders in the gaming industry, and the press. However, it opened its doors to the public in 2018, and it is set to do so again this year. However, there are rumors that future events and conventions will be closed off to the public. Nevertheless, gamers from all over the world are always looking forward to this event, and many are content following the developments online.

Penny Arcade Expo (PAX)

PAX is one of the biggest gaming events that brings together gamers from all over America and across the pond in Australia – and more gamers from all over the world join in too! It hosts more than four conventions every year. It starts as early as January in Texas and then moves on to Boston and Seattle in March and August respectively. The final event is held in Melbourne, Australia.

There is always something new for PAX attendees every year, and venues may change depending on the year and scheduled event. PAX events are attended by some of the most notable figures in the gaming industry.

Gamescom

This is one of the biggest gaming conventions in Europe – it is basically the European version of the E3 gaming convention. It is attended by gaming developers and publishers from Europe and all over the world, including big names such as Sony and Microsoft. Developers come to keep up with developments and announce or roll out new games while gamers attend it for the thrill. And, unlike E3, which is exclusive to insiders, anyone and everyone is welcome to attend the Gamescom event.

Hundreds of thousands of fans attend the Gamescom event every year, and millions more stream it live via the internet from different parts of the world. This year’s Gamescom convention will be held in Cologne, Germany.

DreamHack

DreamHack is a universal gaming convention, unlike E3 and Gamescom. The convention is usually spread out all over the world, and events are often hosted in different countries and continents with each passing year. It rivals E3 and other conventions as the biggest gaming convention for esports enthusiasts.

Sweden is a favorite venue for this gaming convention, as there is an even held there every winter and summer. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own gadgets, costumes, games, music, and everything they need to make the experience complete. Major game developers often grace these events to roll out new games and gaming technology.

Interesting Fact: DreamHack was recognized as the world’s largest LAN party by the Guinness Book of Records, and it has been shattering other records in the gaming industry.

The Game Awards

This is the Oscars of the gaming industry. As the title suggests, this convention is designed to recognize and honor the best games in the industry. Gamers are welcome to vote on their favorite games and make their opinions known. The event is attended by hundreds of thousands of gamers, and many more join in online.

Besides awards, this event also takes the opportunity to make announcements on major developments in the gaming industry. There is also lots of entertainment, including live-streamed games and music. The Game Awards is where you get key insights on the best games, so don’t miss out.

Tokyo Game Show

This is the default gaming convention for fans of Japanese video games. It looks and feels much different than other video game events around the world – after all, Japan is vastly different from most other places around the world. Some of the games you come across here may feel retro or somewhat weird, but they are really fun – and so is the event.

The Tokyo Game Show runs for 4 consecutive days. The first two days are only open to industry leaders, who mostly comprise game developers and those in associated industries. Anyone from the public can attend during the show’s last two days. Additionally, you can stream the show live from anywhere. This show is really big considering that it attracted over 300,000 attendees last year, not counting the number of people who streamed it live.

BlizzCon

Are you a fan of Blizzard games such as Diablo and Starcraft? If so, this is the ultimate video game event for you. BlizzCon is exclusive to Blizzard games, and it is always looking to unveil something new every year. This year, the show will release the latest Blizzard game, the WoW Classic. There is a lot of anticipation about how this game will turn out, considering the disaster that was Diablo Immortal. However, insiders say that things will be different this year, and WoW Classic may just turn out to be what every Blizzard enthusiast has been looking for.

EuroGamer Expo (EGX)

Here is another big gaming convention for European video game enthusiasts. It is the biggest gaming event in the United Kingdom, and it has been making inroads in many other parts of Europe. It is mainly always oriented in the unveiling of new video games, so you are bound to get your hands on lots of new stuff if you attend.

EGX has always been based in London, but it has moved to Birmingham last year. However, it is back in London again, and this year promises to be bigger and better. It has also opened a branch in Berlin, Germany, and it promises to spread to other major European cities in the near future.

Game Developers Conference (GDC)

If you love gaming and know how to develop cool, commercially-viable video games, then this is a gaming event that you cannot afford to miss. It is exclusive to game developers and students learning about the trade.

The GDC is sponsored and hosted by UBM Game Network. It takes place annually in San Francisco, California. It is all about educative content for gaming development. This is where all the latest gaming technology gets unveiled. It is also a place where you can make fruitful connections with some of the most notable figures in the gaming development industry. There are lots of resources and services to take advantage of here.

Casual Connect USA

Here is another big gaming event for those who mainly focus on gaming development. It attracts some of the biggest names and figures in the gaming industry from the U.S. and beyond. All topics are related to gaming software development and monetization, so there is always something to learn. You will get a chance to see and hear from developers of some of the best games in the industry. Casual Connect USA is held at Disney Hotel in California every year in January.

Final Word

There are hundreds of gaming shows, events, and conventions held every year in different parts of the world. These are some of the best. They are fun and insightful, and there is something for everyone, including developers and gamers. There is no excuse to miss any one of these shows – you can attend and be part of the movement online by streaming live on your favorite gaming platform.

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