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Gaming Events You Need to Look Out for in 2024

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Gaming is a hobby that has become increasingly mainstream throughout the years. From esports, events, and conferences, gaming is not only a fun pastime, but also a lucrative business. There are so many gaming events to keep an eye on, it can feel a bit overwhelming, but there are some gaming events that are more important than others that you don’t want to miss.

gaming events

What was the biggest and most anticipated gaming event of the year, E3 (Electronic Entertainment Expo) finally shut down in 2023. This was mostly because the big publishers involved were finding ways to make their showcases via live streams on platforms like YouTube or Twitch. Despite this, it has only resulted in more gaming events to look out for, which can now happen any time of the year thanks to not having to limit themselves to the time restraints of E3.

So what should we expect in 2024? Here are some things to look out for in the year ahead, from gaming events to conferences and esports.

Some of these gaming event dates and details are already confirmed, while others will have more information released closer to the due date.

We will talk about a variety of gaming events to keep an eye on this year, including:

Industry Gaming Events

Not all gaming events are focused on the everyday public. Some events are designed for developers and publishers in the industry, allowing them to innovate and discuss plans and trends.

Copenhagen Gaming Week

Jan 12-14, Bella Centre, Copenhagen

The Copenhagen Gaming Week features some playable games, as well as cosplay events. However, it also has some unique features like sporting events and live talks. This sort of makes it like a cross between a gaming convention and an industry event. However, instead of focusing on upcoming games and new releases or hardware, it has more of a focus on talks and esports events.

Pocket Gamer Connects London

Jan 22-23, London

Pocket Gamer Connects London, or PG Connects is an international conference for the games industry. Based in London, it is a key event for those working in the games industry who are looking to network, learn about the latest advancements, and meet with the biggest producers and developers around the world.

If you are working in the games industry, either as a part of a AAA company or as part of a small indie team, then this event is a must for anyone looking to expand their knowledge base while making new connections and helping their brand grow.

This industry event is a great way to market your business. This event is intended only for those who work in the industry, either as part of an indie team or as a larger developer or publisher.

DICE Summit

Feb 13-15, Aria, Las Vegas

Situated in Aria, Las Vegas, the DICE Summit invites the most prestigious video game designers and developers from across the globe. Business leaders from a large variety of the very best publishers and developers gather to discuss further trends and innovations in the industry.

DICE (Design, Innovate, Communicate, Entertain) is a key event for those looking to network and learn about the latest best technologies and practices.

Hamburg Games Conference

March 5-6, Hamburg Germany

Having a focus on C-Level business and investment, the Hamburg Games Conference is a good opportunity for B2B networking. Featuring plenty of talks, insights from the industry, and networking, this industry event is perfect for a variety of small businesses looking to grow their brand. It also provides a foothold for students who are looking to get into the industry.

Gaming Events

Many gaming events happen all over the world. No matter where you live, there is sure to be some kind of event happening nearby, or in your closest city. However, some events are more important than others, events that you don’t want to miss.

From live streams to game shows, these events show you the latest trailers and give you the latest info on your favourite upcoming video games. Here are some things to keep an eye out for this year.

TwitchCon

29-30 June, Rotterdam and 20-22 September, San Diago

twitchcon logo 2024

At TwitchCon, the thousands of streamers, viewers, and brands who come together on Twitch every day, meet in person for a weekend-long festival of creativity, competitive gaming, connecting and fun.

  • For the first time, TwitchCon Europe will be held at the Rotterdam Ahoy from June 29-30, 2024 and will return to the same location during 2025 and 2026. Tickets for TwitchCon Europe will go on sale from the 26 February 2024.

  • In the U.S., TwitchCon North America will return to the San Diego Convention Center from September 20-22, 2024, and will remain at the same location from 2025 until 2028.

Summer Game Fest

June, Los Angeles

The big gaming event of the summer, Summer Game Fest, features a series of live streams throughout the summer period. Created in 2020, Summer Game Fest was made to fill in the gap after the cancellation of Gamescom and E3 because of the global pandemic. Gamescom has since been continued while E3 has been discontinued. While there is only one livestream referred to as ‘Summer Game Fest’ the other livestreams are seen to be part of the overall showcase.

This event has the latest gaming news from announcements to updates on new releases. Some of the live streams also feature talks with developers of your favourite games, giving viewers a first-hand insight into what to expect.

Last year, some of the most exciting streams were:

  • Capcom showcase
  • Xbox Games Showcase
  • Future Games Show
  • PC Gaming Show

Summer Game Fest is based entirely around live streams. These streams are free to watch and available via popular streaming platforms like YouTube and Twitch.

PC Gaming Show

June, Los Angeles

Part of the Summer Game Fest, the PC Gaming Show is hosted by PC Gamer. Gamers often single this event out as many developers and publishers leave some of their big announcements for this event. Some of the big games from 2023 shown at the PC Gaming Show were:

  • Path of Exile 2– An Action RPG created by Grinding Gear Games
  • Lords of the Fallen– A Souls-like, originally made in 2014. Lords of the Fallen was remade and released in 2023.
  • Baldur’s Gate 3– An RPG based around DnD, Baldur’s Gate 3 would go onto win Game of the Year at The Game Awards

Gamescom

August 21-25, Cologne

Considered to be the largest gaming event in Europe and one of the biggest gaming conventions of the year. Whether you are an attendee or an exhibitor, Gamescom is considered one of the largest events in the gaming industry.

The exhibition will have cosplay events, merchandise, and playable demos for some of the new games announced.

One of the highlights of Gamescom is the new trailers and game announcements that come with it. Each year comes along with exciting new game announcements and trailers for upcoming releases. Every day of the event brings new announcements as well as updates on upcoming projects.

Last year saw announcements such as Alan Wake 2, Mortal Kombat 1, Tekken 8, Little Nightmares 3 and many more. This year will be just as exciting with many more projects expected to be announced!

Each day of Gamescom will also be livestreamed. You’ll miss out on being there on the day, but you will still get to see all the latest news as it is announced.

Tokyo Game Show

September 26-29, Tokyo

Like Gamescom, the Tokyo Game Show features new announcements as well as playable demos. Based in Japan, this event can be quite difficult to get to, depending on where you live. Along with it being Japan-based, you are also more likely to see trailers from Eastern-based developers and publishers.

Last year companies like Square Enix and Capcom attended, and this year hopefully we will have more of the same.

EGX

Likely to be in October, ExCel, London

EGX, or EGX London, is a large gaming convention usually held towards the end of the year around October to November. There are a wide variety of gaming events in the UK and London, and this is one of the most popular.

From playable demos of upcoming releases to tournament events with prizes, cosplay, merchandise, indie games and retro games, this convention has a lot going on. There is also a career fair if you are interested in getting into the industry.

For a time, it was held in Birmingham, in the NEC, but it has moved back to London to be held in the ExCel centre. EGX is held from a Thursday through to Sunday and has a variety of ticket options, such as:

  • Day Ticket- £22
  • Early Entry- £24
  • Super Pass- £75

If you are with Virgin Media, they have also offered discount prices in previous years. Times and dates for EGX are usually announced later this year, along with a full list of what games you can look forward to. While they don’t usually have new game announcements, it is a good opportunity to play new games before they are released.

PAX

Throughout the year, USA and Australia

Like EGX, PAX is one of the largest gaming conventions that is primarily based in the US. From the EXPO hall, to special guests and panels, this 4-day event has everything you could want from a gaming event. Everything from new game demos, indie games and even tabletop games will be there.

PAX has many different events happening throughout the year:

  • PAX East- March 21-24, Boston.
  • PAX West- Aug 30-Sep 2, Seattle
  • PAX Aus- October 6-8, Melbourne
  • PAX Unplugged- December 6-8, Philadelphia

These events are all similar to each other, with the exception of PAX Unplugged. However, they will likely have a different structure, so you can expect to see different games, guests and panels.

PAX Unplugged is unlike the other events as it is entirely focused on board games. The event has a huge variety of tabletop games, from RPGs to TCGs, if you have a love for all things tabletop, then this event is for you.

Livestream Gaming Events

Not all events happen in person. With live streams becoming more popular and easily accessible for people and companies alike, many publishers choose to host their streams to the public.

Nintendo Direct

Nintendo Directs are livestreams held by Nintendo, focused on upcoming titles, or solely focused on one IP. If you are a fan of Nintendo games or have a Switch, then you won’t want to miss these. Here are the main kinds of Directs to expect:

  • Nintendo Direct- Typically a 25-50 presentation that will showcase both upcoming software and hardware.
  • Nintendo Direct Mini- Typically between 5-30 minutes. It will focus on software, but usually on smaller titles.
  • Nintendo Direct Special- Typically 5-50 minutes. These presentations will usually focus on a specific title.
  • Pokémon Direct- Typically 10-30 minutes. This presentation focuses on titles from the Pokémon franchise, usually big upcoming titles as well as some smaller announcements.
  • Indie World- Typically 15-30 minutes. This presentation focuses on indie titles that are being released on the Switch.

Dates and times for these presentations are typically announced a week or so before the air date. As these are livestreams, there is also the benefit of being able to watch them for free from the comfort of your own home.

PlayStation State of Play

Like Nintendo Direct, PlayStation’s State of Play broadcasts happen throughout the year, having been a replacement for appearing at E3.

These broadcasts feature upcoming exclusives for the PlayStation console, working to build up hype for upcoming releases. The broadcasts are roughly 20-30 minutes long and will either focus on game announcements or upcoming releases. Previous livestreams have focused on games such as Demon’s Souls, Final Fantasy and Ghost of Tsushima.

As these presentations are run by PlayStation, they generally focus on exclusives for their video game console. However, on occasion, they will have a stream focusing on a non-exclusive, like Hogwarts Legacy.

These livestreams have no dates or times given. Usually, a few days before the stream, there will be an announcement through social media from PlayStation. While there is no structure for when these streams will air, they are usually every 2-3 months.

Like all livestreams, these game events can be watched via Twitch or YouTube.

Game Awards

gaming events

As a celebration of outstanding work done within the game industry, there are multiple game award shows held throughout the year.

Usually held either towards the beginning or end of the year, these game award shows reward indie and AAA developers alike for excellence, creating works of art and masterpieces that people will continue to enjoy for years to come.

New York Game Awards

Jan 23, The SVA Theatre, New York

The New York Game Awards take advantage of their ties to New York by including live performances from SNL musicians and comedy from the Daily Show’s writers. This makes the event not just about gaming, but a night of fun and excitement.

With a wide variety of awards, there is a lot to look forward to. Their awards also follow a NYC theme, with the Game of the Year award being called the “Big Apple Award”.

2023 saw a variety of winners, here are the most popular categories:

  • Game of the Year- Elden Ring
  • Best indie game- Vampire Survivors
  • Best writing in a game- God of War: Ragnarök
  • Best world- Elden Ring
  • Best music in a game- Metal: Hellsinger
  • Best acting in a game- Manon Gage as Marissa Marcel

The previous game of the year winners also include:

  • Psychonauts (2022)
  • Hades (2021)
  • The Outer Worlds (2020)
  • God of War (2019)
  • The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (2018)
  • Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End (2017)
  • The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (2016)
  • Wolfenstein: The New Order (2015)
  • The Last of Us (2014)
  • The Walking Dead (2013)
  • The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim (2012)

Next year’s NYC game awards are on 23rd January. With many exciting games from last year, this is an event gamers won’t want to miss.

Ticket admissions for the event start at $60 (£47) for general admission, $75 (£59) for VIP and $100 (£78) for VIP and the after-party.

BAFTA Game Awards

April 11

BAFTA (British Academy of Film and Television Arts) aren’t just for TV and film. The BAFTA game awards happen towards the beginning of the year, with nominees being announced on March 7th, and then the presentation takes place on April 11th via BBC and BBC iPlayer.

The BAFTA Game Awards 2024 celebrate the best of gaming from 2023, which is why the event takes place towards the start of the year. These awards also feature a category for ‘Best British Game’.

So far, only the long list has been released for the event this year, featuring potential nominees such as:

  • Baldur’s Gate 3
  • Dave the Diver
  • Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
  • Hogwarts Legacy
  • Alan Wake 2
  • Hi-Fi Rush
  • The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

Previous Winners

The winners for games released in 2022 were:

  • EE Game of the Year- God of War: Ragnarök
  • Animation- God of War: Ragnarök
  • Artistic Achievement- Tunic
  • Audio Achievement- God of War: Ragnarök
  • Best Game- Vampire Survivors
  • Best British Game- Rollerdrome
  • Best Debut Game- Tunic
  • Evolving Game- Final Fantasy: XIV Online
  • Best Family Game- Kirby and the Forgotten Land
  • Game Beyond Entertainment- Endling: Extinction is Forever
  • Game Design- Vampire Survivors
  • Multiplayer- Elden Ring
  • Music- God of War: Ragnarök
  • Narrative- Immortality
  • Original IP- Elden Ring
  • Performance in a Leading Role- Christopher Judge
  • Performance in a Supporting Role- Laya Deleon Hayes
  • Technical Achievement- Horizon Forbidden West

The most notable awards, the EE Game of the Year (The only award with a public vote) and the Best Game and Best British Game awards were given to God of War: Ragnarök. Vampire Survivors and Rollerdrome. Unlike many other game award shows, the winners are decided on by BAFTA members, instead of the public.

The previous Game of the Year winners were:

  • Call of Duty (2003)
  • Half-Life 2 (2004)
  • Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter (2005)
  • Bioshock (2006)
  • Super Mario Galaxy (2007)
  • Batman: Arkham Asylum (2009)
  • Mass Effect 2 (2010)
  • Portal 2 (2011)
  • Dishonoured (2012)
  • The Last of Us (2013)
  • Destiny (2014)
  • Fallout 4 (2015)
  • Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End (2016)
  • What Remains of Edith Finch (2017)
  • God of War (2018)
  • Outer Wilds (2019)
  • Hades (2020)
  • Returnal (2021)
  • Vampire Survivors (2022)

The Golden Joystick Awards

November

Originally known as the People’s Gaming Awards. These awards were for the best video games of the year and used to be voted by the British Public before it became a global event, with votes taking place online via GamesRadar+.

Considered to be one of the longest-running award shows, it began in 1983, and features multiple different game of the year awards for different categories, instead of one game of a year along with other categories.

The previous awards ceremony took place on November 10th via livestream. The winners for 2023 were:

  • Best Storytelling- Baldur’s Gate 3
  • Best Multiplayer Game- Mortal Kombat 1
  • Best Visual Design- Baldur’s Gate 3
  • Best Game Expansion- Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty
  • Best Audio- Final Fantasy XVI
  • Best Indie Game- Sea of Stars
  • Best VR Game- Horizon Call of the Mountain
  • Best Streaming Game- Valorant
  • Still Playing Award- No Man’s Sky
  • Best Gaming Community- Baldur’s Gate 3
  • Studio of the Year- Larian Studios
  • Best Lead Performer- Ben Starr as Clive Rosfield (Final Fantasy XVI)
  • Best Supporting Performer- Neil Newbon as Astarion (Baldur’s Gate 3)
  • Breakthrough Award- Cocoon
  • PC Game of the Year- Baldur’s Gate 3
  • Best Gaming Hardware- PlayStation VR2
  • PlayStation Game of the Year- Resident Evil 4
  • Xbox Game of the Year- Starfield
  • Nintendo Game of the Year- The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
  • Best Game Trailer- Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty
  • Most Wanted Award- Final Fantasy VII Remake
  • Critics’ Choice Award- Alan Wake 2
  • Ultimate Game of the Year- Baldur’s Gate 3

Last year, the voting polls started on September 29th, and the Ultimate Game of the Year Award voting opened on October 23rd. Keep an eye out later this year for more news on the Joystick Awards.

The Game Awards

December 12th

Happening towards the end of the year, this ceremony is highly regarded and is arguably the most prestigious gaming awards show. The Game Awards are an annual ceremony held towards the end of the year and focus on honouring the achievements of game developers and publishers throughout the year.

The Game Awards also feature trailers and gameplay for upcoming games for the next year and beyond. This adds an extra level of interest, you get to see the awards ceremony and potentially new trailers as well.

While tickets are not currently on sale, they will go on sale to the public later this year.

The Game Awards will also be livestreamed throughout the entire event. As well as this, due to how popular the ceremony is, many live streamers and influencers will be watching the event with their own streams.

The winners of The Game Awards are decided from a vote split between a voting jury as well as public votes.

2023 Categories and Winners

  • Game of the Year- Baldur’s Gate 3
  • Best Game Direction- Alan Wake 2
  • Best narrative- Alan Wake 2
  • Best Art Direction- Alan Wake 2
  • Best Score- Final Fantasy XVI
  • Best Audio Design- Hi-Fi Rush
  • Best Performance- Neil Newbon as Astarion (Baldur’s Gate 3)
  • Games for Impact- Tchia
  • Best Ongoing Game- Cyberpunk 2077
  • Best Indie Game- Dave the Diver
  • Best Debut Indie Game- Cocoon
  • Best Mobile Game- Honkai: Star Rail
  • Best Community Support- Baldur’s Gate 3
  • Best VR/AR Game- Resident Evil Village
  • Innovation in Availability- Forza Motorsport
  • Best Action Game- Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon
  • Best Action/Adventure Game- The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
  • Best RPG- Baldur’s Gate 3
  • Best Fighting Game- Street Fighter 6
  • Best Family Game- Super Mario Bros. WONDER
  • Best Sports/Racing Game- Forza Motorsport
  • Best SIM/Strategy Game- Pikmin 4
  • Best Multiplayer Game- Baldur’s Gate 3
  • Most Anticipated Game- Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
  • Best Adaption- The Last of Us
  • Players’ Voice (Game of the Year solely on public votes)- Baldur’s Gate 3

The Game Awards also give awards to content creators and esports teams:

  • Content Creator of the Year- IronMouse
  • Best Esports Athlete- Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok
  • Best Esports Coach- Christine “potter” Chi
  • Best Esports Event- 2023 League of Legends World Championship
  • Best Esports Game- Valorant
  • Best Esports Team- JD Gaming

Game awards are a fantastic way to give a well-deserved reward to developers and publishers who have worked hard throughout the year. The same goes for content creators and those in the esports scene.

The esports scene has grown exponentially over the years, now being just as popular as regular sports.

Esports Gaming Events

gaming events

Esports events are competitions held through video games. As they are competitions, esports are usually held on competitive games like League of Legends, Valorant, Rocket League, Call of Duty and Apex Legends. While any competitive game can attract an esports scene, some have become much more popular than others, resulting in live events watched by millions with huge cash prizes.

If there is a game you like with a competitive scene, then chances are that it will either have its esports event or be part of an esports tournament. Here are some esports events you can expect throughout the year:

    • SMITE World Championship
    • Rocket League Championship Series
    • Olympic Esports Week
    • Mobile Legends
    • Call of Duty League
    • Major League Gaming

League of Legends World Championship 2024

Starts November 2, O2 Arena, London

League of Legends World Championship (Usually just referred to as Worlds) is an annual esports tournament. The event is held at a different location every year, but in 2024 it will be held in London in The O2 Arena. This month-long esports tournament has the very best teams from professional leagues around the world.

Worlds 2023 is currently considered to be the most-watched esports event, with 6.4 million concurrent views. League of Legends (LoL) has fanbases around the world, making it an extremely profitable esport.

While the event can be attended in person, like many events, it will also be livestreamed via streaming platforms like Twitch and YouTube. For those who play the game, watching via Twitch usually also provides some minor incentives and rewards.

EVO 2024

July 19-21, Las Vegas

EVO (Evolution Championship Series) is a fighting game esports tournament. It is a long-running esports tournament, having been around since 2002. The tournament has been around since before esports became more mainstream and is now usually held in Nevada.

Last year, EVO 2023 had fighting games such as:

  • Street Fighter 6
  • Guilty Gear: Strive
  • Mortal Kombat 11: Ultimate
  • Tekken 7
  • The King of Fighters XV
  • Melty Blood: Type Lumina
  • Dragon Ball FighterZ
  • Ultimate Marvel vs Capcom

Super Smash Bros. Melee and Ultimate used to be at EVO as well and were quite popular, but they have been removed in recent years due to a request from Nintendo.

Ticket prices for attendance are not available yet but will be available for purchase on the EVO website when registration is announced. Like many previous events, EVO will have livestreams of all the important moments.

Valorant Champions Tour

Aug 1

Valorant is a 5v5 tactical shooter. It has a highly competitive community, and along with it being exciting to watch, it’s perfect for the esports scene.

The Valorant Champions Tour, held by RIOT Games, is an annual tournament held across multiple esports events throughout the year. This global tournament will feature smaller esports events in multiple different countries before coming to the final championship event.

Due to the popularity of Valorant, the esports scene is continuing to grow, with more and more events each year.

Some of these events can be attended in person, but each tournament is also hosted on the Valorant website, allowing viewers to easily access livestreams to each gaming event as it happens.

Gaming Events in 2024

Gaming is a popular hobby that only continues to grow in popularity as it becomes more and more mainstream. New exhibitions and events are sure to pop up all over the world, giving more people the opportunity to attend one of these events themselves.

From game awards to esports and conventions, there is a lot of money to be made in the gaming industry. Video games are also finding success in other mediums, as their writing, characters and worlds can lend themselves to things like TV and film rather easily.

In recent years we have also had an increase in TV shows based around video games, such as The Last of Us, The Super Mario Movie, Sonic, Cyberpunk and Arcane (Based around League of Legends).

While the gaming industry continues to grow, it will be interesting to see how it continues to develop in years to come.