DUBAI: Gaming enthusiasts can rally their squads and plan their visits to the Dubai Esports and Games Festival (DEF 2024) as an action-packed calendar of events happening across the city is announced. The festival, in its third edition, returns in its biggest celebration of gaming and esports yet, marking an epic celebration of gaming culture organised by the Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment (DFRE).
Taking place from 19th April to 5th May, DEF 2024 will enable families, fans and gamers to discover one-of-a-kind gaming experiences, witness thrilling tournaments and also be part of them, enjoy meet-ups with gaming legends, and catch up on industry insights straight from the experts.
All eyes on GameExpo
Tickets are now available with a 25 percent early bird discount for the immersive GameExpo, a highlight of the festival, which is primed to deliver the excitement this year too. Taking place from 3 to 5 May at Dubai World Trade Centre, in Zabeel Halls 5 and 6, it will enable visitors to immerse them
selves in non-stop gaming action and play the latest games with friends, watch awe-inspiring tournaments live, win cool new gaming gear, and even come away with some stardust as they get up close with regional and global gaming giants.
Fans can also look forward to a showcase of gaming pop culture at The Narrows, where a selection of up-and-coming and experienced Middle East artists will present their most recent works across a range of media, take guest commissions, and connect with other artists and fans.
In what promises to be a truly unforgettable experience for all, families can bond over gaming match-ups at the all-new Family Zone, while the Electric Avenue features specialised electronics retailers showcasing the latest gaming gear, and the Gaming District unveils the latest cutting-edge game releases and previews.
Adding to the excitement, a diverse schedule of activations including cosplay, esports tournaments, coding workshops, and Minecraft family challenges will keep fans buzzing throughout the
three-day extravaganza.
GameExpo Summit
On 1st and 2nd May, the GameExpo Summit, powered by Pocket Gamer Connects, will gather more than 1800+ industry professionals and brands from around the world including publishers, developers, service providers and investors who will share their expertise in a schedule of insightful talks, panels and seminars. Taking place in Zabeel Hall 4 at DWTC, this ticketed event features a packed schedule of activities including the Publisher Speedmatch, Investor Connector, and the Big Indie Pitch, connecting industry professionals with one another.
Chance to get into character
An exciting opportunity for all levels of cosplayers to join in this vibrant subculture of gaming. The Dubai Cosplay Championship will give creative gaming fans the chance to show off their inspiring costumes and performances of their favourite characters and be in with the chance of winning amazing prizes. On 3rd May, cosplayers in attendance can show off their creations in the cosplay catwalk where th
ey will be given just three seconds to wow judges by getting into character. Then on 4th May, cosplayers will compete to be crowned the Dubai Cosplay Championship winners. One individual or group will be chosen from each of the three categories: Kids, Craft and Performance.
Play Beyond
On 4th and 5th May at DWTC, gaming enthusiasts can watch their favourite gamers go head-to-head in the ultimate gaming showdown, as two teams of four gaming stars each battle it out in a thrilling live show of the best gaming talent. Adding to the excitement, fans with VIP tickets can also meet their gaming heroes in meet-and-greet sessions.
Ramadan tournaments
Throughout the Holy Month, huge prizes of up to AED20,000 are up for grabs in the GameCentric Ramadan League, which will involve over 6,000 gamers in exciting tournaments held online. Enthusiasts will be up against fellow gaming talents as well as top influencers as they embrace the thrill of this rousing tournament, which will culminate in exciting live finals.
In
the final competition of Ramadan, through 11th – 14th April, gamers will join a thrilling game of League of Legends in a competition with combined prizes worth AED6,000. To register, visit GameCentric.
Gamers can also join the UAE PC café Master Cup 2024, supported by DEF and Riot Games, in which eight cafés across the city will host exciting tournaments with a total prize pool of AED15,000.
In a new event for 2024, PC café goers will compete in 5v5 Valorant qualifiers in venues across Dubai. Qualified teams will then represent their respective cafés in a thrilling final clash to be named Dubai’s best PC café.
Educational engagement
Inspiring the next generation of gaming professionals in the region, students can fine-tune their digital skills in the Microsoft MakeCode Competition and the Minecraft Education Challenge, which will culminate in a thrilling live tournament on 1st May. Talks by industry experts held in schools and universities will support aspiring young gamers in refining their skills and ga
ining insights about the industry, while in-school tournaments will offer an exciting opportunity for students to play popular titles such as Rocket League and Fortnite, with university students battling it out on EAFC 24 and Valorant.
On 26th April, the DEF Gamers Day will offer students and staff the chance to show off their creativity by dressing up as their favourite gaming characters at school. On 1st and 2nd May, dedicated school days will provide students with a first-hand experience at GameExpo, where they can engage with interactive exhibits, gaming showcases, live tournament finals and more. The DEF Education Programme is offered free to all registered schools and universities.
On 25th April, the Google Gaming Day will be held at American University in Dubai, bringing together government, industry and Google gaming leaders to deliver an exciting, engaging and educational half-day session to students, for free, for the first time ever in the UAE. Students are urged to keep an eye out on DEF socials
for the free registration link which will be live after Eid.
Source: Emirates News Agency