Want to try the latest virtual reality (VR) technology and games prior to launch? Then you’ll need to head to one of the many events taking place around the world. There are some dedicated VR events which are great for consumers whilst others are more industry-led. If you’ve got the time – and some spare cash – here are our recommendations for unmissable VR events.
Unmissable VR Events
With half the year over some of the big events like XR Expo (Germany) and AWE USA have now come and gone. Fret not, with five months of 2023 still to go there’s plenty of time to squeeze one or two more gaming events in.
Gamescom – Cologne, Germany
Quite literally the biggest videogame event on the European calendar. Gamescom takes place over four days from Thursday 24th – Sunday 27th of August. Day tickets start from €27 EUR and if you love gaming in all its forms this is the place to be.
Stretched over multiple arenas, you have the main show floors where the likes of Activision Blizzard, Niantic, Bandai Namco, Owlchemy Labs, SEGA and many more exhibit. As you wander around you’ll find a retro area, the cosplay village, a huge merchandise area and event arena and much more.
Tokyo Games Show – Tokyo, Japan
Holding its public event between the 23rd – 24th of September is the Tokyo Games Show (TGS). One of the must-see events in the Asian gaming calendar, TGS features all the major players including Capcom, Bandai Namco, Konami, Koei Tecmo and Square Enix, to name a few.
Most importantly, TGS features an AR/VR Area alongside a remote virtual component TGS VR. If you’re heading there in person the AR/VR Area includes the likes of bHaptics, KATVR, Pimax, Pico and Thirdverse. For the rest of the world, TGS VR provides a virtual metaverse to wander around. Final details have still to be confirmed but it’ll be available for much longer than the main event, from 21st Sept to 1st October 2023.
Insomnia Gaming Festival – Birmingham, UK
When it comes to gaming in the UK there are two major events to consider. The first is the Insomnia Gaming Festival, held over three days from 7th – 10th September. Growing from a small LAN (Local Area Network) event where attendees camped over the weekend, the festival has grown into a huge expo whilst still remaining true to its core roots.
The event features multiple gaming areas, one of which is The Immersion Zone. This houses all the VR experiences, racing simulators and more. Tickets are still available, with the day rating starting from £27 GBP whilst weekend tickets start from £79.
EGX – London, UK
The other UK gaming event you’ll want to attend is EGX. Held at the giant ExCel London arena, EGX is filled to the brim with gaming goodness. Like all good events, EGX has multiple zones dotted around the main expo hall. The Rezzed Zone features indie studios, The Leftfield Collection has weird and wonderful independent games and there’s even a Retro Zone. No dedicated VR area, unfortunately, but VR studios are generally found in locations like Rezzed.
There are loads of ticket varieties to choose from, whether you want to attend for one day, all four days or even get in an hour early. EGX runs from Thursday 12th – Sunday 15th October.
Immersive Tech Week – Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Finally, for those after pure XR goodness, there’s Immersive Tech Week. Previously called VR Days, Immersive Tech Week runs from 28th November to 1st December. Featuring programmes including the Church of VR and the VR Awards, the event includes a diverse range of technologies from across the industry.
Tickets start from €99 for an Early Bird single-day pass. In a similar fashion to TGS VR, the tech week includes a remote component with a virtual expo to explore.
Furthermore, don’t forget the likes of Meta Connect in September will feature lots of VR news – a Quest 3 announcement, maybe? Whilst film festivals like the Venice Film Festival and London Film Festival usually feature VR components.
Are you attending any gaming events this year looking for VR games? Let us know what you’re looking forward to in the comments below.