Close to 1,000 gamers will pack into the Georgia World Congress Center this weekend to duke it out in a giant LAN party.
DreamHack, advertised as the world’s largest digital festival, will make its second stop on its U.S. tour and its inaugural visit to Atlanta, inviting gaming enthusiasts to socialize, live stream and battle for prizes.
Opening on Friday, the main event of the festival will be the 24-hour-a-day LAN party, where gamers can play casually or compete in tournaments for more than $800,000, according to a press release.
Other events include a DreamExpo showcasing new hardware and software from maufacturers and developers, a tabletop gaming section, panels with industry experts, a fan zone for attendees to meet professional gamers and online streamers and a concert by Waka Flocka.
The festival will also host events for students, including the Georgia High School Esports Invitational and College Grunge Matches, pitting teams from the University of Georgia, Georgia Southern University, Georgia State University and others against each other in “League of Legends” and “Overwatch.”
Organizers expect close to 25,000 people to visit the festival over its three-day run.
Atlanta has become a top destination for gamers and eSports, with television networks and local companies jumping into hosting and broadcasting tournaments.
“It’s just a great city for gamers,” Mike Van Driel, the chief product officer for DreamHack told the AJC.
At the same time, the video game development industry in Georgia continues to grow. More than 110 gaming companies call Georgia home, according to Asante Bradford with the Georgia Department of Economic Development, generating $168 million in revenue. Recent legislation also offers tax credits to developers to incentivize even more companies to invest in the state.
About the Author
