Gaming and tech trends unveiled in recent gaming expos

Gaming expos are events that let us see how the industry is changing and what new games are in the works. With a growing number of these expos taking place around the world, what are some of the key trends we’ve been able to identify?

Retro gaming expos and the continued importance of nostalgia

Retro gaming has been one of the fastest-growing sectors of gaming in recent years, with retro consoles like the Sega Genesis and the Atari 2600 being widely sold online. New machines such as the Evercade VS and the SNES Nintendo Classic Mini provide a convenient way to explore old-style gaming with a modern console that gives access to a lot of games. With classics such as Bubble Shooter still having many fans, retro gaming shows no sign of slowing down anytime soon.

This popularity is reflected in events like the Portland Retro Gaming Expo, which is held in September at the Oregon Convention Center. It’s one of the biggest annual gatherings of fans of classic games, with fascinating historical exhibits and tournaments among the attractions. Prior to this event, the Long Island Retro Gaming Expo takes place in August, with great tournaments and exhibitions, such as 25 Years of the Dreamcast, rolling back the years. 

A strong focus on Web3 gaming

We’ve heard a lot about Web3 gaming in the last few years, but is this area advancing as quickly as some people want us to believe? W3Expo 2024 is a good example of a show that lets us see that things are moving in the right direction. Held at the Hilton Istanbul Bomonti in August, it adopted a direct-to-consumer presentation style as part of the city’s Blockchain Week.

This is part of the move to make Istanbul a global hub for Web3 gaming, which many analysts believe will be the next huge trend to capture our imagination. The event was filled with eye-catching activities, including interactive games, live esports and a variety of immersive experiences in different games. The event covered all types of gaming and Avalanche was among the leading presenters with its Raini: Lords of Light competitive card trading game.

Australasian Gaming Expo revealed new casino game features and themes

The online casino industry has long been established as having a huge amount of innovation. This means that various expos are held around the world, with the Australian Gaming Expo in Sydney being one of the most recent. These events allow game developers to reveal their new themes and features, with many of the leading names showing off their latest efforts in Australia.

With the casino market evolving rapidly, it makes sense to keep an eye out for new games with interesting features. One great way of exploring this market is by looking for the best welcome bonus to get started with. These deals give you free spins or extra funds when you make your first deposit, so you can try more games than you would otherwise be able to. Usually, you just need to register as a new user at your chosen casino and deposit at least the minimum amount needed to trigger the bonus, but sometimes you will be required to enter a code.

The Morocco Gaming Expo opens a new market

Many countries around the world are pinning their hopes on becoming the next big gaming hub, with the Middle East and North Africa regions making a particularly strong attempt to lead the way. Saudi Arabia has led the way with various gaming events seeking to encourage new partnerships and growth, but the first electronic gaming fair to be held in Morocco also caught the eye of industry insiders recently.

The Morocco Gaming Expo in Rabat allowed a group of developers, gamers and startup entrepreneurs to come together in North Africa to discover the way forward. It was arranged by the Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communication, illustrating how important gaming is to the country’s authorities. 70 exhibitors and a 100-player tournament led the way, giving us a glimpse of what this country could bring to the table in the near future.

Summary

A look at this list of some of the most interesting gaming expos reveals that the industry continues to diversify in new ways. With different ways of gaming to suit every taste, these expos around the world offer an excellent way to find out exactly what is happening in the areas that particularly interest you. Keep an eye out for upcoming events to see what the next big trends will be.