The UK’s prominent gaming event, WASD expo, has been cancelled due to increasing costs and decreased demand. This comes as a shock to the industry, which has seen mass lay-offs from major companies like Microsoft and Sony following record growth during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The WASD expo, a prominent event showcasing the UK’s gaming industry, has been cancelled.
Background on WASD Expo
WASD was first established in 2022 as a response to the closure of EGX Rezzed, a London-based gaming festival focused on smaller, alternative video games. The event typically took place alongside the London Games Festival in April. It featured talks from industry members and showcased demos from upcoming smaller games.
Importance for Indie Developers
For indie developers, events like WASD were vital to showcase their games to a wider audience while building a community within the indie space. The event provided a platform for smaller game-makers to gain exposure and connect with potential fans and partners.
Industry Reaction
The cancellation of WASD has been met with shock and dismay from the gaming industry. Co-founder David Lilley attributed the decision to increasing costs and decreased demand for stand space, making it no longer viable to run events. This move comes at a difficult time for in-person gaming events across the UK and the gaming industry as a whole.
Impact on Industry
The cancellation of WASD is part of a wider trend in the gaming industry, which has seen mass lay-offs from major companies like Microsoft and Sony following a period of record growth during the Covid-19 pandemic. This shift towards digital events may be affecting the need for physical showcases like WASD.
Quotes from Industry Experts
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Dave Gilbert, founder of Wadjet Eye Games: “An amazing showcase for everything the UK game scene has to offer.”
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James Lightfoot, from Lightfoot Bros Games: “So sad to hear it will be no more.”
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