IBC2023 is set to feature a four-day esports exhibition in three parts, complete with a designated area located on the exhibition floor. Top-of-the-line racing simulator games will be showcased, enabling the capturing, creation, and streaming of content throughout the week-long contest.
Not Just a gaming expo, an array of presentations and discussions about the latest gaming trends, the fusion of gaming and film technologies, and in-game advertising will also take place in the esports designated area. Gaming experts will cover three different setups: stadiums, smaller venues, and home-based setups. Special technical tours, showcasing production and delivery aspects like distribution, streaming software, and studio graphics, among others, will also be available.
Registration for IBC2023 is open.
The inclusion of esports in the exhibition is not new, as interactive gaming exhibits and an esports tournament were part of the 2019 event.
IBC Director, Steve Connolly, expressed excitement about the return of esports at IBC. He shared plans to elevate the gaming segments of the event for a more comprehensive interaction for a variety of media tech partners, and a look into new broadcasting and streaming methods to reach broader audiences. Simultaneously, media companies will gain insights into the intricacies of competitive gaming and content development for evolving audiences, he added.
Nearly 500 sqm in Hall 8 has been allocated as an esports zone in collaboration with Unlocked, a Belgian agency specializing in gaming and esports.
Steven Leuvens, Co-CEO and Founder of Unlocked, shared his enthusiasm about the opportunity for media professionals to witness gaming as a spectator sport at IBC2023.
A gaming content programme scheduled to run throughout the day on Monday, 18 September will feature at the Showcase Theatre. The programme includes speakers from Omdia, HaZAnimation, Ubisoft, Media Monks, among others, who will delve into the crossroads of gaming and media, discussing potential future trends.
Highlighted sessions will discuss:
- Key gaming trends, presented by Liam Deane, Principal Analyst for Gaming Tech at Omdia,
- A fireside chat on the transition from gaming to screen featuring Hélène Juguet, Managing Director at Ubisoft Film & Television Paris,
- A talk on how Unreal Engine technology is transforming the gaming and film industry by HaZ Dulull, Producer at HaZAnimation,
- Panel discussions moderated by Deane on new market opportunities through in-game advertising featuring Funs Jacobs, Senior Director of Innovation, Media Monks.
Premium Pass holders can also participate in a roundtable discussion about gaming in the entertainment industry and gain exclusive access to a report on gaming and media’s convergence by OMDIA, the Official Premium Research Partner.
Check out the comprehensive IBC2023 Esports Programme