By Sean O’Mahoney
PLAY Expo heads to Manchester this month for its biggest event to date.
Taking place October 14-15 at Event City, the North’s biggest video gaming expo is expecting over 25,000 attendees.
Regardless of what type of gamer you are, there will be something for everyone at this year’s expo including over 500 arcade games, NextGen games, indie, retro, LAN, VR and tournaments.
One of the biggest draws for attendees to PLAY Expo Manchester is the return of the hugely popular retro zone. Last year the event ran close to 400 machines across the retro zones, but this year they’ve added another 100, making it the biggest ever collection of retro machines at any European gaming expo.
The NextGen zone will give gamers the chance to play all the latest innovative games for the latest powerhouse machines. Fans can get their hands on upcoming games before they are available to buy in the shops. It will also feature a selection of the latest AAA games including Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy, Halo Wars 2, Injustice 2, Tekken 7, WipEout Omega Collection and Yooka Laylee.
Gaming fans will be able to celebrate the glorious world of LAN gaming without having to worry about where everyone will fit their monitors. LAN parties are still happening across the world and PLAY Expo Manchester presents a range of titles that are sure to please all. Games including Quake, Doom, Counter-Strike, Command and Conquer, Star Wars Jedi Knight 2 and more will be available on the day.
Virtual Reality is another big feature this year, with a selection of games dedicated to warping your reality and tricking your mind on offer. PSVR, Oculus Rift and HTC Vive will also be available alongside a number of PlayStation VR setups running a selection of games including; Battlezone, Eagle Flight, VR Worlds, Drive Club VR, Until Dawn: Rush of Blood and Battlefront X-Wing Mission.
For the first time ever, PLAY Expo Manchester will feature an entire Cosplay Village. The Cosplay area will be dedicated to all things Cosplay and feature two stages hosting panels, talks, masquerades, competitions and live performances.
Gaming fans will also have the chance to pick up merchandise, classic games, consoles, gaming merchandise, retro toys and custom-made artwork in the Shopping Hall.
Tickets are available via www.playexpomanchester.com/tickets
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