2017 SXSW Gaming Conference & Festival: Expo, Awards, and Program
SXSW 2017 introduces many changes to the festival and conference experience, including a new expanded access system and a consolidated Conference of programming, and among many of these major changes comes the new SXSW Gaming Conference & Festival.
Widely-known as the Gaming Expo in the past, the SXSW Gaming Conference & Festival is the next evolution in the gaming experience found at SXSW each year.
SXSW Gaming is now comprised of the Gaming Expo, Gaming Awards, and Gaming Program, along with hundreds of special events in between, and takes place from March 16 - 18 during the second half of the SXSWeek.
With complimentary access extended to SXSW badges, as well as affordable Gaming Wristband options available to all, take a peek at what's coming in 2017!
Gaming Program
Sessions
The sessions found at SXSW Gaming are your go-to destination for major industry conversations on the current state of gaming, and what's coming next. Highlighted programming found in the Sessions lineup include:
Level Up Your Esports Partnership
Andy Dinh (Team SoloMid), Brent Barry (Logitech G), and Kristen Salvatore (Twitch)
March 16 | 5:00pm - 6:00pm
Room 5ABC, Austin Convention Center
Access: All Badges (Platinum, Interactive, Film, Music) and Gaming Wristband
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For Games to Evolve They Need to Get Political
Austin Walker (VICE Media), Pawel Miechowski (11 Bit Studios), Robert Kurvitz (ZA/UM), and Maria Reinup (ZA/UM)
March 17 | 5:00pm - 6:00pm
Room 5ABC, Austin Convention Center
Access: All Badges (Platinum, Interactive, Film, Music) and Gaming Wristband
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(Re)Exploring Gaming for VR
Maria Essig (Google VR), Josh Larson (Numinous Games), Samantha Gorman (Tender Claws), and Vassiliki Khonsari (iNK Stories)
March 18 | 12:30pm - 1:30pm
Room 5ABC, Austin Convention Center
Access: All Badges (Platinum, Interactive, Film, Music) and Gaming Wristband
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Geek Stage
The Geek Stage has been a cornerstone of the Gaming Expo for numerous years. Now, officially part of the Gaming Program, the Geek Stage will continue to offer premiere consumer-facing content across gaming and geek culture. Highlights for this year's stage include:
Gotta Go Fast: The Official Panel of Sonic the Hedgehog
Aaron Webber (Sonic the Hedgehog), Mike Pollock (SEGA), Roger Smith (SEGA), and Takashi Iizuka (Sonic the Hedgehog)
March 16 | 5:00pm - 6:00pm
Room 6AB, Austin Convention Center
Access: All Badges (Platinum, Interactive, Film, Music) and Gaming Wristband
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AR: Bringing the Magic Back to Gaming
Jeri Ellsworth (castAR) and Brian Crecente (Polygon)
March 17 | 5:00pm - 6:00pm
Room 6AB, Austin Convention Center
Access: All Badges (Platinum, Interactive, Film, Music) and Gaming Wristband
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BOOP! Women Online: Female Voices in Video Games
Andrea Toyias (Blizzard Entertainment), Carolina Ravassa (Sombra | Overwatch), Lilia Davis (La Revista Mujer), and Michael Chu (Blizzard Entertainment)
March 18 | 11:00am - 12:00pm
Room 6AB, Austin Convention Center
Access: All Badges (Platinum, Interactive, Film, Music) and Gaming Wristband
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Meet Ups (New Format)
Meet ups are an integral part of any conference experience. For SXSW Gaming 2017, network with gaming professionals as well as fellow fans across a variety of key topics. Highlighted meet ups include:
How to Fund Your Game Meet Up
Host: Gordon Walton (Artcraft Entertainment Inc.)
March 16 | 11:00am - 12:00pm
Room 4BC, Austin Convention Center
Access: All Badges (Platinum, Interactive, Film, Music) and Gaming Wristband
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Picking Up the Controller: Minorities in Esports Meet Up
Hosts: Lee Massie (Muxy) and Terrence "TKbreezy" Kershaw (Twitch)
March 17 | 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Room 4BC, Austin Convention Center
Access: All Badges (Platinum, Interactive, Film, Music) and Gaming Wristband
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Pokemon GO & Social Gaming Meet Up
Host: Nick Johnson (World's First Pokemon GO Pokemon Master)
March 16 | 11:00am - 12:00pm
Room 4BC, Austin Convention Center
Access: All Badges (Platinum, Interactive, Film, Music) and Gaming Wristband
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With dozens of programming listings available, take an in-depth at the full SXSW Gaming schedule.
Gaming Awards
The 2017 SXSW Gaming Awards, sponsored by IGN and Imaginary Forces, will be hosted by legendary gaming broadcaster OMGitsfirefoxx and WWE® Superstar Xavier Woods® on Saturday, March 18 at the Hilton in downtown Austin.
With 100 nominees across 23 unique categories, join us as we celebrate the excellence found in gaming throughout 2016 with a night full of celebration and entertainment that includes Rockit Gaming, I.C.U., and more to be revealed.
Missed your chance to vote for this year's winners online at IGN? Visit the Gaming Expo to help determine who will take home a coveted Gamer's Voice Award at this year's event! The Gamer's Voice Awards are dedicated to indie games and developers exclusively, with winners chosen completely by a public vote.
SXSW Gaming Awards presented by IGN and Imaginary Forces
March 18 | 8:00pm - 10:00pm
6th Floor, Hilton Austin Downtown
Access: All Badges (Platinum, Interactive, Film, Music) and Gaming Wristband
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Gaming Expo
The Gaming Expo is the flagship event found at the core of SXSW Gaming. Taking place from March 16 - 18 in the Austin Convention Center, come experience the latest that gaming has to offer across dozens of special events, activations, and cutting-edge exhibitions.
Returning features for this year's Gaming Expo include the Esports Tournament Stage, Tabletop Experience, PC Arena, Arcade Bunker, Mobile Gaming Dome, Indie Corner, and Gamer's Voice Stage.
In addition to these returning areas, we welcome the new Student Showcase (featuring the best student projects from across the nation) and Pitch Competition to the show.
Gaming Expo Highlights
Nintendo and the Nintendo Switch at the Gaming Expo
March 16 - 18 | 12:00pm - 8:00pm
EH 1, Austin Convention Center
Access: All Badges (Platinum, Interactive, Film, Music) and Gaming Wristband
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SXSW Gaming Opening Party and Cosplay Contest
March 16 | 8:00pm - 11:00pm
6th Floor, Hilton Austin Downtown
Access: All Badges (Platinum, Interactive, Film, Music) and Gaming Wristband
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$10,000 Hearthstone Major produced by GEICO Gaming and One Nation of Gamers
March 16 - 18 | 12:00pm - 8:00pm
EH 1, Austin Convention Center
Access: All Badges (Platinum, Interactive, Film, Music) and Gaming Wristband
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SXSW Gaming Closing Party featuring Alan Walker
March 16 | 10:00pm - 1:00am
Monster Energy Outbreak House (213 W. 5th St. Building)
Access: All Badges (Platinum, Interactive, Film, Music) and Gaming Wristband
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With a lineup full of engaging programming and events for attendees of all ages and backgrounds, the SXSW Gaming Conference & Festival is set for a strong inaugural year at SXSW 2017.
All SXSW Gaming events are accessible with either a SXSW Gaming wristband or SXSW badge. In limited supplies, grab a wristband and experience the best in gaming this March at SXSW!
SXSW Gaming Tournament Stage – Photo courtesy of Twitch
03/7/2017