QuakeCon will return to the prestigious Gaylord Texan Resort and Convention Center in 2018, inviting thousands of gamers worldwide to participate in the annual four-day video game festival.
Entering its 23rd year, QuakeCon 2018 will celebrate games and the people who play them by hosting North America’s largest BYOC (Bring-Your-Own-Computer) LAN party. This year’s BYOC will be doubling in size from QuakeCon 2017, so even more participants can showcase their custom computers and join the QuakeCon community to play their favorite games either solo or against one another on the same local area network.
This year, QuakeCon has expanded hours, kicking off on Thursday, August 9 and continuing through Sunday, August 12, at the Gaylord Texan Resort and Convention Center in Grapevine, TX.
A couple of major notes:
- Keynote: The QuakeCon Keynote is back and will feature the highly anticipated gameplay reveal of DOOM Eternal, an expanded look at RAGE 2 gameplay, and breaking news for Quake Champions and other titles. The Keynote will start at 11 am CT on Friday. Tune in to Mixer or Twitch to watch live!
- Fallout 76 Panel and Fan Q&A: On Saturday at 11 am CT, Todd Howard and others from Bethesda Game Studios will take fans through a deeper dive into the character system and Perks coming in Fallout 76, followed by a Q&A with the team to address fans’ most pressing questions. Tune in to Mixer or Twitch to watch.
- Two Esports Tournaments: Both Quake Champions and The Elder Scrolls: Legends will be hosting major tournaments at QuakeCon. Tune into The Elder Scrolls: Legends Masters Series on Thursday and Friday at Twitch. Catch the Quake Champions QuakeCon Open on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday online at Twitch.
- In the Exhibit Hall, which will be open on Friday and Saturday from 10am-6pm, and Sunday from 10am-5pm, attendees can be among first to get hands-on with several of Bethesda’s games, including the highly anticipated RAGE 2 and The Elder Scrolls: Blades,as well as Quake Champions, The Elder Scrolls Online and Bethesda’s upcoming VR title -- Wolfenstein: Cyberpilot.
Those planning to attend the free event should download the Official QuakeCon App to stay up-to-date with all of the latest and greatest activities at the show. Fans at home can tune into the livestreams to watch the entire keynote, Fallout 76 panel, and esports tournaments.
Event Highlights & Featured PanelsS (all times listed in Central)
Thursday, August 9:
1:00–9:00 pm -- The Elder Scrolls: Legends Masters Series Tournament
Friday, August 10:
All Day -- The Elder Scrolls: Legends Masters Series Tournament
All Day -- The American Red Cross Blood Drive
11:00am -- QuakeCon 2018 Keynote
During the Keynote Address, Marty Stratton and Hugo Martin will reveal DOOM Eternal gameplay for the first time, and there will be additional updates for titles like Quake Champions, The Elder Scrolls Online, and more.1:00pm -- Quake Champions QuakeCon Open 2v2 Matches Begin
2:30pm -- Panel: So, You Want to be a Bethesda Streamer
Meet with Bethesda's Influencer Manager, Community Team, and streamers to learn how to get started streaming with Bethesda games.3:30pm -- Panel: The Who and How of QuakeCon
Meet the QuakeCon team and learn how this amazing event comes together every year.4:30pm -- Panel: Keeping it Cool with Modders, Inc
Learn how to make an amazing PC case while keeping it cool with a water cooling system.4:30pm -- Panel: Don't Mess With Tech-Xas (Everything is Bigger)
Meet developers from Zenimax's Texas studios, learn how to get into the industry, and have some Texas fun!5:45pm -- The Elder Scrolls: Legends Masters Series Finals
6:30pm -- Friday Night Magic Tournament
8:00pm -- Master Pancake Theater
Saturday, August 11:
All Day -- Quake Champions QuakeCon Open 2v2 Matches
All Day -- The American Red Cross Blood Drive
10:00am -- Community Managers and Coffee
Meet Bethesda's community managers for coffee and chat about ideas, initiatives and more.11:00am -- Fallout 76 and Fan Q&A
Todd Howard and others from Bethesda Game Studios will host a panel and Q&A revealing more information about Fallout 76.12:00pm -- Panel: Talk Saves Lives
The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention teaches how to recognize risk factors and warning signs for suicide and how to have honest conversations to help someone who may be at risk or in crisis.12:00pm -- Panel: Quake Academy
An introduction to Quake Champions for new players with the community team and veterans offering tips, tricks and strategies to get good fast.1:00pm -- DOOM Eternal and RAGE 2 Encore
An encore presentation of DOOM Eternal and RAGE 2 content from the Keynote address; if you missed it on Friday, come see it live on Saturday!2:00pm -- Panel: 40 Years of Gaming
An open discussion on the good, bad and amazing achievements in gaming in the last 40 years.2:30pm -- Panel: DOOM Eternal with id Software
Join id Software for a deeper look and discussion of DOOM Eternal.3:00pm -- Panel: Defining Mooncrash – How Arkane Invented a New Genre
Arkane Studios will discuss inventing a new genre with Prey: Mooncrash and provide insight into the upcoming Typhon Hunter DLC.3:30pm -- Panel: Cupcake Champions
A delicious and nutritious twist on Quake Champions' Duel format. With CUPCAKES!4:15pm -- Quake Champions QuakeCon Collegiate 2v2 Finals
5:00pm -- Panel: RAGE 2 – Double Your Pleasure: Doubling Down to Make a Kickass Sequel
Join id Software and Avalanche Studios for a look at characters, factions and the world of RAGE 2.5:30pm -- Quake Champions QuakeCon Open 2v2 Finals
8:00pm -- QuakeCon Community Block Party
Sunday, August 12:
All Day -- Quake Champions QuakeCon Open 1v1 Duel Showdown
4:30pm -- Quake Champions QuakeCon 1v1 Finals
QUAKECON 2018 EXHIBIT HALL
The Exhibit Hall will also feature a variety of vendors, sponsors and non-profits. A full list of events, activities and participants can be found below.Exhibit Hall Hours:
Friday, August 10th: 10am – 6pm CT
Saturday, August 11th: 10am – 6pm CT
Sunday, August 12th: 10am – 5pm CTPassport Program:
For the second year, the Bethesda booth will feature a QuakeCon Passport Program where playing games, including RAGE 2, The Elder Scrolls: Blades, Quake Champions, The Elder Scrolls Online, The Elder Scrolls: Legends and more, can lead to fantastic prizes. To receive a daily entry ticket, visitors can either complete demos or simply stop by the Bethesda booth and show that you have The Elder Scrolls: Legends downloaded on your phone or tablet.Events & Activities:
- Hotseat - Attendees play games with randomly selected objectives for fun and prizes.
- Best Sign in the BYOC - We know our attendees can get pretty creative with their clan signs, so we’ve set up a little contest to award them!
- Quake Blind - Watch attendees that can’t see what they’re doing stumble it out in a fierce battle of blind will. Partners go head to head in a free-for-all competition. One person is the eyes, the other controls the character blindfolded.
- Dirty Keyboard Contest - If you haven’t been to a QuakeCon Dirty Keyboard contest recently then this should be one of those bucket list style items. Don’t miss this amazing opportunity to laugh and as your favorite QuakeCon celebrities pore over the nastiest keyboards they’ve ever seen in their entire lives.
- Pick Your Pony - Like watching eSports? Meet us at the Pick Your Pony station near the eSports mainstage to pick your “horse”. If your choice is right you’ll walk away with a cool prize!
- BAWLS Chugging - Work hard and train hard for this one. This year five-time BAWLS Chugging Champion KenCo12 looks to reclaim his belt from two-time and current reigning champion, Dirty Taco. Or will a new champion emerge and capture the crown?? All you gotta do is pop that cap, and chug that BAWLS.
EXHIBITORS AND SPONSORS:
- Attic Space Games
- BAWLS Guarana
- Corsair
- Crazzie Gear
- Dell/Alienware
- EKWaterblocks
- Fan Guru
- Fantasy Flight Games
- Fixation Vr
- Fractal Design
- Mavs Gaming
- Meeple Solutions
- Modders Inc
- More Fun Comics & Games
- MSI
- New Blood Interactive
- Nvidia
- Pecos Pete's Soda
- Performance PCs Inc
- Razer
- Solar Flare
- State Farm Insurance
- SteelSeries
- Toornament
- TOYNK TOYS LLC
- V1 Tech
- Ventrilo
NON-PROFIT PARTNERS:
- The American Red Cross
- The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
- 1Up On Cancer
- Dallas Pets Alive
- Extra Life
- Gamers Outreach
- nonPareil Institute
- Stack-Up
QuakeCon will take place from Thursday, August 9 – Sunday, August 12, 2018.
Gaylord Texan Resort and Convention Center
QuakeCon is free for general attendees and open to the public. This year’s event will offer diverse activities for all, including those who choose not to bring their own computer. Attendees are some of the first to see sneak peeks of Bethesda’s upcoming titles and announcements, while also attending a wide array of panels, presentations, tournaments, workshops and exhibits from leading tech companies showcasing the newest gaming accessories and hardware.
QuakeCon welcomes exhibitors and sponsors to showcase their games, hardware and services. For more information on how to get involved, please email sponsor@quakecon.org or visit here.
Founded in 1996, QuakeCon has grown to be one of the most distinguished festivals in gaming, with over 9,000 game enthusiasts from around the globe attending in 2017. This year’s event will feature a number of exciting changes, including the reintroduction of panels and presentations along with three days of exhibits in the QuakeCon 2018 expo hall, which for the first time, will be open Friday - Sunday. QuakeCon 2018 is open to the public and attendance is FREE thanks to the support of id Software, Bethesda Softworks, the QuakeCon volunteer staff, and the 2018 event sponsors and exhibitors.