Bethesda Softworks has announced that QuakeCon will return to in-person activity in 2023 after being online-only for three years due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“QuakeCon has been our favorite event of the year and we can’t wait to see our incredible QuakeCon community in action again, celebrate the games and join our thousands of friends all weekend long! “QuakeCon 2023, our inaugural year, will focus on fan-favorite BYOC and the players who have made QuakeCon the premier gaming gathering for over 25 years.”
BYOC stands for ‘Bring Your Own Computer’ and, as the name suggests, you bring your own PC to participate in the massive, non-stop LAN parties that run throughout the event. LAN is notable not only for its size (we are talking about thousands of PCs at once), but also for the luxury of modding the case. (opens in new tab) It doesn’t impress.
Previously, general admission to QuakeCon was free, but anyone wishing to attend BYOC had to purchase a ticket. However, in 2023, Bethesda will go all-in on LAN, ditching its exhibit halls and general admission access.QuakeCon 2023 will be a ticketed event with admission limited to pre-registered BYOC guests. said Bethesda.
@QuakeCon BYOC is back! We’re back at #QuakeCon 2023. Join us August 10-13 in Texas | Registration opens soon! For more information, please visit https://t.co/G3zoTuiCh2. pic.twitter.com/EEAe3R2sIZApril 10, 2023
Like most other major gaming conventions, QuakeCon has chosen to be online-only from 2020-2022. This is because of his Covid-19 pandemic that has killed over 1.1 million people in the US alone. However, the daily death toll is now below 300. CDC (opens in new tab)the U.S. government recently declared that the Covid-19 “public health emergency” will end on May 11.
While the BYOC mega-LAN is the focus, there’s more to see and do at QuakeCon 2023, including community events, tabletop games, the QuakeCon final party, the Quake World Championships, and more. The full schedule will be announced “soon”.
