23,000 gaming enthusiasts flocked to Hannover Fairgrounds to witness onsite esports tournaments, tabletop and cosplay competitions, participate in meet & greets with around 150 content creators, and join the internationally renowned LAN Party. Additionally, attendees had the opportunity to do some last-minute Christmas shopping in the Artist Alley. Alongside the title’s first esports tournament, DreamHack celebrated the release of Escape from Tarkov: Arena.
“The enthusiasm and dedication of the community were reflected in the visitor numbers and the vibrant atmosphere on-site,” said Michael Haenisch, CEO of organizer Freaks 4U Gaming. “Our diverse program and partnerships helped create a unique atmosphere. Once again we experienced how diverse the gaming ecosystem is, offering something for everyone from cosplay to tabletop to four days of LAN party.”
During the press conference, Belit Onay, the Mayor of Hannover, and Dr. Jochen Köckler, CEO of Deutsche Messe, discussed DreamHack and the significance of gaming in the state capital. “In partnership with Freaks 4U Gaming, we want to further develop esports and gaming for Hannover,” Köckler said. Onay added: “Hannover is the right place for this industry – we can do it. For the next few years, I can promise that we will stand by the side of the Messe and Freaks 4U Gaming, to connect and seize opportunities and potentials together.”
After three exciting days of the world’s first esports tournament of “Escape from Tarkov: Arena,” the winners were born. Five top-notch teams competed in thrilling matches for a prize pool of 100,000 euros, with GamerLegion securing the title. In an intense tug-of-war against Virtus.pro, the Berlin-based team ultimately emerged victorious with a score of 3:2, taking home 50,000 euros. Developer Battlestate Games utilized the esports debut to unveil the long-awaited beta release date of “EFT: Arena.”
On Saturday, the final of the ESL Meisterschaft took place, where the concluding game not only crowned the winner Alternate aTTaX but also marked the end of the league after more than 20 years. With a 2:0 victory against BIG Academy, Alternate aTTaX secured the last title of the legendary league. The final was a fitting farewell to an era in German esports.”
Once again, the centerpiece of DreamHack Hannover was the LAN Party, with approximately 1,000 participants and nearly sold-out seats. Equally popular and also almost sold out were the Trading Card Game tournaments, attracting over 1,300 card players in total.
With a record number of almost 30 participants, the Cosplay Contest at DreamHack Hannover was even bigger and more impressive this year. The competition for the prize pool of 5,000 euros and the coveted spot in the “Best Cosplay” category reached new heights. After intense evaluations, the radiant winners were determined, capturing the hearts of the attendees with their outstanding cosplays. Cheesu_Cosplay was ultimately crowned the winner in the “Best Cosplay” category.
