GameForce is the gaming event of the Benelux. The originally Belgian event is now becoming a permanent fixture in the Netherlands and has therefore taken the place of what once were the infamous HCC days. This year GameForce will take place on October 7 and 8, so this weekend!
So the first day of GameForce is already over and we were there. Not just us, almost the entire gaming world is present. Of course, several major retail chains and brands such as Alternate.nl, Steelseries, JBL, Fritz!, Logitech, Nacon and Plaion are present with their latest goods, and many major game and console developers are also present.
Alternate.nl a JBL
Immediately upon entering we are welcomed by stands of Alternate.nl and JBL. Alternate presents itself with a real F1 racing car from Red Bull, a real eye-catcher! Alternate also has a racing pod, where you can take the wheel yourself. Those hands immediately start to itch! JBL brought the Quantum line. The various headsets can be admired in detail, but can also be tried out immediately in one of about ten gaming booths.
What quickly stands out is that the many gaming booths fall into two groups: Some run on consoles, with the PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch frequently appearing, the others run on gaming PCs, which are often equipped with many RGB fans and where the video card used is clearly visible. That is very useful for those who are still looking for a good gaming PC.
Sony, Nintendo, Ubisoft
Sony, Nintendo and Ubisoft will be present with a large stand. Unfortunately, Sony only included a trailer for Spider-Man 2, so unfortunately it is not playable on the show floor. Sony did bring four exclusives to the stand: God of War Ragnarok, The Last of Us Part II, Horizon Forbidden West and Gran Turismo 7 are all playable.
Nintendo is also going all out, with no fewer than two large stands. Well-known games such as Pikmin 4, Mario Kart 8, Mario Bros Wonder and Zelda can be played on the stand. A separate stand is entirely dedicated to the upcoming Sonic Superstars World. The game promises extensive worlds with many familiar Sonic elements such as fast loops, huge jumps and of course an annoying Dr. Eggman.
Ubisoft is also present with two stands. Where Ubisoft previously had a large center stage where Just Dance was shown, Just Dance has now been relegated more to the sidelines. Still with a dance stage where many people can let loose to the latest tracks, but a bit more modest. A second mode is filled with recent titles, all of which include Assassin’s Creed Mirage.
Dungeons & Dragons, merchandise en cosplay
In addition to all the large gaming stands, there is also plenty of room for other entertainment. For example, a spacious pavilion has been set aside for Dungeons & Dragons, where interested parties can learn the intricacies of D&D and even attend a D&D session led by one of the many Dungeon Masters present. Those who prefer to focus on the figurines themselves can take a figurine painting course. Highly recommended! For a tenner you get a figurine that you painted yourself.
Those who have a taste for it can then go wild at the many merchandise stands. Funko pops, clothing, cosplay props, posters of famous artists, there is a lot to browse through.
In addition, this edition of GameForce again pays a lot of attention to cosplay. You will encounter cosplayers everywhere, both on stage and on the floor. Of course, Zelda and the various Nintendo franchises are very popular, but Final Fantasy, Senua, and even Minecraft are also popular sources of inspiration for cosplayers.
On the central stage, the cosplayers receive extra attention during the election of the best cosplayers, where attention is also paid to originality, presentation and quality of the outfit.
GameForce 2023 – a fun gaming weekend
What is striking is that Saturday was ‘pleasantly busy’, without this leading to enormous queues. While events like Gamescon often end in disappointment because they are too busy, this is not the case at GameForce. There is so much to do that there is always a game pod available somewhere, or becomes available after a short wait. The stands present are very diverse, with a lot of attention to VR, PC gaming and the latest games, but also with plenty of room for arcade, retro, competitive and adapted gaming.
GameForce 2023 has its last day today, so anyone who still wants can go to Utrecht today. Gameforce is open from 10 am to 6 pm in the Jaarbeurs in Utrecht.
2023-10-08 08:00:00
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