2025 will be a sad year for Aussie gamers as it was announced that Dreamhack Melbourne won’t return next year. In addition, Dreamhack no longer plans to host more events down under moving forward. Dreamhack first found its home in Australia in 2022, and many fans and former attendees are sad to see it go.
The news broke via the official Dreamhack Melbourne Twitter/X account, stating that they’re proud of all the things that the event has accomplished, plus the support it received. It has been confirmed that there are no further Dreamhack events in Australia in the foreseeable future and thanked everyone for the memories and their enthusiasm. Unfortunately, it didn’t say why the event had to come to a close.
“It is with a heavy heart that we share with you the news that DreamHack Melbourne will not be returning in 2025, and that there are currently no plans to hold further DreamHack events in Australia in the foreseeable future. Creating DreamHack Melbourne was an absolute joy and an honour. We are immensely proud of what we accomplished together with you, our incredible community, and we will be forever grateful for the support that you provided. The memories we made together will always hold a special place in our hearts. Thank you for bringing your enthusiasm, creativity, and energy—you are what made DreamHack Melbourne truly unforgettable. Until we meet again—stay awesome and keep gaming.”
A message from the DreamHack Melbourne team:
It is with a heavy heart that we share with you the news that DreamHack Melbourne will not be returning in 2025, and that there are currently no plans to hold further DreamHack events in Australia in the foreseeable future.
Creating… pic.twitter.com/sSFWaNhYYs
— DreamHack Melbourne (@DreamHackAU) December 6, 2024
Many on social media rallied to show their support and say their farewells. One of them is the official X account for PAX Australia, praising Dreamhack as “an irreplaceable event put together by an authentic local team.” Dreamhack is not the only gaming event held in Australia that has closed its doors. The EB Games Expo was an annual video game trade fair event and convention that first started in 2011 and ended in 2018 when the event was partnered with PAX Aus that year.
Dreamhack is a video game convention that focuses on eSports and ESL gaming and holds the Guinness World Record for “Largest LAN party” in 2013. The event first took place in Sweden, but then eventually expanded to other locations around Europe, North America, and Australia. In 2024, the event took place at Rod Laver Arena and featured notable guests, such as the Trash Taste Podcast, Hololive, and other popular streamers and content creators.
The gaming industry in Australia is currently in a fragile state as it is not only conventions that are closing down, but also gaming-centric news sites have pulled the plug as well, with the announcement that Nine Entertainment closed Kotaku AU and other tech-related sites like Lifehacker, affecting 40 jobs. Most recently, it was reported that Ubisoft has announced it will be ramping down its Sydney office after it discontinued its development for XDefiant.
Hopefully, the Australian gaming space will improve in 2025. For now, this latest announcement is such a sad way to end the year.
About the Author
Erielle Sudario
If she's not podcasting, Erielle Sudario is seen either playing Baldurs Gate 3, The Sims, or a really cute cozy indie game that she found either in conventions or on TikTok. Outside of gaming, she's either embracing her inner Swiftie, building keyboards, or watching shows/films in theatres or streaming platforms.
