Yas Mall to host Abu Dhabi’s first-ever interactive Gaming Festival

Abu Dhabi-based Yas Mall and Yas Island have partnered with global gaming titan IGN to create a gamers paradise starting Eid weekend, until back-to-school. To be held from August 22 to September 1 at Yas Mall’s Town Square, Yas Gaming Festival will provide a totally interactive experience combining cosplay, fun multi-player tournaments, retro arcades, esports and virtual reality, inviting players of all ages to game together and put their skills to the test. Parents will also be able to enjoy learning about kid-friendly games and educational gaming, as well as tips for controlling play time for each age group.

There is something for every age and preference, including a retro gaming section, with all the favourite “originals” like Pac Man, Super Mario, Sonic The Hedgehog, Asteroids and Space Invaders. With the choice of the latest bespoke Nintendo, PlayStation and Xbox stations, featuring games such as Ratchet & Clank, FIFA 18 and The Legend of Zelda, Yas Gaming Festival aims to bring everyone together for 11 days of mesmerising on-screen entertainment.

Visitors will also have the chance to go on a Minecraft adventure, compete on-stage to win a round of Just Dance 2018, Mario Kart or the Buzz quiz game or experience the newest technology at the futuristic Virtual Reality zone.

“We are excited to host Abu Dhabi’s first-ever interactive Gaming Festival. This event will offer gamers of all ages and parents an opportunity to share and learn about all the latest and most popular new trends in the tech and gaming world. The show will cater to all age groups and will also have educational gaming components integrated through-out. We are proud to be working with IGN, the biggest gaming media in the world, to deliver a world-class gaming event for our residents and tourists of Abu Dhabi,” says Shatha Al Romaithy, director of marketing at Yas Mall.

“With over 40 exciting events taking place on Yas Island from now until the end of the year, we wanted to be sure that our spectacular line-up offers something for visitors with a diverse range of interests to enjoy. We are thrilled to be hosting one of the capital’s premier gaming events, and I have no doubt that the Yas Gaming Festival at Yas Mall will be an unmissable event for video game enthusiasts from far and wide,” adds Gerardo Llanes, executive director – Destination Management, Yas Island.

Cosplayers will be in their best form for the Cosplay competition, taking place on August 31. With a grand prize of an AED5,000 Yas Mall shopping voucher up for grabs, visitors can marvel at the artistry and detailing of these costumes, as well as a chance to pose alongside some of their favourite characters from movies and gaming.

One of the highlights will be the Fortnite Pro AM Tournament, being held on August 31. Five teams, each led by a special local celebrity guest, will battle each other for the ultimate bragging rights. At the end of the tournament, AED20,000 will be donated to charity on behalf of the winning team.

Yas Gaming Festival will also include Gaming4Good, a CSR initiative where visitors can donate or buy pre-owned games and consoles, with all proceeds going to the Emirates Autism Center.

From start to finish, Yas Gaming Festival will celebrate the gaming culture with a unique combination of gaming stations, hands-on-play, tournaments, workshops and stage shows, guaranteeing fun for all the family.