DreamHack Events: eSports and Gaming on a Whole Other Level

Last updated: 12/28/2023
5 minutes read

For eSports and gaming festivals that are of the highest quality, there’s only one production company to turn to: DreamHack.

Anticipation is building for DreamHack 2022, and with 10 events taking place in nine cities, as well as open competitions, it’s set to be another busy year for gaming’s leading production company. To find out why DreamHack does it better than the rest, scroll down.

Of course, if you’re new to the industry or you’re not a massive eSports fan, you might not know what DreamHack is or, more specifically, why its events are so popular.

With this in mind, here’s everything you need to know about the biggest LAN parties and gaming events in the world.

What is DreamHack and What Does it Do?

DreamHack is one of the largest production companies in gaming. Operating under the mantra, “where the gaming community comes to life,” DreamHack is responsible for some of the biggest and best events in the industry.

In fact, this Swedish company was recognized by the Guinness Book of Records for hosting the world’s largest LAN party and computer festival. DreamHack also held the record for fastest internet connection at a large-scale gaming event before it was beaten by The Gathering in Norway.

To put it simply, DreamHack is a production company that hosts events where thousands of gamers congregate to play all manner of console and PC games. These events not only offer LAN parties, but expos, actual parties, and activities.

Finally, for those at the elite end of gaming, DreamHack events feature pro eSports tournaments, while the DreamHack Open is a chance for gamers to prove their worth and qualify for the big leagues.

Of course, like all success stories, DreamHack had to start from the bottom and work its way up. The company was founded in 1994 and held its first event in Malung, Sweden. Since then, the company has evolved and expanded in a variety of ways.

Fueling this growth was a deal with Modern Times Group. After becoming part of a digital entertainment empire, DreamHack has had the resources to create even more events and forge deals with major names in the industry, such as Epic Games.

Today, events like Epic Games DreamHack and the DreamHack Open run in tandem with an international schedule of eSports tournaments. To show you what we mean, here are some of the main reasons DreamHack is a leading name in eSports and gaming.

DreamHack Pro Competitions

Every DreamHack event features pro-level gaming tournaments. In fact, they’re the focal point for each stop.

Thanks to the company's links with one of the leading eSports games, CS:GO, many of the world's top Counter-Strike players compete at events such as DreamHack Masters.

Some names to look out for are: Oleksandr “s1mple” Kostyliev, Sergei 'Sergiz' Atamanchuk, and Mathieu "ZywOo" Herbaut.

The DreamHack Open is an annual series of competitions for aspiring eSports teams. It's part of the ESL Pro Tour and CS:GO teams can go online and use the DreamHack register button enter.

The winners of these Challenger level tournaments earn points that help them move towards the EPT Masters Championship. Put simply, these tournaments take place online and serve as feeders for the major leagues.

Epic Games DreamHack

The Epic Games DreamHack partnership has resulted in a number of interesting gaming events, including the DreamHack Open Featuring Fortnite. DreamHack has long been a place for gamers to test MMORPGs of 2022 and beyond.

Now, MMO fans can take part in community-focused Fortnite tournaments online thanks to Epic Games and DreamHack. As well as being entertaining, these events have prizepools topping $250,000.

Why Are DreamHack Events Popular?

Every festival is more than a place for people to play games. As we’ve said, there are pro-level tournaments, as well as open events. However, DreamHack also provides the infrastructure for mega-LAN parties.

All visitors have to do is bring their own computer and connect to the network.

If that’s not enough to get people using the DreamHack register button, these events feature cosplay, exclusive screenings of movies and games, artwork, activities, and live music from bands such as Trivium.

In short, DreamHack events are more than eSports competitions, they’re all-round entertainment experiences.

DreamHack and ESL

Even though DreamHack events aren’t all about gaming, the company’s connection to eSports can’t be understated. As well as giving pro teams a platform to play in front of huge audiences, DreamHack has created a culture.

Today, people not only want to attend DreamHack, they want to play in open events for a chance to become eSports pros.

The look and feel of DreamHack events also can’t be understated. The company spends significant sums of money to ensure the infrastructure powering its LAN parties is second-to-none.

It also invests heavily in extracurricular activities such as booking bands and organizing activities like tabletop tournaments and dodgeball battles.

The aim is to run events that everyone, from hardcore gamers to recreationals who only play mobile games, love.

This is not only great for those who attend, but eSports in general because DreamHack has raised the profile of gaming and piqued the interests of people outside of the industry. That, in turn, has made eSports much more of a mainstream activity.

DreamHack 2022 Schedule

The DreamHack 2021 schedule was something of a break from the norm because it featured online events. However, it's back to a full roster of live action this year.

The DreamHack 2022 schedule is packed with action and, as we move through the year, we'll see a clear progression from the DreamHack 2021 series.

DreamHack 2022 Events

  • DreamHack Dallas: June 3-5
  • DreamHack Summer (Jönköping, Sweden): July 18-21
  • DreamHack Valencia: July 1-3
  • DreamHack Melbourne: September 2-4
  • DreamHack Rotterdam: October 14-16
  • DreamHack Hyderabad: October 15-17
  • DreamHack Atlanta: November 18-20
  • DreamHack Winter (Jönköping, Sweden): November 24-27
  • DreamHack Madrid: December 9-11

Anyone interested in attending these events can go online and use the DreamHack register button to buy tickets. Even if you’ve never played an RPG or watched eSports before, they’re a great way to find out what the gaming community is all about and have some fun!

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