The UK’s Gaming Expo Scene Might Suffer Another Loss As WASD London Vanishes Online

As a seasoned gamer who has walked through the hallowed halls of WASD London for years and had some truly unforgettable gaming experiences there, the recent silence from Roucan Events and the disappearance of their website have left me feeling a tad uneasy. It’s like losing touch with an old friend, one who always managed to bring out the kid in me and introduce me to exciting new games before anyone else.

In May 2024, chaos ensued at the Insomnia Gaming Festival in the United Kingdom due to a series of job cuts at Player1 Events, the company responsible for orchestrating the prestigious event. This unexpected move occurred during their 25th anniversary celebration, an expo that had grown to be the largest gaming event in the UK despite the threat of COVID-19 potentially ending it forever.

The most recent version of Insomnia was scheduled for the weekend just gone, but it seems that the event has now likely been cancelled and there’s no way to reverse this decision. Recently, doubts have also arisen about WASD London, a well-loved gaming expo that may be facing similar difficulties.

Where is WASD London?

It was recently noticed that WASD London’s website has disappeared – when you attempt to access it, you’re met with a message that it has expired. This could simply be an effort to rebrand, overhaul the site, or perform some serious front-end work, but it gets a little stranger when you probe deeper.

The event series WASD London is managed by Roucan Events, and when you visit their website, you find a notice that the site has expired. Additionally, the official social media accounts of WASD London have been largely inactive for approximately eight weeks, which is unusual for this particular team.

For many years, I’ve been a regular visitor at WASD London, and I wholeheartedly endorse its exceptional quality. Compared to other events, it has a cozier, smaller scale that primarily focuses on independent game developers. However, in recent times, some well-known brands have started appearing on the exhibition floor as well.

Reflecting on the past, I was among the initial group in the UK who had the opportunity to try out Dead Island 2 using the WASD keys, and I had an early access to Lords of the Fallen prior to its launch, just to mention a few remarkable games I’ve played.

We’ve contacted the representatives of Roucan Events to ask if they can provide a statement about the current situation. Since the Insomnia Gaming Festival has folded and EGX has merged with MCM to survive, losing WASD could be another blow to the UK gaming expos.

Subscribe to our newsletter to receive the latest news and exclusive leaks every week! No Spam.