Enthusiast Gaming’s Pocket Gamer Connects Announces Major Global Expansion with Launch of Barcelona Conference, Shanghai Summit

Leading games industry conference series extends reach with new European and Asian events in 2025

/EIN News/ -- LOS ANGELES, Feb. 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Enthusiast Gaming Holdings Inc. (“Enthusiast Gaming” or the “Company”) (TSX: EGLX) today announced a major global expansion of its internationally renowned Pocket Gamer Connects (PGC) series, beginning with the inaugural PGC Barcelona event on June 3-4, 2025, and continuing with PGC Shanghai in July. This marks the next chapter for one of the industry’s premier networking events which has welcomed over 55,000 attendees in its 11 year history.

Barcelona is a rapidly growing destination for existing and new game companies, namely in the mobile space, including Scopely, King, Rovio, Bandai Namco, Sandsoft, Zynga, Gameloft, and many more. Its thriving startup ecosystem and growing influence in the global games industry make it an ideal location for PGC’s next major conference.

Following Barcelona, the expansion will continue with a special one-day summit in Shanghai on July 30, 2025 with additional events in Asia and the Middle East planned for later in the year. These new locations will join the existing Pocket Gamer Connects lineup of London, San Francisco, Dubai, Helsinki, and Jordan.

“Building on our biggest year yet in 2024, and our most successful event ever, PGC London, we’re now taking our growth to the next level by extending the Pocket Gamer Connects show to even more communities around the world,” said Chris James, CEO of Steel Media, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Enthusiast Gaming. “Barcelona’s emergence as a games hub makes it the perfect location for our next major conference and we are excited to bring our unique blend of networking, deal-making, and industry insights to the dynamic market.”

The PGC Barcelona event is expected to welcome over 1,000 delegates and will feature:

• 15+ Conference Tracks with more than 100 Expert Speakers
• A comprehensive expo area with exhibitor booths and meeting spaces
• Business matchmaking and specialized networking events for investors, publishers, and developers
• Indie showcase tables and a pitching competition
• Evening receptions and industry parties
  

Since its launch, Pocket Gamer Connects has hosted 49 conferences across 11 cities, welcoming over 55,000 delegates from 70+ countries. This series has facilitated over 100,000 business meetings, contributing to billions of dollars in industry deals. In 2024, PGC hosted five conferences across three continents, including events in San Francisco, London, Helsinki, Dubai, and Jordan. The 50th edition of Pocket Gamer Connects will take place in San Francisco this March, marking a significant milestone for the globally recognized series.

For more information and to register for PGC Barcelona 2025, visit www.pgconnects.com.

About Enthusiast Gaming
Enthusiast Gaming is the leading gaming media and entertainment company in North America, building the largest platform for video game enthusiasts and esports fans to connect and compete worldwide. Combining the elements of its five core pillars: creators, content, communities, games, and experiences, Enthusiast Gaming provides a unique opportunity for marketers to create integrated brand solutions to connect with coveted Gen Z and Millennial audiences. Through its proprietary mix of digital media, content and gaming assets, Enthusiast Gaming continues to grow its network of communities, reflecting the scale and diversity of gaming enthusiasts today.

Forward Looking Information
This news release contains certain statements that may constitute forward-looking information under applicable securities laws. All statements, other than those of historical fact, which address activities, events, outcomes, results, developments, performance or achievements that Enthusiast Gaming anticipates or expects may or will occur in the future (in whole or in part) should be considered forward-looking information. Often, but not always, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of words such as “plans”, “expects”, “is expected”, “budget”, “scheduled”, “estimates”, “forecasts”, “intends”, “anticipates”, or “believes” or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases, or statements formed in the future tense or indicating that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might” or “will” (or other variations of the forgoing) be taken, occur, be achieved, or come to pass. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the Company’s strategic initiatives, events and campaigns.

Forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and analyses made by the Company in light of its experience and its perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, including, but not limited to, expectations and assumptions concerning interest and foreign exchange rates; capital efficiencies, cost saving and synergies; growth and growth rates; the success in the esports and media industry; and the Company’s growth plan. While Enthusiast Gaming considers these assumptions to be reasonable, based on information currently available, they may prove to be incorrect. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. In addition, forward-looking statements necessarily involve known and unknown risks, including, without limitation, risks associated with general economic conditions; the timing and filing of the final base shelf prospectus and corresponding Registration Statement; the potential offering of any Securities by the Company; uncertainty with respect to the completion of any future offering; the ability to obtain applicable regulatory approvals for any contemplated offerings; the ability of the Company to negotiate and complete future funding transactions; adverse industry events; and future legislative, tax and regulatory developments. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list is not exhaustive. For more information on the risk, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause anticipated opportunities and actual results to differ materially, please refer to the public filings of Enthusiast Gaming which are available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. Readers are further cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which they are placed will occur. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement and reflect our expectations as of the date hereof, and thus are subject to change thereafter. Enthusiast Gaming disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.

Neither the TSX Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Contacts
                    Enthusiast Gaming: Alex Macdonald, Chief Financial Officer
                    
                    Investors: investor@enthusiastgaming.com
                    Media: press@enthusiastgaming.com