As we slowly recover from rAge 2025, our yearly shutdown process begins, and we finally get to take a well-deserved break over the festive season. Of course, by “break” I mean playing games and catching up on all the hobbies we neglected over the past year.
For more than two decades, rAge Expo has signalled the start of the holiday period for many of us. It’s essentially a wrap-up party to celebrate the year in gaming and technology, and a chance to meet up with industry friends before we all shut down for a short while and attempt it all again the following year.
Since the sale of the Dome in 2021, rAge has been trying to find its feet in a new venue. Between the Gallagher Estate and the Johannesburg Expo Centre, neither felt like a good fit compared to what the Dome offered.
This year’s expo was a marked departure from both of those venues, but it had one major factor in its favour: it’s a huge space (two aeroplane hangars’ worth) under one roof, very similar to what we enjoyed at the Dome. Of course, it also had a few elements that, on paper, counted against it: for one, it’s in a mall.
The location, though, is the key. As the first event of its kind in this rooftop space, the venue will be converted into a dedicated eventing facility designed to cater for all sorts of expos and gatherings. Emphasis on “will be”.
This year’s rAge felt like a fresh break from the massive expo halls we’ve been navigating for years. In many ways, it echoed the early days of rAge, everything under one roof, with the venue’s energy and excitement spilling around every corner.
Exploring rAge felt fun again. There were loads of areas to wander through, and you didn’t need to switch halls to see them all.
We also met plenty of people who were first-time rAge attendees. Many families stumbled in while shopping at the mall, while others “popped in to see what the fuss was about.”
There were plenty of sales across the floor, and if you stopped by the NAG stand, you stood a strong chance of winning a golden ticket prize, getting a free tattoo, or scoring a great deal on new gaming hardware. It was a fun time until the sun came out.
The hottest topic at rAge this year was the heat itself. By now, you will have heard about the sweaty conditions caused by the metal roof conducting heat rather than shielding the venue from it. It wasn’t ideal, and the subject quickly dominated every conversation while people fanned themselves or stood in front of the giant (portable) air-conditioning units.
We’ve been assured that plans will be made for the next event to keep visitors cool, and there’s no reason to doubt it. This space is planned to become a multi-million-rand venue capable of hosting high-end events.
Speaking to Michael James, Project Director of rAge Expo, over the course of the weekend, it was clear that the move wasn’t easy. As with any venue change, there were plenty of teething issues to endure. The ambition isn’t just to host events as before, but to elevate the experience to a level Rage fans haven’t seen since the pre-COVID era.
As expected, many people took to social media in frustration about the heat. While their comments were warranted, the scale of the investment going into South African entertainment, especially in a struggling economy, is genuinely impressive.
Apart from the heat, visitors to the NAG stand had an absolute blast, and we thoroughly enjoyed spending time with each and every one of you. The number of giveaways was wild. You can still win if you buy a magazine online, and if you pre-ordered, you may have already won something.
The NAG stand was a hive of activity, with plenty to keep rAge visitors engaged in gaming. With help from our friends at BT Games and Syntech, it was hard to get people off the rigs when the doors closed each night.
My Arcade launched its retro consoles in South Africa, and these pocket-sized gaming devices make fantastic Christmas gifts. Check out BT Games and other retailers soon to grab one.
We also hosted Moov Motion Systems with their high-end racing simulators. Prices start at around R350,000, but you get a full motion-enabled racing setup that is a genuine showpiece.
Logitech showcased its latest Pro X esports lineup on dedicated PC stations, while other major brands filled the rest of our stand with hardware for visitors to try hands-on.
Joey and the excellent team at Beneath The Surface inked NAG fans and the NAG crew with free random tattoos. It was tremendous fun, with some impressive and quirky pieces up for grabs. We’d love to see yours, so do share it on social media.
RocoMamas handled team meals and looked after attendees at the NAG Retro LAN, made possible thanks to C2Kit.
We also want to extend sincere thanks to the brands without whom our stand wouldn’t have been possible: Creality, Syntech (PC Builder, Intel, ACGL, Xiaomi, Redragon), PiShop, Acer, MSI, ASUS, and Rokid.
And on the BT Games stand: Razer, NextLevel, Thrustmaster, Lenovo, LORGAR, MSI, Rokid, NexRing, Acer, Gigabyte, Intel, Transcend, Corsair, Brutech, LG, Moov Racing, Arctic, Volkano X.
We even had the legendary Acer Predator PC making its first public appearance since rAge 2008. Visitors could jump into Battlefield 1942 and relive the glory days on these iconic gaming computers.
Design and Fabrication built our stand, ACGL ran our Battlefield 6 stations, LG supplied a R35,000 240Hz gaming monitor for a lucky golden ticket winner, and our main prize, a R45,000 Battlefield 6 PC, was provided by Intel, MSI, Kioxia, and Corsair.
As we cool off by the pool this summer, we look ahead to another incredible year in gaming in 2026, capped with a killer wrap-up event at rAge 2026. Whether you’re poolside or on the couch, grab your copy of the NAG Magazine Annual Edition 2025. It’s the perfect holiday companion, and it doesn’t need batteries, a controller, or any software. We deliver the best gaming and tech content straight to your eyes and into your brain.
