Kick-off for Game City 2025 at Vienna City Hall

Already on Friday morning, many school classes visited the Game City at the Vienna City Hall. In the afternoon, the inauguration of the Game City Mayor, elected by the community, took place by Deputy Mayor Bettina Emmerling. The event is organized by the association WIENXTRA with MediaMarkt as the main partner.

Game City at Vienna City Hall: Gaming as a Lived Youth Culture

The cosplayer Siptom, active in the scene since 2023, won the online election and was sworn in today by Deputy Mayor Bettina Emmerling on the main stage in the costume of his favorite character. On Saturday, October 11, he will lead the cosplay parade, which for the first time will run from Mariahilfer Straße to Rathausplatz and represents the largest of its kind in Austria.

"Gaming is a lived youth culture - a space for creativity, community, and enthusiasm. Game City makes it possible to experience how colorful and diverse this culture is: from exciting e-sports competitions to indie games to fascinating cosplay experiences. At the same time, it is important for me to emphasize that a vibrant youth culture also includes responsibility. Therefore, youth protection, media literacy, and prevention are just as much in focus as fun and games. Together, we show that gaming not only connects and educates but can also be responsibly designed," said Vienna's Deputy Mayor Bettina Emmerling.

Playing Responsibly at Game City in Vienna City Hall

The GAME CITY places importance on responsibility alongside entertainment. In collaboration with counseling centers, topics such as addiction prevention, cyberbullying, and digital education are addressed. This shows that gaming is not just entertainment, but also a platform where young people can develop skills and receive support. The FROG conference this year focuses on "Esports in Youth Media Practice".

The organizer WIENXTRA is very pleased about this. "The GAME CITY is like a huge playground for ideas, creativity, and community. For us as organizers, it is particularly important to provide young people with a place where they can live out their passion for games, try new things, and inspire each other. From youth protection to media literacy, we show that gaming is not only fun but also educates, connects, and opens up new horizons," says Vucko Schüchner, Managing Director of WIENXTRA.

Highlights of the Coming Days at Game City

With 85,000 visitors in 2024, GAME CITY is the largest gaming fair in Austria and is distinguished by its unique venue at the Vienna City Hall.

Facts about Game City 2025

(Red)

This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.