In Partnership with the Knights, Replay FX Unites Retro and Modern Gaming
Pittsburgh, PA (July 29, 2019) – 20,000 people are expected to pour into downtown Pittsburgh for the 5th annual Replay FX gaming expo. The event takes place August 1 – 4 at the David L. Lawrence convention center and promises fun for the whole family.
Attendees will be able to enjoy esports, video games, arcade games, live music, and pinball. In fact, the world’s largest pinball tournament will take place at the event and boasts a $100,000 prize pool. There will be more than 1,000 classic arcade and pinball machines plus hundreds of retro and modern console systems available to play for the price of admission. Everything from 80-year-old pinball machines to board games to Nintendo Switches, PC gaming, and virtual reality systems will be featured.
This year, the event is being co-produced by the Replay Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to preserving gaming-related history and technology, and the Pittsburgh Knights, a leading brand in the esports industry and the officially recognized esports team of the city. Together, these two organizations are expanding Replay FX’s offerings to create a truly unique experience.
Mark Steinman, director of Replay FX, explains, “With Replay FX’s ability to produce the largest video game and pinball arcade in existence, combined with the exciting aspects of modern esports competitions, and live entertainment, Replay FX captures the attention of gamers through both a sheer quantity and diverse quality that is difficult for any other show to match.” He adds, “Most attendees don’t realize the size of the arcade until they walk the event floor.”
Knights strategic partnerships manager, Matt Roche, is excited to weave esports into this massive arcade. “The Knights are really looking forward to this chance to introduce digital gamers to the expansive world of gaming that Replay FX offers. In addition, we’re eager to provide people an opportunity to enjoy and interact with esports up close”. Professional players for the Knights will even be on site. Their top-ranked Smite team, who are on break from their participation in the Smite Pro League, will be there to meet fans and enjoy the event.
People travel to Pittsburgh from all 50 states and over 15 countries for Replay FX. This year’s pinball lineup includes the likes of Daniele Acciari, the popular Italian pinball player who is currently ranked 4th in the world, and Todd MacCulloch, the former NBA player who traded the basketball for the silverball.
This event is not only an exciting opportunity for gamers, it’s a chance for Pittsburgh to take the global gaming stage. “Along with the world’s top gamers, we are excited to welcome back Replay FX Arcade & Video Game Festival to Pittsburgh for the fifth consecutive year,” says Jennifer Hawkins, executive director at SportsPITTSBURGH. “This year, Pittsburgh’s esports team, the Pittsburgh Knights, are joining forces with Replay FX to unite classic pinball machines and cutting-edge video games. With an estimated economic impact of $3.2 million, Pittsburgh will, once again, continue the tradition of being the ultimate destination for events.”
Among other things, the 4-day event will feature Super Smash Bros. and Rocket League tournaments, a cosplay contest, a mobile “gaming battle station” sponsored by the US Army, an indoor ferris wheel, and the Kraken Rum – Rum Runners Hideaway Bar. For a full list of games, esports and pinball schedules, tournament sign-ups, sponsors, and entertainment, please visit ReplayFX.org.
Admission prices are $100 for a four-day pass, $50 for children ages 6-12, and one-day tickets range from $20 to $35 for adults and $20 for children ages 6-12.
Buy your tickets here: pks.gg/replayfx
About the Knights
The Pittsburgh Knights are a global esports organization headquartered in Pittsburgh. Founded in 2017, they are the official esports team of the city and are focused on making an impact in the local community. Since partnering with six-time Super Bowl winners the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2018, the Knights have since announced multi-platinum recording artist Wiz Khalifa as a strategic partner. Their team includes some of the top Super Smash Bros. Melee™, PLAYERUNKNOWN’S BATTLEGROUND©, SMITE©, GWENTⓇ, PALADINS©, Apex Legends™, and Madden NFL© players in the world. The Knights’ goal is to create quality engagement with the local community, the esports community, and the gaming community at large. Please go to https://www.knights.gg for more information and the latest news on the Knights.
About Replay FX
Replay FX, otherwise known as the Replay Foundation Expo, is a living history of the arcade and surrounding video game culture, featuring more than 1000 full-sized arcade and pinball machines with some dating back nearly 80 years. We believe the best way to preserve something is to keep it alive, functioning, and happening! Rather than put our machines in a museum, we fix them up and put them on the arcade floor for attendees to enjoy just like old times. The Replay Foundation is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that promotes the preservation, restoration, and enjoyment of pinball technology, with an emphasis on the player experience. Under the brand name PAPA (Professional & Amateur Pinball Association), the Replay Foundation operates and supports pinball competitions worldwide.
