CELEBRATING SXSW SYDNEY 2024
MONDAY 14TH – SUNDAY 20TH OCT
South by Southwest (SXSW) Sydney returns for it’s second year. We’re back as a proud Official Venue Partner of the Games Festival!
There’s plenty of ways to celebrate, even if you don’t have an official SXSW pass.
Our Tavern & LAN Lounge will be open for the full duration of SXSW.
* Parts of the venue (arcade, 2315) may be closed for SXSW Sydney ticketed events. Call us to enquire.
SPECIAL OPENING HOURS:
Mon 14: 12:00 PM – 9:30 PM
Tue 15: 12:00 PM – 10:30 PM
Wed 16: 12:00 PM – 10:30 PM
Thu 17: 11:00 AM – 11:30 PM
Fri 18: 11:00 AM – 01:30 AM
Sat 19: 10:00 AM – 01:30 AM
Sun 20: 10:00 AM – 9:30 PM
OPEN TO ALL - NO PASS REQUIRED
Sci-Fi Trivia
Fortress Sydney, The TavernMon, 14 October 7:00 PM - 9:30 PM
$15
Close the airlock, ready the troops, and settle in for a night of trivia celebrating sci-fi and pop culture.
Checkmates & Tabletop Developers Showcase
Fortress Sydney, Alienware ArenaTue, 15 October 6:00 PM - 10:00 PM
$5 on arrival Walk in and enjoy a special edition of our new social board game event in our popular Alienware arena, featuring unreleased games from indie developers.
Cowboy Night - A Fistful of Games
Fortress Sydney, The TavernFri, 18 October 6:00 PM - 10:00 PM
FREE No need to book! Come saddle up for an evening of western games at the Cowboy Games Showcase.
Relax in 2315
Fortress Sydney, 2315 Cocktail BarSun, 20 October 6:00 PM - 9:30 PM
FREE Be sure to check out 2315 - this is the only time during SXSW we're open to the public! Enjoy a handcrafted cocktail or play on AU's first interactive pool table.
FOR SXSW PASSHOLDERS ONLY
Check your badge, wristband, or ticket type for access.
Tuesday 15th October
SXSW Tech and Innovation Party
Fortress Sydney, Alienware ArenaTue, 15 October 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Network with peers and industry leaders as we host the kick off for the Tech and Innovation Festival.
Wednesday 16th October
Who’s Ahead of the Game? How Brands Can Embrace Games Culture
ICC Sydney, Room E3.7Wed, 16 October 4:30 PM - 5:30 PM Explore the untapped potential of the Australian games industry with our panel of experts, Jessica Wood (Click Media), Luke Haynes (M&C Saatchi Sport & Entertainment) and Samuel Han (Fortress), hosted by games culture insider, Gemma Driscoll (ABC Gamer) as together, they uncover why brands should prioritize gamers.
Thursday 17th October
GameChangers Live: Where Indie Dreams Meet – Jinesh and Rhea Gupte on ‘Fishbowl’ and Creative Synergy
Fortress Sydney, Alienware ArenaThu, 17 October 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM Introducing The GameDev Show Podcast, where we're not just levelling up our skills but unlocking the secret cheat codes to success in the gaming industry.
Studio Strategy is a Survival Game
Fortress Sydney, Alienware ArenaThu, 17 October 2:30 PM - 3:30 PM Strange Scaffold studio head Xalavier Nelson Jr. (El Paso, Elsewhere, Life Eater) discusses how he's built a game studio to survive this investment climate - and how attendees are uniquely empowered to do the same.
Celebrating 10 Years of The Elder Scrolls Online with Game Director Rich Lambert
Fortress Sydney, Alienware ArenaThu, 17 October 4:00 PM - 4:45 PM Delve into the enchanting world of Tamriel with Rich Lambert, the visionary Game Director behind the critically acclaimed MMORPG, Elder Scrolls Online (ESO).
History of Virtual Celebrities
Fortress Sydney, Alienware ArenaThu, 17 October 5:00 PM - 5:30 PM Teddy Dief - Co-Designer of Hyper Light Drifter & Game Director of We Are OFK, will walk through how virtual identity has progressed since the 1960s across television, music, games, and VTubers.
From 1930s Animation To Viral Gaming Sensation - Enter "MOUSE: P.I. For Hire"
Fortress Sydney, Alienware ArenaThu, 17 October 5:45 PM - 6:15 PM Join Mateusz Michalak (Game Director) & Maciej Krzemien (Producer) for a deep-dive into the game, its classic animation and noir film inspiration, and the hand-drawn animation charm that has catapulted MOUSE: P.I. For Hire to one of the most anticipated launches of 2025.
Pacific Drive - Live Developer's Commentary with Karrie Shirou Shao
Fortress Sydney, Alienware ArenaThu, 17 October 6:30 PM - 7:00 PM Join Lead Narrative Designer and Lead Writer Karrie Shirou Shao for a live developer commentary as she discusses Pacific Drive's development, story, influences, and more over live gameplay.
Ask and you shall be deceived: A live games commentary of INDIKA
Fortress Sydney, Alienware ArenaThu, 17 October 7:15 PM - 8:00 PM Join Studio Head Dmitry Svetlow as he explores alternate 19th-century Russia in this visually captivating and narratively gripping story in one of the most memorable games of the year.
HORSES: A perfectly normal game about stable people (content warning)
Fortress Sydney, Alienware ArenaThu, 17 October 8:00 PM - 8:30 PM Join solo game developer Andrea Lucco Borlera and Pietro Righi Riva from Italy-based studio Santa Ragione as they traverse one of the most exciting and bizarre games of the year HORSES.
Deep Dive Into Tentacle Hell With Demon Spore
Fortress Sydney, Alienware ArenaThu, 17 October 8:30 PM - 9:00 PM Join lead developer Ed Kay and host AJ Lamarque for a co-op playthrough and director’s commentary on the upcoming action-horror roguelike Demon Spore.
Original & Occult: New Ideas & Spooky Themes in Games
Fortress Sydney, Alienware ArenaThu, 17 October 9:00 PM - 10:00 PM Hear from gamemakers working on games that incorporate the supernatural and the occult.
The King's Poisoner Live
Fortress Sydney, Alienware ArenaThu, 17 October 10:30 PM - 11:55 PM Premiering at SXSW Sydney 2024, The King’s Poisoner is a live on stage immersive experience full of court intrigue, romance, suspense & Gothic horror that will keep the audience and players guessing right to the very end.
Friday 18th October
Screen Commentary: Jed Kurzel
Fortress Sydney, Alienware ArenaFri, 18 October 11:00 AM - 12:15 PM Australian composer and musician Jed Kurzel, known for scoring a range of box-office hits and cult features including Monkey Man, The Babadook, Alien: Covenant, and Slow West, offers insights into his unique process.
Queer Screen Meetup
Fortress Sydney, 2315 Cocktail BarFri, 18 October 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM Come network with peers in a relaxed setting in 2315.
Crafting the Narrative: The Art and Impact of Narrative Design in Games
Fortress Sydney, Alienware ArenaFri, 18 October 1:00 PM - 1:30 PM Join industry veterans Karrie Shao and JoJo Zhao as they delve into their experiences as narrative designers and writers for video games.
Too Much Meat!: Trial, Error and other Adventures in Game Economy Design
Fortress Sydney, Alienware ArenaFri, 18 October 2:00 PM - 2:30 PM Mark from General Interactive shares some of the unique and sometimes bizarre challenges his team must overcome for their upcoming management and base-building game, The Diner at the End of the Galaxy.
Rediscover childhood memories with the creator of Fishbowl
Fortress Sydney, Alienware ArenaFri, 18 October 3:00 PM - 3:30 PM Join indie developer Rhea, as she takes you through her heartfelt coming of age game "Fishbowl".
Grunt Work: How Voice Actors Breathe Life Into Their Characters
Fortress Sydney, Alienware ArenaFri, 18 October 4:00 PM - 4:30 PM Australian Voice Actors such as Aimee Smith, Tom Burt, Angela Tran & Abubakar Salim all discuss the ways in which they approach the voice work that doesn't require any words.
Screen Happy Hour presented by Screen Editors Guild
Fortress Sydney, 2315 Cocktail BarFri, 18 October 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM Kick back with a happy hour and network with peers and industry leaders.
The Needle-Drop: Deep diving the greatest music moments in films and games
Fortress Sydney, Alienware ArenaFri, 18 October 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM Join composers Johnny Galvatron (Beethoven & Dinosaur), Noa Beazley (Berklee University) and Amy McNickle as they explore iconic music moments that elevate their medium.
Pyra
Fortress Sydney, Alienware ArenaFri, 18 October 7:30 PM - 8:00 PM Hear from a multi award-winning artivist creating with AI, celebrated for her "Dystopian Pop" genre - committed to addressing pressing socio-cultural issues and fighting against inequality.
OFK
Fortress Sydney, Alienware ArenaFri, 18 October 8:30 PM - 9:00 PM Hear from a virtual band, an indie bedroom pop group, stars of their own video game! OFK debuted onstage at The Game Awards in 2020, introducing the world to a virtual band just trying to get by.
Big Sand
Fortress Sydney, Alienware ArenaFri, 18 October 9:30 PM - 10:00 PM Big Sand is a science fiction virtual band, created by musician and technologist Sally Coleman. Get ready for a playful, interactive journey into the beautiful but harsh desert.
Dualist Inquiry
Fortress Sydney, Alienware ArenaFri, 18 October 10:30 PM - 11:30 PM A cultural trailblazer at the cusp of an exciting new chapter with his third full-length album, Sahej Bakshi aka Dualist Inquiry is a pioneer of the Indian alternative music scene.
FREE BEVERAGE PACKAGE UPGRADE*
EXCLUSIVE SXSW OFFER FOR YOUR NEXT CORPORATE BOOKING
Use this code FORTSXSW24 and get a FREE Beverage Package upgrade with your next event package booked at Fortress to be held in 2025.
* T&Cs:
- Must be claimed in conjunction with a Corporate Package Booking with Fortress to receive a free beverage package upgrade for your group
- During the bookings process, please quote the above code to our friendly Sales team member
- Booking to be in place with signed contract by 31 Dec 2024 and to be held in 2025
- Not valid in conjunction with any other offer
View our Corporate Packages here.
FAQ
The South by Southwest (SXSW) Sydney Games Festival plays host to games professionals, enthusiasts and new gamers, bringing together the entire community for a unique and rewarding experience. Featuring live play, hands-on demos, talks, product launches, mixers, parties, mentoring sessions and more.
Founded in 1987 in Austin, Texas, SXSW is best known for its conference and festivals that celebrate the convergence of tech, film, music, education, and culture.
We are open for walk-ins only every day of South by Southwest Sydney – and entry is completely FREE! There will be sections of the venue closed off due to special events! If you would like to attend this you will need to have either a badge or wristband that can be purchased here!
Most of our general offerings are still available during this time – from bars, dining, PC & board games, just walk-in and talk to our lovely staff to eat, drink and play!
Our arcade and 2315 Cocktail Bar will be open only during specific periods of time. If you would like to visit these areas specifically, we recommend you call us and enquire first.
Yes! While the SXSW Sydney events are strictly ticketed events, the rest of the venue will be open until late – including The Tavern for dining and drinks and the LAN Lounge for PC gaming!
Disclaimer: Fortress may earn an affiliate commission when you buy through the links on this page.