Transcend the Screen

Twitch Retro IRL Meetup at NEON 2023

The popular livestreaming site Twitch.tv organizes its own convention called TwitchCon, but to our knowledge, no meetup event has ever taken place specifically for the increasingly popular “Retro” category on Twitch. In 2023, NEON plans to host the first-ever designated Twitch Retro gathering on the planet.

Connecting During Isolation: Our Backstory

In the past few years especially, many turned to platforms like Twitch as a way to make new friends and connect with those who shared similar interests and passions. For NEON's founders Grant and Amanda, relocating to an entirely new state with very few contacts made Twitch even more appealing, and both launched their Retro Twitch careers in early 2021 under the names Neon_Arcade and Cobra_Commanda.

The ability to connect with retro gaming and culture enthusiasts around the globe has been amazing not just on a personal level; it has also expanded the realm of NEON's community in a way that we didn't fully anticipate from the outset. We have already met up with a few fellow retro streamers and supporters in person, shifting these connections from virtual acquaintances to real-life friendships.

After all, IRL offers the ultimate in graphics and immersion...

There's Nothing Like the Real Thing, Baby

NEON 2023 is your chance to do the same. This is a totally new aspect of NEON's programming, and the shape it will take will largely depend upon how many Retro streamers are able to attend, but at the very least, you can expect some  meetups for the Twitch Retro community and hopefully full-scale panels with partnered streamers, as well as other content to be developed in the coming months. We will also be able to stream NEON highlights for viewers at home via the Twitch platform.

Whether you stream Retro yourself or you simply enjoy hanging out in the coolest part of the platform, we hope you will join us in Tampa for this thrilling new part of NEON Retrofest. And check back here soon for a list of Retro streamers who will be attending NEON 2023!

*Note: if you are a Twitch partner who streams majority Retro and would like to be considered for a Twitch-focused special guest panel, please apply here and be sure to specify your Twitch partner status in the bottom text box.

"The ability to connect with retro gaming and culture enthusiasts around the globe has been amazing not just on a personal level; it has also expanded the realm of NEON's community in a way that we didn't fully anticipate from the outset."

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