The wait is nearly over — rAge Expo 2025 blasts off this week. Whether you’re in it for the merch, the thrill of competition, the nostalgia, giveaways, or just a fun day out with your friends and family, rAge Expo 2025 delivers action, prizes, and epic moments.

This article will give you a taste of what visitors can do, win, and experience at South Africa’s premier gaming and tech event.

What’s New and Unmissable at rAge

The event features several brand-new activations for 2025. One highlight is the NAG Retro LAN, which offers a plug-and-play throwback zone where no rigs are needed, making it easy to enjoy some old-school gaming. The ticket includes meals, gear, gifts, and exclusive seating inside the BYOC. Enthusiasts can purchase their tickets here from NAG.

Visitors will also get a chance to participate in the zaLUG Live Build, helping to assemble a massive 9,023-piece LEGO Star Wars Death Star. For a more intense experience, you can explore the Alien: Earth – Disney Activation, which features a crashed spaceship in a dark walkthrough with surprise moments and atmospheric effects.

Star Wars fans can assemble their own sabers at the Lightsaber-Building Workshop, complete with cosplay guides and an expanded parts range.

Compete, Challenge, and Win Epic Prizes

Not only is the competitive spirit alive and well at rAge Expo, but there are also countless ways to challenge yourself and potentially win big.

Gamers can win an iPhone 17 in the Call of Duty Mobile Arena by Carry1st, which is hosting a global first play of DMZ Mode. Furthermore, you can beat the pros in the “Challenge the Pro” zone or join daily King of the Hill battles with 5FM.

If racing is more your speed, set the fastest lap on the Kyalami circuit in the Project Motor Racing sim at Koodoo’s stand; the top prize is VEX Smart Glasses worth R5,000. For a group challenge, you can escape to win with Hashtag Escapes’ mini escape rooms; top times win trophies, LEGO art, and vouchers. Additionally, you can show off your skills in ACGL’s fighting cups, EAFC matches, and daily racing tournaments. You can also join the Monster Hot Laps Challenge to score free merch daily.

Visitors can even enter Royal Ink’s tattoo competition (R6,000 value) by snapping a selfie at their stand, and daily LEGO build challenges will take place in the LEGO scratch patch. For the physically inclined, pull up, chalk up, and show your strength at Bloc11’s Bouldering Competition to win prizes.

What to Play: New Games and Hardware Demos

There’s no shortage of games to try and tech to explore. Head to the Battlefield 6 Free-to-Play Zone at the NAG Stand to test the latest Battlefield title and relive the nostalgia of Battlefield 1942. The Carry1st COD Mobile Arena offers a global first chance to play the new DMZ mode.

You will find VR and Sim Rigs everywhere, including Apex in the Razer zone for 1v1 battles and the Turtle Beach zone to try racing and flight simulators. BT Games will host its biggest expo showing to date with activations, simulators, and builds, alongside Citroën and Monster racing setups, most offering prizes for leaderboard winners.

Support local talent by playing indie games in Home_Coded, which features chaotic chickens (Mighty Peckers) and the horror-action epic OMEN.

Attendees can also try the ROG Ally X and Rokid AR glasses at NAG’s demo zones and experience cloud gaming and 120” floating displays with Viture One AR Glasses from PDC. Test the latest peripherals from Razer, TITAN, Redragon, and Turtle Beach while you are there.

Must-Win Giveaways and Show Specials

The opportunities to win extend beyond competitions. Take the Golden Ticket Giveaway from NAG, for example: each NAG Magazine purchase brings a chance to score a modded MSI PC worth R45,000.

You’ll also find great giveaways throughout the expo. PXR is handing out R1,000 Anime Figurine Vouchers both pre-show and post-show—all you need to do is take a selfie at their stand to enter.

Royal Ink will put one lucky snapper in the chair for a full-day tattoo session valued at R6,000. Meanwhile, Citroën challenges visitors with their ‘Find the Character’ competition: spot the unique graphic on their car wrap, and you could win a hamper.

Instant-win prizes will be available at BT Games, NAG, Apex, and Monster, alongside daily raffles and surprise merch drops, as well as CineCentre movie tickets, Evetech bundles, and signed comics at Anime After Hours.

Be sure to visit the VanguardPC x Takealot stand where serious gaming firepower will be on offer with next-gen hardware, custom-built rigs, and exclusive show-only deals offering up to 40% off select gear. They will have prebuilt and custom gaming rigs ranging from R16,999 to R89,999, making it the ultimate chance to gear up for less. Similarly, BT Games will have a host of exclusive rAge Expo only deals available at their stand.

Cosplay, Culture, and Live Streams

Beyond the games, rAge Expo is a hub for South African pop culture. Join over 60 artists in Artist Alley, offering everything from tattoos and trinkets to commissions and crafts. The Anime After Hours stage will host J-pop/K-pop idols, quizzes, karaoke, and fan art. Witness the cosplay showdowns on stage, featuring novice and expert competitions, photo challenges, and kid-friendly parades.

Socialising and streaming are easy, too. Go live with SPACE.tm’s TikTok booth, which offers creator-style sets, livestreams, and podcast interviews all weekend.

Catch 5FM’s live broadcasts with Lula Odiba and Harrison Mkhize direct from the expo floor, or hang out in the Mettlestate Lounge with free coffee, fragrance giveaways, and gaming pods. If you need to blow off steam, step into the Smash Room.

Esports Tournaments: South Africa’s Top Talent

A huge part of the rAge experience is the spectacle of competitive gaming. The event hosts several grand finals, including the Call of Duty Finals, powered by Monster, where SA’s top four CoD teams will compete in Call of Duty Black Ops 7 for the grand final on Sunday.

The Varsity Esports Finals will see university teams from across SA compete in EA Sports FC25, Rocket League, and Valorant for R90,000 in prize money. Additionally, the Mamelodi Sundowns Championship for FC26 offers a massive R200,000 prize pool, while Kasi Flare 2025 for EA Sports FC25 showcases grassroots township gaming talent with a R60,000 prize pool.

The Mastercard Nedbank Summoner Tournament for League of Legends has a R100,000 prize for its Grand Final on Sunday. Finally, the RGB Gaming Schools and Student Tournaments will crown five new champions from 162 students and 32 schools across titles like Minecraft, Rocket League, The Finals, and Overwatch 2.

Public competitions like the Challenge the Pro and King of the Hill Zone (5FM × Goliath Gaming) and ACGL Fighting Cups and EAFC Matches also offer daily prizes.

Tickets are available now via Howler.

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