Former DreamHack business heads launch LAN gaming festival company Glitched

A group of former notable DreamHack business heads have launched Glitched, a new gaming festival aiming to ‘push the boundaries’ of in-person LAN events.

According to a release, the long-term vision is to create an annual gaming festival featuring esports competitions, LAN parties and ‘inspiring side activities.’

The release also reveals the inaugural Glitched event will take place from June 13th to 16th, 2025, at the Elmia Exhibition and Convention Centre in Jönköping, Sweden. While esports will feature at the event, the organisers also aim to focus on developing the LAN offering even further.

Jönköping’s Elmia is no stranger to the world of esports. The venue previously hosted the first League of Legends World Championship in 2011 and the first-ever Counter-Strike Major in 2013. More recently, the venue hosted 2024’s DreamHack Summer event.

Glitched is founded by DreamHack founder Martin Öjes, former Head of Operations Christoffer Melin and former DreamHack Chief Strategy Officer Tomas Lyckedal. The trio have decades of experience in event operations and expanding projects across the world.

The hosting of LAN events remains an integral part of the gaming and esports industries. In May, the organiser of UK-based LAN event Insomnia, Player1 Events, laid off its staff. Three months later, the company still owes over £500,000 to the companies involved that still have outstanding debts.

Öjes, Founder and Glitched spokesperson, commented on the launch:: “An incredible amount has happened in esports and gaming in recent years.

“Unfortunately, the LAN concept has stagnated and an ordinary gamer often has a cooler gaming room at home than the one encountered in Hall D. We want to change that now and hope that many take the chance to be part of the first historic event.”