The inaugural National Gaming Expo (NGE), held last weekend in Tampa, Florida, was promoted as a massive event for 30,000 fans with a star-studded guest list. Instead, attendees who purchased tickets were met with a different reality.
The convention floor featured nearly empty exhibition halls, a slew of promised guests who never showed up, a no-show photographer, and even a camel and other farm animals completely unrelated to gaming, leading many attendees to cry foul.
The event, which ran from August 8-10, 2025, at the Florida State Fairgrounds, was advertised with a lineup that included voice actors from "Grand Theft Auto V," the "Red Dead Redemption" series, and "Mortal Kombat," as well as classic Nintendo character voice actors and "Donkey Kong" series composer Grant Kirkhope.
With single-day tickets priced at $40 and three-day passes at $90, attendees arrived to find very few vendor booths, many of which had nothing to do with gaming. One person described the scene as "like going to Best Buy and finding nothing but broccoli and dish soap."
▼A sloth photographed at the National Gaming Expo
Adding to the disappointment, the cast of "Red Dead Redemption" was completely absent on the first day of the expo, with only a few appearing late in the evening. Photo opportunities were canceled because the official photographer never arrived. Photos circulating on social media showed rows of empty signing tables. As anger mounted, the expo's Instagram account was deleted, its Facebook event page was locked, and the Florida State Fairgrounds' official social media posts were flooded with complaints targeting NGE CEO Michael Wittenberg.
Wittenberg previously organized the National Vape Expo, which ceased operations during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2023, he returned to the U.S. after serving a year and a half in the Dominican Republic for an international drug trafficking case involving 700 pounds of candy and vape cartridges containing THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol). He claimed at the time that he was "stupid or ignorant, but not guilty."
Some online users have pointed out his alleged involvement in other poorly organized or controversial events, including accusations of failing to pay staff. In an interview with IGN, "Grand Theft Auto V" actor Ned Luke did not mince words, stating, "It was a scam. The guy who ran it is a con artist. He put the con in Comic-Con."
Roger Clark, the voice of Arthur Morgan in "Red Dead Redemption," also posted a statement online.
In response to the controversy, Wittenberg claimed that recruiting vendors was difficult due to the insular nature of the gaming industry and argued that fans were primarily there to see the actors, not the booths. He blamed the guest absences on two talent agencies—Celebrity Talent Booking and Celebworx. He alleged the former made a last-minute demand for a $10,000 per diem and travel fees, causing actor delays and cancellations, while the latter pulled out after a dispute over flight arrangements. He promised refunds via Eventbrite for paid photo ops and Sunday tickets but refused to refund Friday and Saturday passes, claiming actual attendance was between 2,000 and 3,000 people.
Celebworx later issued a statement, asserting that the organizer repeatedly breached their contract and refused to resolve key issues, leading to a loss of confidence and their withdrawal. The agency also criticized the organizer for not promptly informing attendees of the cancellations. NGE partner Larry Wallach countered by accusing Celebrity Talent Booking of "constantly making outlandish demands" and revealed plans to file a federal lawsuit against the company.
Although Wittenberg has promised improvements for future events, the chaotic and controversy-filled debut of the National Gaming Expo has likely left a lasting negative impression on both fans and the industry.
via： IGN