‘We are devastated’: UK indie games show WASD is permanently cancelled

UK games industry show WASD has been permanently cancelled as the company behind the event enters liquidation.

Citing skyrocketing industry costs, the event, which showcased the best of the UK’s independent games industry is no more.

Co-founder David Lilley told the BBC: “increasing costs and less demand for stand space means running events is just not viable for us anymore.”

Independent publishing label Lost in Cult commented on the news: “We are devastated to hear the news about WASD.

“Our first ever bookstand was at WASD. We got eyes on our work from people who otherwise would not have come across us in online spaces. ”

WASD was formed in the wake of EGX Rezzed, another UK-based industry show that also focussed on independent games.

WASD was one of the UK’s last video game events open to the public. EGX, the UK’s largest gaming show, is now part of MCM Comic-con, with both shows being held together.

Fans who attended the event earlier this year claimed that the EGX portion of the show was much smaller than in previous years, with little support from larger publishers.

The official website for WASD went offline earlier this year, leading many to suspect that the future of the event was in peril.

BAFTA-winning roguelike Vampire Survivors was shown off at the event’s inaugural show.