RTX Australia Returns As RTX Sydney In February

Earlier this year, Rooster Teeth held their first international convention, RTX Australia, in Sydney. Now the online entertainment company have announced that the convention is returning on February 4-5 – as RTX Sydney.

Rooster Teeth are best known as the creators of series such as Red vs Blue and RWBY; Youtube gaming channels Let’s Play and Achievement Hunter; and feature film Lazer Team. Approximately 11,500 people attended RTX Australia, and that figure is expected to double at RTX Sydney.

“After wetting our feet in the Australian market in January, we’re ready to do more of everything in 2017,” said Rooster Teeth co-founder Gus Sorola in a press release. “More celebrity guests, more first plays of hot new games and more surprises to delight our fans.”

The renaming of the convention from RTX Australia to RTX Sydney means that it won’t be travelling to visit different cities as some fans had hoped. However, while RTX Sydney will never come to Melbourne, there’s hope that RTX Melbourne might. Says RTX Sydney co-director Cameron Rooney, “As we officially localise the event to Sydney beginning in 2017, RTX Australia will become RTX Sydney, leaving room for further expansion over the years to more cities, in Australia and beyond.” It’s probably a long way down the line, but there is hope on the far horizon for those who can’t travel to Sydney.

RTX Sydney will be held at the International Convention Centre Sydney at Darling Harbour, which will be able to accommodate “considerably more fans” – and presumably considerably more air conditioners. RTX Australia, held at the Australian Technology Park, was a frustrating affair characterised by enormous queues and oppressive heat, which had some attendees leaving early. However, with the change of venue and the labour pains over, I’m cautiously optimistic that Rooster Teeth will raise the newborn convention to be a productive member of the convention circuit.

Guests include Rooster Teeth co-counders Burnie Burns and Gus Sorola; Jack Patillo of Achievement Hunter; Kerry Shawcross, Miles Luna, Blaine Gibson and Josh Flanagan of Rooster Teeth; Bruce Greene and James Willems of Funhaus; and Greg Miller and Tim Gettys of Kinda Funny. More guests will be announced in the coming months.

Though panels and exhibitors have yet to be announced, you can reasonably hope to see things such as the RT Podcast, a Red vs Blue panel and a RWBY panel.

The RT Podcast, filmed at RTX Australia 2016

Tickets go on sale July 7, $50 for a day pass, $75 for a weekend pass (early bird at $40 and $60 respectively). VIP passes are also on sale at $500 ($100 up from last year). No word yet on exactly what the VIP pass will entail, but if your happiness depends on being able to meet the personalities, you’re probably best off nabbing one – non-VIPs had a hard time of it this year.