A new gaming event is making its debut in Romania: RESPAWN, on June 27-28 in Bucharest
In a global Esports industry estimated to surpass $5 billion in 2026, gaming has moved far beyond niche status, establishing itself as one of the most relevant segments of contemporary entertainment. Against this backdrop, RESPAWN makes its debut on the market – a new large-scale event concept organized by Universum Events, bringing together a top-tier international competition, content creators, and the digital gaming and Esports community in a unique live experience.
The first edition will take place on June 27–28, 2026, at Halo Events Center in Bucharest.
One of the key highlights of the inaugural edition is the partnership with Digital Crusade, the organizer of Super DraculaN, one of the most-watched international Tier 2 Counter-Strike, 2 tournaments. As part of RESPAWN, the tournament’s semifinals and grand final will be hosted live in front of the audience in Bucharest.
A new event concept dedicated to digital culture
RESPAWN is designed as an entertainment platform dedicated to the new generation of digital consumers, bringing together gaming, technology, content creators, and interactive experiences within a single live ecosystem.
The concept is developed by Universum Events, an organizer with over 15 years of experience in large-scale event production and the creator of renowned concepts such as GoTech World and Bucharest Tech Week.
„RESPAWN is our response to a paradigm shift in entertainment. We are not building just a gaming event, but a platform where an active and creative community comes together. Romania has one of the most dynamic gaming communities in the region, and the RESPAWN concept is built around the energy and potential it brings. We strongly believe that the future of entertainment in Esports belongs to the digital generations, and for the first time in Romania, we are creating a space where audiences, creators, and associated brands truly connect.”, said Vlad Tiucșan, Project Manager RESPAWN.
Super DraculaN brings international CS2 competition to RESPAWN
The competitive pillar of RESPAWN is represented by Super DraculaN, one of the most important Tier 2 CS2 tournaments in the region, organized by Digital Crusade.
The tournament brings together 16 international teams ranked within the world’s top 50, competing over the course of five days, with the semifinals and grand final taking place live in front of the audience in Bucharest during the June 27–28 weekend. Matches will be broadcast simultaneously across five parallel streams, with an estimated audience of over 30,000 concurrent viewers during the decisive stages, giving the event a visibility that extends far beyond the physical boundaries of the venue.
„Super DraculaN reaches its seventh edition and marks the largest installment of the DraculaN series organized to date. The tournament continues to grow both in terms of competitive level and live experience, bringing together exclusively top teams from the international Tier 2 CS2 circuit. In addition, this edition will also be open to a live audience, giving fans the opportunity to watch the semifinals and grand final directly from the arena in Bucharest. Through RESPAWN and Super DraculaN, we aim to bring the local community closer to international-level competitive Counter-Strike and the atmosphere of a major Esports event.”, mentioned Mihai Cotos, founder of Digital Crusade.
A platform for the community, not just for spectators
The event takes place over two days and brings together content creators, gaming communities, free-to-play zones for PC and console gaming, brand activations, and meet & greet sessions with some of Romania’s most popular gaming influencers. It is a space designed for active participation, where interactions between the community, creators, and brands happen naturally and in real time.
RESPAWN brings together some of the most followed content creators in the Romanian gaming scene, with millions of followers across TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram. Confirmed names include Jaxi, iSilent, Palash, and xSlayder, with more creators set to be announced in the coming period. At the event, content creators will play an active role in the program through live streaming sessions, meet & greet experiences, and real-time content creation alongside event partners.
Alongside the competition and content creators, the event also brings together relevant brands from the tech, lifestyle, and digital entertainment sectors, completing an ecosystem that authentically reflects the universe and interests of the community it brings together.
Among the confirmed partners is Raiffeisen Bank, which is preparing two days of challenges and experiences dedicated to the gaming community. The program will include free-to-play sessions on the Money Strike map, Romania’s first tactical FPS map focused on financial education for young people.
RESPAWN will take place at Halo Events Center, a modern venue equipped with advanced technical infrastructure and a 360° LED hall designed for immersive live experiences. The event will be organized across three dedicated areas created to encourage authentic interaction between the community, content creators, and partners.
RESPAWN’s audience: a digital generation difficult to reach through traditional channels
RESPAWN is designed for an audience aged between 14 and 34 years old. The 14–17 segment brings together digital natives who are constantly connected to platforms such as Discord, YouTube, TikTok, and Twitch, while the 18–34 segment includes active consumers of Esports, technology, and digital entertainment, with a strong appetite for interactive experiences and recommendations coming from content creators.
Beyond the physical event experience, the competitive Super DraculaN component extends RESPAWN’s impact into the digital space as well, generating an estimated exposure of over 1 million social media impressions and international reach across more than 10 countries.
Why now: a maturing ecosystem and a market ready for it
The launch of RESPAWN comes at a time when the global Esports and gaming industry is experiencing one of its fastest periods of growth.
Globally, the Esports market is projected to surpass $6.2 billion by 2030, with an estimated user base of 924.9 million people by the same year, starting from a market penetration of 10.2% in 2026.
In Romania, the gaming market continues to show strong momentum. According to the latest RGDA (Romanian Game Developers Association) study conducted in July 2025, 7.9 million romanians aged between 15 and 64 play video games at least once a month, with 46% belonging to Gen Z. In addition, more than 3 million are active players, and nearly half of them play at least several times a week. Gaming content consumption extends far beyond gameplay itself: 3 out of 4 gamers watch gaming-related online content, primarily on YouTube, while 73% use streaming platforms, compared to 70% in 2022. Moreover, one in three gamers either participates in or follows gaming events, both physical and online [2].
The evolution of the local ecosystem is also supported by the international achievements of Romanian players and teams, including Ivan “iM” Mihai, the first Romanian player to win a Counter-Strike Major; Nexus Gaming, the first Romanian team to qualify for the Regional Major Ranking; and Romania’s national team, winners of the IESF World Championship 2024 in CS2.
Long-term vision: from event to regional benchmark
The first edition of RESPAWN aims to set a new standard for local gaming and Esports experiences through a format centered around community, live entertainment, and interactive experiences.
In the long term, the organizers aim to transform RESPAWN into a regional benchmark for the gaming and Esports industry in Central and Eastern Europe, at a time when both audiences and brands are becoming increasingly connected to digital culture and this type of live experience.
Event access
Tickets for RESPAWN are available in six different categories on the event’s official website, www.respawn.world:
Tickets with access to the official CS2 competition seating area (Super DraculaN)
• Saturday (Arena Pass) – RON 99
• Sunday (Arena Pass) – RON 129
• Both days (Arena Pass) – RON 159
Tickets without access to the official CS2 competition seating area (Super DraculaN)
• Saturday (RESPAWN Experience Pass) – RON 75
• Sunday (RESPAWN Experience Pass) – RON 75
• Both days (Explorer Pass) – RON 99
All tickets include access to activation areas, gaming zones, influencer meet & greet sessions, and the event’s interactive experiences.
The Team Behind the Event
UNIVERSUM is Romania’s largest private event organizer, delivering high-impact sports, corporate, and entertainment experiences. With over 15 years of expertise, international events across its own venues and portfolio, and 200+ customized corporate events every year, UNIVERSUM brings together strategy, creativity, and flawless execution, including large-scale technology events (GoTech World, Bucharest Tech Week), real estate events (Imobiliarium), and sports events (Legendary – The Sports Community Festival).
Digital Crusade is one of Romania’s leading esports event organizers, creating competitions, LAN events, and gaming productions since 2016. With 6+ years of experience and strong ties to local and international esports communities, Digital Crusade delivers high-quality tournaments, brand activations, and entertainment experiences for the next generation of gamers.
