After Knock! This is a phrase we used to say at the local arcades to declare our place as the next challenger after a game. It meant, “After any of the current players have been knocked out.” It’s 2025 and Otaku Konnect, the Zimbabwean nerd culture events collective just announced their first event for the year. Leading with Button Bash: Zimbabwe’s first Gaming convention.
The collective, which strives to bring creative and amazingly immersive while exciting experiences for the nerd community is at it again. After a great 2024 with the Otakukon Anime festival, Nakamarket 2024 and Anime Merch and Nakama 5, we are bound to see a great 2025.
The Otaku Konnect team shared the following press release with us:
Button Bash 2025
Introducing Button Bash, a two-day gaming-focused event taking place this April 19th and 20th at Moto Republik in Harare.
What is Button Bash?
Button Bash is the name we’ve given to the first of our annual Gamer events. Easter weekend is where it’s at with Otaku Konnect’s first-ever two-day event. This is also the first gaming convention in Zimbabwe, which is exciting. Button bash promises to be an exciting event that caters to all types of gamers. Whether PlayStation, Xbox or PC gaming is your thing, board games, trading games, or card games, this is the one place where we all gather to have an amazing time. You’ll find us in the cards section, showing off our crazy 8 skills!
What to Expect at Button Bash
Day 1: Game Day
This will be dedicated to games only, no frills and no fancy business. A full day of games, good vibes, and glory-seeking. Whether you’re a hardcore, carry-your-own-controller gamer who wants to win at all costs or you’re new to it all and you can’t tell the X button from the A button, this is a home for you. All ages are welcome to come and enjoy this once-a-year gaming extravaganza, so even if all the characters were 18-bit when you last gamed, WE WANT YOU THERE!
A minimum of 4 competitive tournaments will run throughout Game Day. Mortal Kombat 1, Tekken 8, Blur, and EAFC25 with a chance for the top 8 to qualify for finals the next day. In addition to the competitive tournaments, we will have a great line-up of games available for our members who love to game but don’t want to sweat about it. REGISTER for the Button Bash 2025 Competitive tournaments here.
Day 2: Fun Day
This will be the convention experience you have come to love and expect from Otaku Konnect. Come through to buy gaming and anime merch, cosplay competition, take part in our Boss Level game quiz, enjoy outdoor games, and board games, and of course watch the Kings and Queens of the console gaming tournaments be crowned! It will be a family-friendly day with lots of activities for young ones, great food options, and well-curated music.
Otaku Konnect’s head of Marketing, Bill Masuku has expressed how the ultimate goal is to grow gaming in Zimbabwe into a fully functioning industry that goes beyond just entertainment. “It starts with getting all the right people in one place, and that’s what we want to do with Button Bash. We want to bring together gamers, game developers, artists and marketers and let them interact in this one melting pot. Who knows? The next big game development company could come from individuals who meet at Button Bash.”
Tickets and Such?
Ticket sales for the Button are open and attendees can get a ticket to attend Game day, Fun Day, and both days. The prices are: Game Day ($3), Fun Day ($8 in advance and $10 at the gate), or both days for a discounted $10. As always at Otaku Konnect events, if you show up dressed as a fictional character you enjoy a 50% percent discount and your ticket becomes just $5. Extra points if your fictional character is from a video game. Tickets will be available online on Tango and Flippin Tickets as well as at several physical outlets that will be announced in due course. Look out for some flash sales over the next few weeks leading to the event.
We hope to see you at Button bash 2025.
