NVIDIA is bringing back its iconic LAN party tradition after a 13-year hiatus, announcing the GeForce LAN 50, a 50-hour gaming marathon set to take place in Las Vegas from January 4th to 6th, 2025. The event promises to be a nostalgic throwback to the days of networked gaming bliss, with contests, tournaments, raffles, and swag for attendees.

The GeForce LAN 50 will be open to 400 everyday gamers, who can reserve a spot by providing a fully refundable $125 deposit. The event will kick off at 4:30 PM PT on January 4th, with satellite events also taking place in Berlin, Taipei, and Beijing. While influencers are also expected to attend, their slots are separate from the 400 available to the general public.

For those who can't make it to the physical event, NVIDIA is offering an online component, where gamers can earn in-game rewards by streaming select titles, including Diablo IV, The Elder Scrolls Online, Fallout 76, The Finals, and WoW, from its GeForce Now cloud gaming service for 50 minutes continuously. Additionally, the company is hosting a marketing celebration called "GeForce Greats," with prizes up for grabs.

The timing of the GeForce LAN 50 is notable, as it coincides with NVIDIA's CES 2025 keynote in Las Vegas, where the company is expected to announce new graphics cards, including the RTX 5090, RTX 5080, and possibly the RTX 5070. The "GeForce LAN 50" moniker is likely a teaser for these 50-series cards, following a pattern established by NVIDIA's previous LAN events.

NVIDIA has a rich history of hosting LAN parties, starting in 2004 and continuing almost annually until 2011. The company's events, including the "GeForce LAN 6," were often held in conjunction with its NVISION and GPU Technology Conference (GTC) events. NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang has expressed his fondness for LAN parties, even making a surprise visit to a small event in Vietnam last year.

The revival of NVIDIA's LAN party tradition comes at a time when the LAN party subculture is experiencing a resurgence in popularity, with a new coffee table book documenting the era. While online multiplayer gaming has become the norm, the nostalgia for in-person LAN parties remains strong, and NVIDIA's GeForce LAN 50 is poised to tap into that sentiment.

With its GeForce LAN 50, NVIDIA is not only celebrating its heritage but also providing a unique opportunity for gamers to come together, compete, and socialize in person. As the gaming industry continues to evolve, events like these serve as a reminder of the importance of community and the joy of shared gaming experiences.