PAX Australia 2020 officially cancelled

Posted on June 16, 2020

In sad but expected news, PAX Australia 2020 has officially been cancelled due to the ongoing concerns around COVID-19.

The popular video game expo was set to take place from October 9 to 11, 2020 in Melbourne, after a successful last year in 2019 that combined it with the EB Games Expo for the first time. With two new consoles launching at the end of this year, it feels like a missed opportunity to showcase some new tech to an excitable and passionate Aussie gaming community.

“It is with a heavy heart that today we announce the postponement of PAX Australia 2020, due to the ongoing impacts of COVID-19 in Australia and globally,” said a statement published today on the PAX website and on Twitter. “We have been working hard with our partners and exhibitors to explore all viable options but with our desire to bring you the best PAX Aus ever, the next edition of PAX Aus will now take place in 2021.”

Considering the border restrictions still currently in place for Australia, this would have made international guests quite tricky, to say the least. As it stands, there are also still strict social distancing guidelines in place, with restaurants and pubs only just beginning to open over the last couple of weeks. Considering the amount of people gathering in one space at the same time during PAX Australia’s many game previews, shops, board game areas and panels, it would be quite difficult to imagine an event of that magnitude somehow taking place in just four months time.

Despite the cancellation of the physical event, they have noted that some digital replacements will be taking place in some form. “Stay tuned to our social media channels in the coming days as we start to announce more information.”

Regardless, PAX is always our favourite time of year at Checkpoint, and we’re sure it’s a favourite time of year for many of you, too. Rest assured, PAX Australia 2021 will likely be the biggest and most anticipated PAX Australia ever.