Rejoice, friends, for PAX West 2017 is upon us. As a more fan-focused event, the Penny Arcade Expo started back in 2004 as a small two-day event in Bellevue, Washington and has massively grown in size since then, now hosting six separate events across the United States and Australia annually. Needless to say, the enormous amount of people that attend these events has enticed major video game publishers and developers to jump on board to give players early access to new games, host tournaments for existing titles, and give away plenty of exclusive items. If you managed to win the internet lottery and acquire a coveted PAX West badge or two, congratulations! Here are a few of the major developers and publishers attending the show and what they’ll have to offer:
Adult Swim Games
Adult Swim Games will be showcasing a few titles at their booth this year, including the Nintendo Switch version of Battle Chef Brigade and a demo for ToeJam & Earl: Back in the Groove.
Bungie
The Destiny 2 developers have rented out the entire Paramount Theatre for three days, offering an opportunity for Destiny fans to get some hands on time with the game before release, catch a few Destiny focused panels, and more.
Capcom
I just want to point out that Monster Hunter: World will be playable which is personally all I ever needed to hear. I guess there are some other games available to check out too:
- Street Fighter V
- Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite
- Monster Hunter: World
- Resident Evil Revelations
The Capcom booth will also be selling special edition pins, shirts, figurines and other merchandise.
Devolver Digital
Devolver typically sets up a booth with playable demos of a variety of games most people have never heard of. This year appears to be no different with games like Ruiner, Swords of Ditto, Gorn, and Reigns: Her Majesty, the sequel to a game that’s essentially Tinder crossed with casual regicide.
Nintendo
Goodness, Nintendo knows how to throw a party when they want to. Since they bothered to actually share their plans in detail unlike some of these other companies, I’ll summarize here. On Thursday, August 31st is the 3th annual Nindies@Night event at the Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP, formally known as the EMP Museum) to showcase titles from independent developers for the Nintendo Switch. They tend to give out a lot of swag at this event, so be there! If you can’t make it, the Nindies Arcade is available at the Convention Center and should have access to the same titles and swag.
Playable in the exhibitor hall is Super Mario Odyssey, which is incredible, and Nintendo will be giving out Odyssey exclusive items for those who spend ample time at their booth. My Nintendo members will also have a chance to acquire a My Nintendo Pass (in limited quantities), a fast-pass of sorts that allows access to a priority line with shorter wait times during specified times. There will be at least four Switch titles available to try (not including the massive list of indie games revealed during the recent Nintendo Indie Showcase) and two upcoming 3DS games:
- Pokkén Tournament DX
- Rocket League
- NBA 2K18
- FIFA 18
- Metroid: Samus Returns
- Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser’s Minions
Nintendo is also filming a live segment of Nintendo Minute with Kit and Krysta during a panel Saturday morning. They’re also giving away limited edition posters of old Nintendo Power magazines and… okay I think that’s enough to do, for now, Nintendo. Good job.
Microsoft
Team Xbox is hosting their 4th annual ID@Xbox Pre-PAX Open House at their visitor’s centre in Redmond, WA. You’ll have an opportunity to play over 50 indie games including Path of Exile and Ark: Survival Evolved. Forza 7 will also make an appearance, but be advised you must RSVP to this event to attend. It’s free and takes place Thursday evening on August 31st.
At the show proper, Microsoft will be showing off their new console, the Xbox One X, and a few high profile titles including:
- Forza Motorsport 7
- Assassin’s Creed Origins
- Sea of Thieves
- PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds
- Super Lucky’s Tale
- Dragon Ball FighterZ
- Cuphead
- Middle Earth: Shadow of War
- Black Desert Online
- Hello Neighbor
- Zoo Tycoon
- Disneyland Adventures
SEGA
SEGA will be providing demos of Total War: Warhammer II and Sonic Forces. Looking a bit sparse there, SEGA, but thanks for coming!
Sony
Sony was also nice enough to provide details on their game lineup, and it’s pretty packed. On PlayStation 4 there will be demos of:
- Detroit: Become Human
- Gran Turismo Sport
- Knack 2
- PlayLink: Frantics
- PlayLink: Hidden Agenda
- PlayLink: Knowledge is Power
- PlayLink: That’s You!
- Uncharted: The Lost Legacy
- Battle Chasers: Nightwar
- Burly Men at Sea
- Dragon Ball Fighter Z
- Hob
- Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite
- Ni no Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom
- Omen of Sorrow
- Samurai Shodown V Special
- Swords of Ditto
- Tooth and Tail
- Windjammers
There will a few PSVR demos as well, though you will likely need to set appointments using PlayStation’s Experience App. It’s a bit finicky in our experience, so good luck!
- Bravo Team
- Gran Turismo Sport
- The Inpatient
- Kaiju Driving Range
- League of War: VR Arena
- Moss
- Sparc
- Star Child
Square Enix
I hope you like RPGs because Square Enix wants to stuff your face with them. Games at the show include:
- Lost Sphear
- Final Fantasy XV
- Dissidia Final Fantasy NT
- Final Fantasy XIV: Stormblood
- Life is Stange: Before the Storm
- Secret of Mana
- Final Fantasy XV: Pocket Edition
- Flame vs. Blaze
- King’s Knight: Wrath of the Dark Dragon
- Mobius Final Fantasy
- Children of Zodiarcs
Final Fantasy XIV, Life is Strange: Before the Storm, and Mobius Final Fantasy will also have dedicated panels throughout the event.
THQ Nordic
Recently revealed at Gamescom in Germany, Biomutant from THQ Nordic and Experiment 101 will be playable on the show floor. This game is a unique blend of open-world RPG, kung-fu, and anthropomorphic animals.
Ubisoft
Ubisoft will be hosting a live stream all weekend showing off titles such as Assassin’s Creed: Origins, For Honor, Rainbow Six: Siege, and Far Cry 5. Also, Far Cry 5 will be available to try out in the exhibitor hall and will have a dedicated panel alongside For Honor.
Bandai Namco, Bethesda, Epic Games, and WB Games will also be present at the show, but in what capacity is anyone’s guess at this point in time. PAX West 2017 takes place in Seattle, Washington from September 1-4. Have fun and stay safe out there!
