PAX Aus returned for another year at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, and as always, it was a weekend brimming with fantastic experiences, great games, and reconnecting with online friends who share your passions.
PAX Aus 2024 felt significantly more spacious and packed with engaging activities beyond just looking at booths. The show floor felt easier to navigate, even at peak times, so you could stroll around without bumping into people every few steps, which made for a much more relaxed ambience.
Seeing Xbox on the show floor again was a highlight, but this time with a charming twist: a retro, Blockbuster-style setup promoting PC Game Pass. Visitors could relive their childhood by checking out the display of retro PCs and consoles before heading into an immersive “back room” filled with the latest Lenovo Legion PCs running Game Pass titles. It captured both a sense of nostalgia and a vision of gaming’s future.
The Cult of the Lamb church activation was another standout moment: the first-ever PAX wedding took place in a life-size replica temple where two couples were married in a ceremony true to the game’s aesthetic. It was a show-stopping activation that drew huge crowds and plenty of attention online.
Nearby, the Red Bull Gameball Royale activation had creators battling it out on a LED dodgeball court in a fun, competitive format, and watching that showdown was a blast. On the tech side, the equipment booths were buzzing, with PC builds from exhibitors like Aftershock, MSI, and LG Electronics drawing attention.
At the LG booth, their new gaming monitors stood out with crisp visuals and blisteringly high refresh rates, immersive displays that elevated every game shown.
What truly stole the show, though, were the Indies. Meeting so many indie devs, trying out their games firsthand, and chatting with them about their creative journeys was incredibly inspiring. It was especially exciting to see talent coming from Southeast Asia among this globally minded showcase.
Of course, no PAX is complete without the Tabletop section. It was full of players deeply immersed in board and role‑playing games. A standout was the Disney Lorcana booth, which made a splash. It’s great to see the trading card game taking off in this region.
It was also fantastic to interview some amazing creators: Abubakar Salim, who had just launched his first game Tales of Kenzera: Zau; Jay Armstrong, a founder of Massive Monster and co‑creator of Cult of the Lamb; representatives from All Possible Futures and Devolver Digital talking about The Plucky Squire; and Rich Lambert, Creative Director of Elder Scrolls Online. Each conversation offered meaningful insight into their creative process and the games they’re bringing to life.
No matter how many times you attend, PAX Aus always feels like coming home. It’s where the love for games, creativity, and community all collide in the best possible way. Whether you’re catching up with friends, meeting your favourite creators, or discovering something entirely new, there’s a sense of belonging that makes this event truly special. It’s more than just a convention. It’s a celebration of everything we love about gaming and the people who make it extraordinary.