SEATTLE — It’s been 20 years since Jerry Holkins and Mike Krahulik first launched the Penny Arcade Expo in Bellevue; the creators of the popular “Penny Arcade” webcomic (which began in 1998 and is still going strong today) had wanted to attend a convention focused purely on gaming and gaming culture.

Two decades later, the convention now known as PAX West (both a nod to the acronym attendees preferred to call the event and to help distinguish it from the other annual PAX conventions held outside of Seattle) has outgrown its original home and has moved to the Seattle Convention Center (where the event now extends to both the Summit and Arch buildings). According to Jon Peddie Research, a technology research and consulting firm, PAX West 2023 saw 120,000 attendees, making it the largest gaming event in the U.S. (Penny Arcade and Emerald City Comic Con producer ReedPop, which together put on PAX West, stopped reporting attendance numbers for the event after 2011.)

This year’s four-day event, running Aug. 30-Sept. 2, will kick off with a keynote speech by Phil Spencer, CEO of Redmond-based Microsoft Gaming. The head of Xbox will discuss his 30-plus years in the gaming industry at Microsoft, according to event organizers.

Here are some of the highlights of this year’s convention. (For those unable to attend, PAX West will stream from four Twitch channels, focusing on panel content and esports.)

Dungeons & Dragons

What better way to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Dungeons & Dragons than by learning how to play the outrageously popular role-playing game? PAX West will have learning sessions ranging from 90 minutes to four hours, catering to those new to the game. (D&D pros are, of course, welcome to join the adventure.) There will also be surprise scenarios throughout the convention in celebration of D&D’s golden jubilee.

Panels

Expert panels are a highlight of any PAX, and this year’s event proves no different. A main focus this year centers on explaining the gaming industry to attendees, including getting tips on how to get started from industry veterans, learning about intellectual property rights and networking, and even watching award-winning developers break down what it’s like to make a game live onstage. Other highlights include:

—A design breakdown of Shadow of the Erdtree, the massive expansion to the acclaimed Elden Ring video game. (Aug. 30)

—A preview panel of Duskmourn: House of Horror, the latest set for Magic: The Gathering, set to be released in September. (Aug. 31)

—Capcom, the creator of beloved franchises including Resident Evil and Monster Hunter, will be at PAX West this year to talk about some of the company’s most anticipated upcoming releases, including new content for Street Fighter 6 and Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster. (Sept. 1)

—The PAX Cosplay Showcase, which is open for all ages this year. (Sept. 1)

Exhibitors

If you’re looking to get some hands-on time with demos for upcoming games and new tech and hardware, you’ll want to make your way to PAX’s Expo Hall. Exhibitors include Larian Studios, creator of the phenomenal Baldur’s Gate 3 video game; the needs-no-explanation Nintendo of America and The Pokémon Co.; and Seattle-based studios Aggro Crab Games (Another Crab’s Treasure) and Ironwood Studios (Pacific Drive).

On a related note: The PAX Rising Showcase, a curated collection of games that’ll be highlighted on the show floor, is always worth checking out. The winners of this year’s showcase haven’t been announced yet, but previous years included Celeste, Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime and Little Kitty, Big City (all of which you should play).

And this is all separate from the hundreds of gaming consoles and PCs you can play on, including space dedicated to tabletop games. (For those looking to flex their gaming skills, myriad tournaments will be happening during the convention, from trading card games to board games to console/PC video games.)

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PAX West

Show floor hours: 10 a.m.-midnight Aug. 30-Sept. 1, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sept. 2; Expo Hall hours: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Aug. 30-Sept. 2; Summit and Arch buildings at Seattle Convention Center, 900 Pine St., Seattle; $66-$250 (prices increase on Aug. 30); west.paxsite.com

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