PAX announces 'optimistic' dates for 2021 events

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Penny Arcade admitted that the schedule is 'optimistic' but said that live shows should be possible if things go well.

PAX West 2019
(Image credit: Penny Arcade)

The COVID-19 pandemic that brought a very sudden halt to gaming conventions like E3, PAX, and Gamescom in 2020 is still raging, but despite that, the Penny Arcade folks have announced the dates for the 2021 slate of PAX events. Organizers acknowledged that the dates are "optimistic" and scheduled shows ultimately may not come to pass, but said that they're announcing dates now to help with planning and "start conversations about how to bring attendees, panelists, exhibitors, and our broader community together."

"Let’s just say the quiet part out loud: if COVID-19 remains a major barrier to safely gathering at one of our shows, we won’t do it or we will take it virtual," PAX organizers said in the announcement. "As much as we miss, even crave, the togetherness and magic of a PAX, we will not put attendees, exhibitors, or our guests at risk for the sake of an event if things aren’t on the up and up."

Here's what's planned:

  • PAX East will take place June 3 - 6, 2021
  • PAX West will take place September 3 - 6, 2021
  • PAX Aus will have more info coming soon
  • PAX Unplugged will take place December 10 - 12, 2021

PAX South will not be taking place in 2021 but will return in 2022, and PAX Australia is still being worked out—a date for that show will be announced "in the next few weeks."

It is an optimistic schedule: COVID-19 cases and deaths continue to climb in the US, and questions about potential vaccine supply and distribution remain unanswered. I don't want to rain on anybody's parade, but I'll be surprised if these shows actually take place.

The timing of PAX East is interesting, too: In previous years they've been held in March or April, and moving it to June for 2021 puts it less than two weeks ahead of E3, which is scheduled—again, tentatively—to run June 15-17. It's traditionally preceded by a few days of pre-E3 press events held by major publishers, which makes the gap between the two even tighter.

Penny Arcade said that more detailed announcements about 2021 PAX events, including panels, exhibitor lists, and whether or not they're actually going to happen, will be made closer to their scheduled start dates.

Andy Chalk
Andy Chalk
US News Lead

Andy has been gaming on PCs from the very beginning, starting as a youngster with text adventures and primitive action games on a cassette-based TRS80. From there he graduated to the glory days of Sierra Online adventures and Microprose sims, ran a local BBS, learned how to build PCs, and developed a longstanding love of RPGs, immersive sims, and shooters. He began writing videogame news in 2007 for The Escapist and somehow managed to avoid getting fired until 2014, when he joined the storied ranks of PC Gamer. He covers all aspects of the industry, from new game announcements and patch notes to legal disputes, Twitch beefs, esports, and Henry Cavill. Lots of Henry Cavill.