PAX has announced the dates for its annual conferences in 2021, with the first planned to kick off in June. The announcement has been met with a wave of people claiming that the dates are overly optimistic given the state of the coronavirus pandemic, which has continually worsened throughout the year in the United States and shows no signs of slowing down.
The announcement was posted on Twitter alongside a lengthy statement regarding the pandemic. Currently, PAX East is slated to run from June 3 to June 6, PAX West is scheduled for September 3 to September 6, and PAX Unplugged from December 10 to December 12. PAX AUS doesn’t have scheduled dates yet, though the team is currently working with the Australian government and will have more information “in the next few weeks.” PAX South will not be held in 2021.
PAX addressed the COVID-19 situation directly, opting to “say the quiet part out loud” with the announcement. The team states that the shows won’t move forward if COVID-19 remains a problem, instead either being canceled entirely or streamed. “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,” the statement reads. It goes on to say that the events can start in the summer if things progress positively.
The reaction to the announcement has been a mix of nostalgia for the show and doubt that any of the plans will be able to move forward. The US reported 4 million new coronavirus cases in November alone, with multiple states putting extra precautions in place in an attempt to stop the spread of the virus. While it’s possible things improve by June, that they improve by such a degree that it’s safe to hold an event seems unlikely. Local ordinances could even end up blocking them from happening, if restrictions on large gatherings, like conventions, are still in place.
The coronavirus pandemic has dramatically shifted the video game landscape this year, leading to the cancellation of E3, as well as many other events. Virtual events have risen to take their place, mitigating the need for travel and allowing for compact shows among industry behemoths, with the likes of PlayStation and Xbox adopting the style of Nintendo Directs to make announcements.
It’s unclear what the next move is for the industry. Conventions have long been a part of the culture, allowing fans a place to gather and revel in their common interests. The reality, however, is that things may take a long time to improve, and that may eliminate the possibility for conventions for a long time coming.
Source: New York Times
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