The weekend is over, but all of the attendees can still feel the impacts of PAX Aus 2025. This year the show was packed with energy, exclusives, and community spirit over the three massive days.

Make sure to check out our exclusive interviews from the event:

• [Link TBD] Amelia Tyler, voice artist for Baldur’s Gate 3, Divinity Original Sin 2, and Hades II
• [Link TBD] Ify Nwadiwe, comedian and host of Dropout’s Um, Actually

Major Reveals and Hands-On Highlights

The big highlights this year in the gaming space were Nintendo and Xbox. They brought with them a mix of world-first demos and fresh hardware reveals. Fans got the chance to play Pokémon Legends: Z-A (Switch 2 Edition) and take a stroll through Lumiose City, or try out the new ROG Xbox Ally and Ally X handhelds.

Hardware enthusiasts were not left in the cold either, with MSI debuting the RTX 5070 Ti Project Zero GPU and Aftershock teaming up with Kiwi streamer @broxh_ to hand-carve a one-of-a-kind wooden PC panel live on the show floor.

Indie Games Shine Bright

It wasn’t just the big publishers at PAX Aus 2025, there was a big focus on indie creators as well. There was PAX Rising and the Indie Showcase, that showcased local and international developers and gave them a space to share their passion projects.

Fans were particularly impressed with the standout games from CODE New Zealand, including the wildly inventive Middle Management, featuring an unforgettable tentacled boss fight, and Adaptory, a base-building survival game.

Esports Thrills and Competitive Spirit

For esports, the epicenter was PAX Arena, where the Rainbow Six Siege APL Major Qualifier finals drew massive crowds and deafening cheers. There was also a booth for the Australian Esports League Nationals, showcasing the best of student and university-level talent from across the country.

Tabletop Takes Centre Stage

It was the biggest year yet for Tabletop gaming, with the largest tabletop zone in PAX Aus history in partnership with eBay. For fans there was freeplay sessions, painting workshops, and first-look demos. One of the highlights was the debut of League of Legends: Rift Bound, which had a constant line that wrapped around the booth all weekend.

Immersive Experiences and Fan Favourites

The show floor was bursting with interactive activations that kept attendees exploring for hours. Bethesda’s Fallout diner served up post-apocalyptic nostalgia, The Sims’ camp-style booth offered wholesome fun, and Devolver Digital teamed up with Massive Monster to unveil Cult of the Lamb: Woolhaven Chapel.

Panels, Keynotes, and Laugh-Out-Loud Moments

There was something for everyone in the packed schedule with a multitude of panels. You had gaming developers such as the Gearbox team talking about Borderlands, PlayStation reminiscing about 25 years of the PS2, as well as creators sharing their accessibility and inclusion stories.

Many panels were full of laughs too, with Pokémon Family Feud – Creator Edition as a highlight, alongside D&D: But Donations Make It Spicier and the 1 For All D&D One-Shot with Amelia Tyler.

Cosplay and Community Shine

Lastly, but definitely not leastly, the cosplays cene took center stage at PAX Aus 2025. The Crown Championships of Cosplay saw Giorgia Costumes crowned champion for their stunning Rococo Bunny design, earning a ticket to represent Australia at the World Championships in the UK next year.

The Together Lounge once again proved a highlight for many attendees, creating a welcoming, inclusive space for players to relax, meet others, and share in the joy of gaming together.

As the weekend came to a close, thousands of fans (myself included) packed up their gear and headed home. There truly was something (many things) for everyone at this convention as we celebrated passion, play, and the people who make gaming what it is.