Gay Geek Squee: It’s PAX West Weekend In Seattle!

August 23, 2025• byMichael Strangeways

For LGBTQ+ gamers (or gaymers if you prefer) it’s a big weekend coming up. Not only is it Labor Day Weekend, so you have an extra day to geek out on your favorite games, you can also head to the Seattle Convention Center from Friday August 29th through Monday, September 1st to attend the “most attended gaming event on the West Coast”….yes, it’s time for PAX WEST 2025!!!! It’s the big annual convention where all your favorite games, gaming companies, and gaming creatives gather for an orgy of digital gaming fun! Passes still available!

Weirdly, I can’t find any off site LGBTQ associated parties or events. If you know of any, put them in the comments!

PAX West 2025, the most-attended gaming event on the West Coast, returns to the Seattle Convention Center this Labor Day weekend from Friday, Aug. 29, 2025, through Monday, Sept. 1, 2025.

Show organizers ReedPop and Redmond-based Penny Arcade invite everyone to join local friends, family, and gamers from across the globe as Seattle transforms into the premier global gaming destination for one weekend.

Attendees will have opportunities to go hands-on with demos for many of the most highly anticipated upcoming games, engage in entertaining panels with renowned developers and their favorite gaming personalities on YouTube as well as Twitch, in addition to experience high-stakes gaming tournaments for cash prizes.

Industry giants like Nintendo, Capcom, Bandai Namco, and 2K Games join a massive lineup of local and international exhibitors as they take over the Arch Expo Hall and Annex. Tabletop gaming titans also lay their cards out at the Summit Expo Hall, including Cephalofair Games, Dice Throne, and 9th Level Games.

Kick off the show with a Storytime keynote from Final Fantasy XIV Online Director, Naoki Yoshida. Get a glimpse into the latest releases from Capcom during the Capcom Presents panel, and round out the weekend with the return of PAX Arena’s competitive gaming tournaments, cosplay meetups, and more .

“Technically it doesn’t start until the 29th, but I’m literally already packed,” said Jerry Holkins, co-founder of PAX, Penny Arcade, and Child’s Play. “I can’t wait to dig into this stacked roster and discover the games I’ll be playing all next year.”

PAX West badges are currently available for $259 for a 4-day badge, $74 for a single-day Saturday badge, $72.50 for single-day badges for Friday or Sunday, and $70 for a single-day Monday badge. BYOC (Bring Your Own Computer) badges are $54.

For travel info, event schedules, FAQs, and more, check out the PAX West website, and follow PAX on Instagram, Bluesky, YouTube, Facebook, Twitch, and Twitter

About the Author: Michael Strangeways

As the Editorial Director/Co-Owner, Michael Strangeways writes, edits and does about a million other jobs for Seattle Gay Scene, Puget Sound's most visited LGBTQ news, arts and entertainment website now celebrating its 14th year as a media outlet. A semi-proud Midwesterner by birth, he's lived in Seattle since 2000. He's also a film producer who would like you to check out the Jinkx Monsoon documentary, "Drag Becomes Him" now available on Amazon.com. In his spare time, he gets slightly obsessive about his love for old movies, challenging theater, "otters", vodka, chocolate, "I,Claudius", Lizzie Borden, real books made out of paper, disaster films, show tunes, Weimar era Germany, flea markets, pop surrealistic art, the sex lives of Hollywood actors both living and dead, kitties, chicken fried steak, haute couture and David Bowie. But, not necessarily in that order.