The Paris Games Week is one of the largest video game trade fairs in Europe. It takes place annually at the Paris Expo Porte de Versailles exhibition center in Paris, France. The Paris Games Week has been held every year since 2010, quickly becoming a premier event in the gaming industry calendar.
Brief History of the Paris Games Week
The first Paris Games Week was held in 2010 at the Porte de Versailles. It was created by the Syndicat des Éditeurs de Logiciels de Loisirs (SELL), the union for leisure software publishers in France. SELL had previously organized the Festival du Jeu Vidéo (Video Game Festival) in France since 2001, but wanted to create an event on the scale of industry trade shows like the E3 in Los Angeles or Gamescom in Germany.
The inaugural Paris Games Week in 2010 had over 90,000 visitors and 200 exhibitors.attendance has grown steadily each year, with over 316,000 visitors reported in 2019. It has surpassed Gamescom to become the largest public video game event in Europe.
Some key facts and figures about the growth of Paris Games Week:
| Year | Visitors | Exhibitors |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 90,000 | 200 |
| 2015 | 190,000 | 330 |
| 2019 | 316,000 | 570 |
The Paris Games Week has continued to expand in size, exhibitors, and attendance year-over-year. It has solidified its status as Europe’s premier gaming expo.
Location of the Paris Games Week
Since its inception, the Paris Games Week has been held at the Paris Expo Porte de Versailles exhibition center in Paris, France. The Paris Expo Porte de Versailles, also known simply as the Porte de Versailles, is a large convention center and exhibition hall complex located in the 15th arrondissement of Paris.
The Porte de Versailles is one of the major convention venues in Paris, spanning 582,000 square meters with 230,000 square meters of exhibition space. It hosts over 75 large shows and exhibitions each year, including high-profile events like the International Agricultural Show and the Paris Motor Show. The site has 9 exhibition halls, making it well-suited for hosting large trade shows like the Paris Games Week.
The address and location details for the Paris Expo Porte de Versailles are:
- Address: 1 Place de la Porte de Versailles, 75015 Paris, France
- Coordinates: 48°49′49′′N 2°15′12′′E
- Located in the 15th arrondissement on the Left Bank of the River Seine
- Can be accessed via Porte de Versailles metro station on Line 12
- Also accessible by tram T2 and T3
- Served by bus lines 39, 80 and PC1
So in summary, since it was first held in 2010, the Paris Games Week has taken place at the massive exhibition center Paris Expo Porte de Versailles conveniently located in southwest Paris.
Transportation to the Paris Games Week
The Paris Expo Porte de Versailles is easy to access using Paris’ extensive public transportation system. Here are some of the best options for getting to the Paris Games Week via public transit:
Metro
The closest metro stop is Porte de Versailles on metro Line 12. This station sits right next to the main entrance of the exhibition center. Trains on Line 12 provide direct connections from central Paris and stations like Gare Montparnasse.
Tramway
Tram line T2 stops at Porte de Versailles. Tram line T3 also stops nearby at station Porte de Versailles. The tram runs frequently and connects to metro Line 8 at Porte d’Auteuil and Line 9 at Porte de Saint-Cloud.
Bus
Several bus lines stop right outside the venue:
- Bus 39
- Bus 80
- Bus PC1
These buses come from areas like Gare Montparnasse, Champ de Mars, Invalides and Saint Germain.
RER Trains
While further from Porte de Versailles itself, various RER lines can be taken to reach the expo center:
- RER C to Javel Station, followed by bus 39
- RER B to Denfert Rochereau Station, followed by metro Line 4 to Alésia and then metro Line 12
By Car
Driving to Paris Games Week is also an option. There are nearly 10,000 parking spaces available on-site once you reach Paris Expo Porte de Versailles. As it’s on the outskirts of Paris, it avoids much of the congestion in central Paris.
Major access roads by car are the Boulevard Périphérique and the A4 motorway.
Tickets for Paris Games Week
Visitors must purchase tickets in advance online to attend Paris Games Week. Tickets provide access for one day to all the exhibits, displays, gaming areas and events.
Tickets for Paris Games Week 2023 go on sale in the spring/summer prior to the event. Here are the types of tickets available and pricing:
| Ticket Type | Price |
|---|---|
| 1-Day Ticket | €24 |
| 5-Day Pass | €69 |
Children under the age of 14 can receive free 1-day tickets. Discounted rates are also offered for students under age 30 and job seekers.
Tickets grant visitors access to the entire Paris Games Week area, including the exhibition stands, gaming areas, and entertainment spaces. Certain special events, tournaments or conferences may require separate registration or ticketing.
Tickets routinely sell out in advance of Paris Games Week, so visitors are encouraged to purchase tickets online well ahead of time from the official ticketing website.
Highlights and Major Exhibitors
Paris Games Week brings together all the major players in the video game industry. Here are some of the leading exhibitors and highlights from recent editions:
Sony PlayStation
Sony is always one of the largest exhibitors at PGW. Its massive booth offers demos and previews of upcoming PS5 and PS4 games. Sony usually saves big game announcements and reveals for PGW.
Microsoft Xbox
Microsoft uses PGW to showcase its latest Xbox consoles, games and services. Attendees can get hands-on time with Xbox Series X/S games.
Nintendo
Nintendo gives visitors early play time with Nintendo Switch games at PGW. They announce localizations of popular Japanese titles.
Ubisoft
French gaming giant Ubisoft treats PGW as a major event for new game reveals. Assassin’s Creed and Just Dance titles are staples of their booths.
eSports Tournaments
A major area is dedicated to eSports competitions at PGW. Visitors can watch pro gamers battle in popular titles like League of Legends, Fortnite and FIFA.
Indie Games
PGW devotes space to upcoming indie games from smaller studios. It’s a great chance to check out unique and innovative games.
Virtual Reality
An increasing area of PGW highlights VR games and technologies. Attendees can test drive Oculus Rift, HTC Vive and PS VR headsets.
Conference Program and Events
In addition to the exhibition floor and game demos, Paris Games Week hosts an extensive series of events and conferences. These include:
Keynotes
Major keynote addresses from industry luminaries kick off each day at PGW. Top executives from Sony, Microsoft, Ubisoft and others deliver key announcements.
Esports Competitions
PGW has massive spaces dedicated to eSports tournaments. Hundreds of pro gamers compete in titles like Fortnite, FIFA, and Street Fighter V.
Developer Panels
Developer sessions give attendees insight into the game creation process. Panelists discuss design, art, animation, programming and more.
Announcement Showcases
First reveal trailers for upcoming AAA titles commonly debut at PGW press conferences, like for Assassin’s Creed Unity and Call of Duty.
Meet and Greets
Gaming personalities and internet influencers often hold fan meetings and signings on the show floor.
Paris Games Week 2023 Preview
Paris Games Week 2023 will take place from Wednesday, November 1 to Sunday, November 5. It is expected to once again be hosted at the Paris Expo Porte de Versailles.
Tickets will likely go on sale to the public sometime in May or June 2023. Based on past years, visitors can expect 1-day tickets to cost around €24 and 5-day passes €69.
Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo will showcase their latest console and games. Ubisoft’s booth will highlight new Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry and Tom Clancy games. Square Enix will demo Forspoken, Final Fantasy XVI and more.
The Indie Games area will highlight over 500 upcoming indie titles. VR experiences will include new hardware like the PS VR 2 and Oculus Quest 3.
Paris Games Week 2023 looks to build on the momentum and growth of previous years. It is gearing up to be the biggest PGW yet and promises to deliver a memorable experience for gamers.
Conclusion
The Paris Games Week has cemented itself as Europe’s premier video game convention. Taking place each November at the Paris Expo Porte de Versailles exhibition center, it brings together tens of thousands of gaming fans and top publishers. Attendees can play and experience upcoming games, catch eSports tournaments, hear from developers, and more. With major companies like Sony, Microsoft and Ubisoft in attendance each year, PGW is the place in Europe to experience the future of gaming. The Paris Games Week 2023 is sure to continue the excitement and industry leadership of this world-class gaming event.
