Paris Games Week 2026 theme and focus

From October 22 to 25, 2026, Paris Games Week celebrated its 15th anniversary at Paris Expo Porte de Versailles (Hall 1) with the theme "Playground Edition." The event emphasized interactive experiences, including an official app, challenges, badges, and redesigned spaces, alongside partnerships with external venues called "Hors les Murs."

Evening events and attractions

Evenings at the Dôme de Paris featured events like Curieux.exe with ZeratoR, Game of Rôles, and a Fortnite evening with Inoxtag. Despite the event's dense program, it was confined to a single pavilion, which limited the overall experience for attendees.

Major publishers and their displays

Major Japanese and French publishers dominated the fair, with Nintendo occupying the largest space. Nintendo showcased the Nintendo Switch 2 with playable titles such as Mario Kart World, Pokémon Pokopia, Splatoon Raiders, and others. Final Fantasy VII Revelation was also playable, with the presence of Naoki Hamaguchi.

Capcom and Bandai Namco highlights

On the Capcom stand, games like Monster Hunter Wilds: Ascendance, Mega Man: Dual Override, and Street Fighter 6 were featured, with producers Ryozo Tsujimoto and Takuro Hiraoka present. Bandai Namco presented the first French showcases of Dragon Ball Xenoverse 3 and Gundam Rogue Orbit.

Ubisoft and Activision's roles

Ubisoft displayed Rayman Legends Retold, playable before its December 3 release, and Heroes of Might & Magic III Remake. Activision's presence was limited to Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4, while SEGA offered Alien: Isolation 2, noted as a surprise, and other titles like Persona 4 Revival.

PlayStation and independent titles

On the PlayStation side, Fnac's space was limited to Marvel’s Wolverine. Microids and the Game France Pavilion (about 300 square meters) focused on more familiar or independent titles, offering a contrast to the major publishers' stands.

Esports and non-gaming elements

Esports spaces included finals of League of Legends EMEA Masters, Valorant, and other titles, along with content creators, a TCG section, cosplay, and a retro gaming museum. However, concerns were raised about the significant non-gaming portion of the event compared to video games.

Notable absences and industry context

Notable absences included Xbox, which did not have a stand despite the 25th anniversary of the first Xbox, and PlayStation, which had a limited presence. Grand Theft Auto VI, expected on November 19, was also absent, with Rockstar not exhibiting. The event's reduced size and focus on non-game elements raised questions about its future, especially in light of the video game industry's current challenges, including layoffs and funding difficulties.