PAX West 2021 Kicks Off In Seattle To An Unusually Empty Convention Center

A handful of gaming conventions are planning to return to traditional in-person events this year with the COVID-19 pandemic presumably under control despite the increasing threat of the new delta variant. This week’s PAX West 2021 is one of the first to return to a physical location, with tens of thousands of gaming fans expected to attend the four-day event at the Washington State Convention Center in Seattle.

All attendees are required to provide proof that they have been fully vaccinated or a negative PCR or antigen test taken within 72 hours to enter the venue in accordance with the state and local public health policies. They will also be required to wear approved face coverings at all times, including cosplayers which are only allowed to wear headpieces that visibly fit the state’s face covering requirements.

However, even with these safety measures in place, most people have decided to forgo the event entirely with pictures and videos showing significantly less attendees than previous in-person events.

Wow. #PAXWest 2021 pic.twitter.com/eBqjNfa3Ab

— Martin Wong 📸 @ PAX West 2021 (@MartinWongPhoto) September 3, 2021

Meanwhile, PAX Australia, which was scheduled to take place on October 8-10 in Melbourne, has already been cancelled due to the recent surge in COVID-19 cases in the country, while PAX Unplugged is still a go for December 10-12 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center for fans of tabletop games.

There are also rumors that the New York Comic Con will also be cancelling their physical event this October.