PAX Aus 2023 is fast approaching, and the excitement keeps building. After the event’s return last year, PAX Aus 2023 is shaping up to be better than ever. There will be games, tournaments, cosplay, plenty of shopping, and everything in between. But what’s a convention without exhibitors? PAX Aus has you covered because they’ve announced the first wave of exhibitors coming to the show this year. Even though this is only the first wave (with more to come), we here at Couch Soup are super hyped up about all these exciting exhibitors coming to PAX Aus 2023.
Some big names are returning to PAX Aus this year: Nintendo and Bethesda. After both developers missed last year’s show, they’re back in full force. Nintendo will bring the Splatoon 3 AU/NZ Championship 2023 and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe AU/NZ Championship 2023 for some healthy competition. Bethesda is also returning to the land down under, but with what? That is still a mystery for now. Some other exhibitors include Devolver Digital, Audio-Technica, ASUS ROG, Aftershock PC, Cooler Master, HTC VIVE, Corsair, MSI, and Crunchyroll. The New Zealand developer PikPok Games will also be on the expo floor with an exclusive demo of their newest game, Into the Dead: Our Darkest Days. That’s a stacked list already, and we haven’t touched on the indie games that will also be there.
Tom: I’m so happy that Nintendo is returning to PAX Aus. I still remember 2019 when they had a Pokémon gym for Pokémon Sword and Shield, as well as a haunted mansion for Luigi’s Mansion 3. Maybe they’ll have a big Super Mario Bros. Wonder display this time or something for the Pokémon Scarlet and Violet DLC. Either way, I’m excited to see what they bring. I’m also excited to see what Crunchyroll brings this year. They’re not a video game developer, but as Couch Soups resident anime connoisseur, I’m interested to see more. I’m also always intrigued by the indie games on full display at PAX Rising, as they are always a treat.
Rohan: Unlike my colleague (friend? Co-conspirator?...find out later), I'm not as enthusiastic about Nintendo and Bethesda hitting PAX Aus this year. While I enjoy Nintendo's games as they hold a certain spark of joy that 24 years on this planet has done its best to quash in me, I'm hoping we can get some lesser-known Nintendo properties apart from the weathered partnership of Mario, Link & Pokémon Incorporated. In regards to Bethesda… I'm not super excited for Starfield, but I'm hoping to be pleasantly surprised.
Jumping out of the triple A developer hot tub to splash around in the indie developer paddle pool for a bit, I am really intrigued by some of the PAX Indie Showcase winners and can't wait to get some hands-on time with as many of these winners as possible. Sure, they won't be as polished or have as much marketing behind them, but to quote the Enron CEO when asked about corporate ethics, Who cares? The games look like a lot of fun, and I'll take pure unadulterated fun over stunning vistas of an expansive galaxy. Overall: Cautiously optimistic, mildly flatulent.
This year is already shaping up to be an incredible PAX Aus, and this is just the surface. With more exhibitors and events being announced closer to the show, who knows what will show up? Keep it locked to Couch Soup to stay up to date on all the latest news about PAX Aus 2023!
Are you going to PAX Aus 2023? Have you been before? What developer do you hope shows up? Let us know in the comments where we can all be excited about PAX.
In the age of live-action remakes, Disney is at it again with a remake of the beloved sensation, Moana (2016)... A mere 10 years after the initial release, mind you. While the footage is heavy on the CGI, it effectively captures the beauty of the original animations and features beloved characters like Hei Hei. But it begs the question: Did we really need a reimagining of this film so soon? Moana sails into theaters July 10th, 2026.
