Just yesterday on the podcast we were saying that there was no way PAX West was going to happen this year, at least not in a physical sense. The COVID-19 pandemic has thrown a giant monkey wrench into a lot of conventions, even those that are far out on the calendar, and it was hard to imagine that the organizers of the Penny Arcade Expo were going to want to keep pushing forward with the Seattle show.
Well, proves how much we know because the event is still being tentatively planned for Labor Day weekend. The organizers said that they will “continue to monitor the situation and work with health officials at all levels of government, and intend to follow all CDC and WHO guidelines as they are released” but are “optimistic” about the convention happening.
The internet is not buying that this will actually happen. “PAX, I love your conventions, but this is an irresponsible move,” said one fan. Another chimed in, “Please, as a health care provider, please cancel PAX this year for the safety of others. Now isn’t the time.”
It should be noted that one organizer admitted that cancelling is not off the table but that this message should be interpreted as a “wait and see” approach to the convention.
(Ed. note: MOP will not be sending anyone to PAX West in person this year.)
Meanwhile, GameStop is trying to get its stores re-opened as soon as possible, with some locations already welcoming the public. You might recall that GameStop was reluctant in the extreme to shut down in the first place, deeming its services “essential” to the public.
