PAX Aus 2025

Back to the Future: Classic Gaming at PAX Aus 2025

October 16, 2025 By ausretrogamer

Old-School Was Cool at PAX Aus 2025 🎮✨

We saved the best of PAX Aus 2025 till last 😉 Because as much as we love the new, shiny, RGB-filled world of gaming, our hearts will always belong to the pixel-packed past. The Classic Gaming area once again felt like coming home – a warm hug of CRT glow, joystick clicks, and the unmistakable chime of 8-bit magic.

Every corner was a trip down memory lane: old-school computers, consoles, handhelds, and pinball machines all humming in harmony. There’s just something about playing retro games on their original hardware – the tactile clunk of inserting a cartridge, the flicker of a cathode ray screen, the rush (and rage!) of losing your last life. No emulator can replicate that kind of nostalgia.

And those display cabinets? Chef’s kiss. They were packed with rare and droolworthy treasures, including the ultra-obscure Apple/Bandai PiPP!n ATMARK dev unit and PiPP!n @World, plus the Sharp Famicom Titler AN-510 and the elusive Sharp FamicomStation (aka Famicombox). Retro hardware heaven!

Of course, the silverball scene was just as strong, featuring pinball machines that just landed on Aussie shores – like Pinball Brothers’ Predator and Jersey Jack Pinball’s magical Harry Potter. Picking a favourite was near impossible, but as lifelong ‘80s Arnie fans, Predator definitely got our thumbs-up, with Labyrinth and Dune hot on its heels.

There’s truly nothing like the Classic Gaming area at PAX Aus — it’s where the roots of gaming are celebrated, preserved, and most importantly, played. Here’s hoping it returns in 2026 to remind us once again why the classics never die.

image source / copyright: ausretrogamer.com

Inclusion, Accessibility, Safety and Diversity at PAX Aus 2025

October 15, 2025 By Ms. ausretrogamer

🌈 Needed a Breather? PAX Aus Had You Covered!

When PAX greets attendees with the glorious ‘Welcome Home’ sign, they really mean it! PAX Aus is a wonderfully inclusive and diverse event that welcomes everybody – neurodivergent folks, people with disability, LGBTQI+ communities, First Nations people, and many more.

In addition to our love for classic and retro gaming, we at ausretrogamer are also deeply passionate about disability inclusion. As a proudly neurodivergent family, we know how vital a sincere commitment to inclusion and accessibility is for creating a safe and fun atmosphere that everyone can enjoy together. In our experience, PAX is a real leader on this front.

PAX Aus 2025 had a lot going on, which was great! However, navigating the crowds, coping with sensory stimulation and lots of socialising took its toll and left us needing to press pause. Thankfully, there were a number of dedicated community spaces designed to foster connection, creativity, and inclusion.

The AFK (Away From Keyboard) Room was a low-sensory, relaxing space to recharge in. Run in partnership with Beyond Blue, the AFK area offered 3 different spaces. The first was a quiet, cozy room with dimmed lights and plenty of sensory tools/fidgets and mindful colouring sheets. The second had computer stations set up to contact the Beyond Blue counselling helpline. The third was a darkened room with beanbags for those who needed a very low stimulation environment to reset. The Enforcers and Beyond Blue staff we met in the AFK area were lovely and were so calm, supportive and professional. We were thoroughly impressed.

The PAX Together Lounge was still a chill space, but had a more fun, social vibe. PAX Together provided a safe, supportive space which celebrated diversity. They had pronoun stickers, learn to play and networking sessions, community meetups and workshops – all focussed on games and groups celebrating diversity within the gaming community.

The Kirrip Wilam cultural hub (“Friend Home” in Woi Wurrung language), was another fantastic community space. The Kirrip Wilam Room celebrated First Nation creatives, games, and community. This ABC Gamer interview gives a great overview of this fantastic space:

So whether you needed a moment of quiet reflection, a place to connect with like-minded legends, or wanted to learn more about underrepresented voices in gaming, PAX Aus 2025 made sure no one ever felt alone in the crowd. 💜

Click the link for more information on safety and accessibility at PAX Aus.

image source / copyright: ausretrogamer.com

Ms. ausretrogamer
Co-founder, editor and writer at ausretrogamer. Lover of science fiction, fashion, books, movies and TV. Player of games, old and new.

PAX Aus 2025: The Fun Came, We Saw, We Played!

October 14, 2025 By ausretrogamer

From Gaming to Cosplay, PAX Aus 2025 Had It All!🎮✨

Can you believe it’s been a whole year since the last PAX Aus? Time really does fly when you’re having fun—and wow, did we have a lot of it this year!

From the moment the doors opened, PAX Aus 2025 was bursting with energy, excitement, and that unmistakable buzz of shared geekdom. Whether you were there for the blockbuster game reveals, epic cosplay, thought-provoking panels, or just to roll some dice and mash some buttons, there was something for everyone.

The Main Hall was a sensory overload (in the best possible way), filled with new gaming experiences, neon lights, and endless action. Meanwhile, the Tabletop and Freeplay areas became mini worlds of their own – where strangers became teammates, rivals, and friends over cards, boards, and controllers.

And of course, we can’t forget the heart and soul of the show (Ed: we are biased!) – our beloved Classic Gaming area. But don’t worry, we’re giving that its own spotlight soon (because it totally deserves it). Keep an eye out for that post if you’re craving a dose of retro nostalgia! 👾

For now, grab a snack, get comfy, and let your mouse wheel (or index finger) do the work—scroll on and soak up all the PAX Aus 2025 goodness!