Paris Games Week 2025 Is Going Big: Night Sessions, Dôme Arena, and Real Hands-On Hype

Paris Games Week finally levels up-here’s the real story for players

Paris Games Week 2025 kicks off October 30 to November 2 at Paris Expo Porte de Versailles, and for once, the changes aren’t just marketing gloss. Late-night hours, a main stage moved into the Dôme de Paris, and actual first-play demos you’ll want to queue for-this year’s show feels more like a proper European gaming festival than the cozy, brand-heavy expo PGW has been in the past. What caught my attention right away: Europe’s first Monster Hunter Festa, Xbox showing a new handheld with ASUS, and a Switch 2 lineup that screams crowd control nightmare in the best way.

Key takeaways

• Night Sessions (open until 21:00 Thu-Sat) change the vibe-and queue strategy—for big demos.
• The main stage at the Dôme de Paris means bigger esports and concerts, but also new logistics to plan for.
• Capcom’s Monster Hunter Festa and Nintendo’s Switch 2 lineup are the must-hit hands-ons; prep for long waits.
• Ticket options are plentiful but confusing; Premium is pricey, but the guaranteed Dôme seat has real value.

Breaking down what’s new (and why it matters)

Let’s start with the Night Sessions. Keeping halls open to 21:00 on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday isn’t just a crowd-pleaser—it’s a pressure valve. Expect peak queues to shift later into the evening, which is perfect if you’re targeting one or two headline demos. If you’ve done PGW before, you know daytime lines can be brutal; these extra hours could be the difference between actually touching Metroid Prime 4: Beyond or just admiring the booth walls.

The other big move is the main stage relocating to the nearby Dôme de Paris. That’s where the esports finals and concerts live this year—a big upgrade in scale and production. It also means you’ll be moving between venues if you want both show floor time and evening finals. Translation: plan your day with buffer for security checks and transit between halls and the Dôme. If you’ve been to events that split venues (think Gamescom’s arena shows), it can be fantastic—if you actually plan for the walk and seating.

The games you’ll actually want to play

Capcom is making the loudest play with Europe’s first Monster Hunter Festa. The headline is a hands-on for Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection ahead of its March 2026 launch. Stories is the turn-based spin-off that quietly converted skeptics last time with smart monster bonding and a legitimately charming story; getting an early feel for combat tweaks and monster synergy is a real draw. Add a French Championship for Monster Hunter Wilds, plus Q&As with series leads Ryozo Tsujimoto and Yuya Tokuda, and Capcom’s booth is going to be a magnet.

On the hardware front, Xbox showing its new handheld, built with ASUS and dubbed the ROG Ally X, is a shot fired in the handheld arms race. With Steam Deck, Legion Go, and ASUS’s own Ally already in the mix, the big question is less “can it run games?” and more “does the software and battery life make this something you want to actually carry?” If Microsoft nails quick-resume-like flow and Game Pass usability without Windows getting in the way, this could be the first true Xbox handheld that feels consumer-ready. Demos include The Outer Worlds 2, Ninja Gaiden 4, and Gears of War: Reloaded—solid stress tests for controls and thermals.

Nintendo, meanwhile, is treating PGW like a Switch 2 coming-out party. Expect the longest lines for Pokémon Legends: Z-A and Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, with Kirby Air Riders and Mario Kart World pulling huge family traffic. Hyrule Warriors: The Chronicles of the Seal and remasters of Super Mario Galaxy 1 & 2 round out a lineup that screams “try it here first.” If you only have the stamina for one queue, make it Metroid—Prime showcases hardware leaps better than anything else Nintendo makes.

PlayStation is present, though we’ll see how much is truly new versus extended demos. Bandai Namco is coming correct with Little Nightmares III, My Hero Academia: All’s Justice, and Dragon Ball: Sparking! ZERO—easy recommendations for hands-on if you like variety. Ubisoft brings Anno 117: Pax Romana and Just Dance 2026, and the “Jeux Made in France” pavilion remains the show’s sleeper hit—perfect for finding that one indie you’ll be evangelizing about all winter.

Thematic zones worth your time (and a few pro tips)

TCG players get a 2,000 m² Gala zone for Pokémon, Magic: The Gathering, Yu-Gi-Oh!, and Disney Lorcana, including play areas, trading, vendor booths, and on-site grading. If you’re bringing cards, pack top loaders and a clear plan; grading lines can eat half a day if you wander in at noon.

PGW Campus is a smart stop if you—or the younger gamers with you—are weighing schools and careers in games. Expect real talk from pros alongside the usual glossy brochures. PGW Family expands beyond the old junior corner with age-appropriate games, toys, and learning workshops; if you’re visiting with kids, block time here rather than dragging them through the Metroid line.

There’s also a two-day B2B area (Thursday and Friday) under “PGW Business by CMS,” with its own talks, networking app, and VIP lounge. If you’re chasing meetings, note that it’s concentrated early in the show—don’t leave those conversations for the weekend.

Esports finals and concerts at the Dôme: big stage, bigger stakes

The Dôme schedule isn’t fluff. You’re getting the EMEA Masters Summer 2025 final for League of Legends, the Trackmania World Cup 2025 world final, a Rocket League “Slash” France Cup, and the LoL Game Changers Rising final spotlighting women competitors. That’s a serious slate that puts PGW on the esports map in a way it hasn’t always been.

Concerts and shows span the week: an opening-night symphonic video game concert on Wednesday, community events Thursday (including a blind test hosted by Bigflo) and the Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 – A Painted Symphony show in the evening, a Friday PGW Festival headlined by Bigflo & Oli, plus Saturday’s “Bigflo and Friends Gaming” session. Sunday wraps with the big cosplay final. If you only care about the games, fine—but if you grabbed a Dôme seat, these are slick palate cleansers between demo runs.

Tickets: what’s worth it

Pricing’s more granular this year. Paris Games Night (the preview evening) runs €35 for halls or €45 with Dôme access. Standard day tickets are €29 adult/€20 youth; two-day passes (Thu-Fri) are €50/€34, while a four-day pass is €99/€69. Evening-only tickets run €25–€39 for a specific night. There’s a €95 Premium option with 9:00 early entry, unlimited re-entry, swag, and, crucially, a guaranteed Dôme seat.

If you’re chasing the esports finals or one of the concerts, Premium’s guarantee is the difference between vibes and FOMO. Families get a solid deal at €85 for four people for a single day. Everyone else: decide if your plan revolves around the Dôme or the show floor. If it’s the latter, a well-timed Night Session might be your best value play.

TL;DR

PGW 2025 isn’t just bigger—it’s smarter. Late nights should ease demo queues, the Dôme upgrade makes esports feel premium, and the hands-on lineup (Monster Hunter Stories 3, Switch 2 heavy hitters, Xbox’s handheld) is worth the trip. Plan your queues, pick your tickets carefully, and leave room for a Dôme finale if you want the full experience.