Convention - Paris Games Week 2024: Playstation Modest Presence and Astro Bot’s Exclusive Spotlight

By Mulder, Paris Expo Porte de Versailles, 22 october 2024

Paris Games Week 2024, which is celebrating its 15th anniversary, is once again electrifying the gaming community at Paris Expo Porte de Versailles from October 23 to 27. This major gaming convention hosts leading industry giants, with fan-favorites such as Nintendo and Xbox showcasing expansive booths with a wide selection of games and interactive elements. However, PlayStation, usually known for an elaborate display, surprised fans by adopting a more streamlined approach this year, presenting a booth shared with Fnac and focusing exclusively on the PS5 title Astro Bot.

Unlike previous years, where PlayStation’s booths took center stage with numerous game demos and extensive interactivity, 2024 sees a smaller, more selective PlayStation presence. The decision to co-locate with Fnac and limit the focus solely to Astro Bot, a popular platforming exclusive, is a marked shift for Sony’s engagement strategy at this prominent event. Industry experts and fans have speculated about this unexpected change, as PlayStation is also celebrating the 30th anniversary of its original console this year. Instead of leaning into this milestone with an extensive display of new releases or retrospectives, PlayStation opted to highlight just one title, albeit a well-loved one​

This unique approach puts Astro Bot at the heart of PlayStation’s PGW strategy, leveraging the game’s popularity and the PS5’s immersive capabilities to deliver a compact, focused experience. Visitors could fully immerse themselves in the delightful world of Astro Bot, exploring innovative game mechanics and character animations exclusive to the PS5’s advanced hardware.

Though limited in content, the PlayStation booth compensated with an eye-catching Astro Bot-themed setup that captured the charm and whimsy of the game. This space, strategically located between pavilions 1 and 2.2, features immersive decorations inspired by Astro Bot, creating a picturesque zone ideal for fan photos and social media moments. The decorations brought Astro Bot’s world to life, replete with vibrant colors and recognizable elements, making it a popular spot for attendees looking to capture a memory from this year’s PGW. Despite the smaller setup, this scenic passage transformed into a vivid attraction, blending artful design with gaming culture​

This year’s Paris Games Week also welcomed expansive displays from Xbox and Nintendo. Xbox’s booth featured a robust lineup with titles such as Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 available for live multiplayer sessions, along with new adventures like Indiana Jones and the Ancient Circle and Dragon Age: The Veilguard. Nintendo’s display, by comparison, celebrated its staple franchises, offering demos for titles like Super Mario Party Jamboree and The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom, a unique Zelda adventure where Princess Zelda herself takes the lead. With these expansive setups, both companies offered fans a deeper look at their latest projects, making PlayStation’s limited focus on Astro Bot feel restrained in contrast​

For PlayStation, prioritizing a single title—though a high-quality exclusive like Astro Bot—leaves room for discussion on Sony’s strategic choices at PGW 2024. The platform’s focus on Astro Bot could reflect a shift towards more selective engagement, or perhaps a recalibration in response to changing event dynamics. By centering the booth around one title, PlayStation may be hinting at a more refined, focused approach to community engagement, banking on the charm of Astro Bot to carry the brand’s presence through the event. While some fans expressed nostalgia for the broader showcases of the past, others appreciated the chance to delve deeper into Astro Bot’s world without the distractions of multiple competing titles​

Responses from fans have been mixed, with some appreciating the chance to experience Astro Bot in an undiluted format, while others were hoping for a broader range of demos and perhaps a retrospective of PlayStation’s history. The minimalist approach has sparked a conversation within the gaming community about what this change could signal for Sony’s future in large conventions. The intimate, carefully curated booth still allows attendees to connect with PlayStation’s IP in a meaningful way, even if they miss the larger, more extravagant displays of prior years.

As gaming expos evolve, PlayStation’s refined booth may signal an ongoing shift in how major players engage with fans, adapting to changes in audience preferences and focusing on targeted interactions rather than expansive presentations. With the 30th anniversary of PlayStation underway, it’s possible that Sony will lean into other avenues, including online platforms or dedicated events, to celebrate its legacy with fans worldwide. In any case, PGW 2024 offers a unique glimpse into PlayStation’s evolving presence, spotlighting a beloved character in Astro Bot and creating memorable interactions within a more intimate framework​

At Paris Games Week 2024, PlayStation’s minimalist yet impactful booth demonstrates a thoughtful, if unexpected, approach to fan engagement, underscoring that sometimes, less can indeed be more.

You can discover our photos in our Flickr page

Photos and video : Boris Colletier / Mulderville