Paris Games Week 2026 : Nintendo Switch 2 Takes Center Stage

At the October 21 press preview of Paris Games Week 2026, the Nintendo area immediately stood out for its towering red Switch 2 branding and giant illustrated panels. The two largest displays placed Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream beside Professor Layton and the New World of Steam, while rows of red demo kiosks invited visitors to move from promotional artwork to a controller. This was a fitting introduction to the show’s 15th edition, running October 22–25 at Paris Expo Porte de Versailles: the Playground Edition is designed around participation rather than passive viewing.

Nintendo occupies stand A0 in Hall 1, with a mix of approachable family games, solo adventures, competitive challenges and third-party previews. The photographs capture something the game lists cannot: the different rhythms of a major exhibition, from visitors pausing to examine a huge display to staff guiding players at individual screens. The visual scale attracts attention, but the decisive question is what happens once someone sits down to play.

Pokémon Pokopia and Tomodachi Life Put Creativity First

The most charming installation is also one of the smallest: a fenced Pokémon Pokopia garden filled with purple Ditto figures, foliage and a matching bench. It creates a playful contrast with the industrial ceiling and busy convention floor. Nintendo’s demo lets visitors discover a game in which Ditto takes human form and works with Professor Tangrowth and other Pokémon to revive uninhabited areas. The presentation also offers access to the first part of the Fonds-Bulleux expansion pass, according to the exhibitor programme.

Nearby, Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream offers a different sort of world-building. Its trial invites visitors to create three Mii characters, choose their personalities, voices and habits, then watch unpredictable relationships and comic situations develop. The enormous illustrated wall, complete with speech bubbles and a hand placing a character into the island setting, neatly expresses the appeal: the player sets the conditions, but the entertainment comes from what the characters do next.

Splatoon Raiders, Mario Kart World and Nintendo’s Competitive Spirit

Across the aisle, a vast Splatoon Raiders illustration changes the mood. The new solo-focused Splatoon adventure sends players on an expedition with equipment and gadgets to confront enemies, a contrast to the series’ familiar competitive identity. Mario Kart World restores that social energy through races accommodating up to 24 drivers. Nintendo also schedules free on-stand tournaments, giving visitors a chance to compete with other players rather than simply sample a short demonstration. The family selection includes Nintendo Switch Sports Resort, with 12 motion-controlled sports, Rhythm Paradise Groove and GameCube titles through Nintendo Classics.

Professor Layton and Third-Party Games Expand the Lineup

The enormous Professor Layton and the New World of Steam display is a particularly effective piece of exhibition storytelling. Its intricate mechanical cityscape, dominated by the professor’s top hat and his young companion, suggests a mystery before the demo even begins. The title is among the Nintendo Switch 2 previews identified in the official press material, alongside Final Fantasy VII Revelation, Ninjala 2 and Monster Hunter Wilds. Nintendo’s programme also includes recently available EA Sports FC 27 and Minecraft Dungeons II.

Final Fantasy VII Revelation receives a special French presentation featuring game director Naoki Hamaguchi. The range illustrates an important feature of the Switch 2 pitch at the show: Nintendo’s own games provide a clear identity, while partner releases broaden the console’s appeal. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 also features in the exhibition.

Zelda’s 40th Anniversary Creates a Memorable Photo Stop

One of the most atmospheric corners of the stand is dedicated to The Legend of Zelda. A timeline mural marks the series’ 40th anniversary, tracing major entries across decades, while an immense Ocarina of Time illustration is framed by greenery, rocks and forest-like landscaping. The backdrop advertises November 5, but the display itself is best understood as a promotional installation: the photographs do not establish the nature or platform of any forthcoming release.

The contrast with the red Switch 2 kiosks is striking. Where the main play area emphasizes immediate access and a rotating selection of games, the Zelda installation asks visitors to stop and remember. It is both a celebration of the franchise’s history and a reminder that gaming exhibitions also function as places where generations of players reconnect with shared cultural landmarks.

A Playground Edition Beyond Nintendo

The wider Paris Games Week programme explains why this mix of spectacle and participation matters. Organizers expect 180,000 visitors and advertise more than 100 playable games across the four-day event. Their 2025 visitor research found that 83% attended to test games and that each visitor tried an average of 11 titles. The official PGW app offers a ten-stop route with QR codes, challenges and prizes.

Elsewhere, Capcom advertises 65 demo stations, Ubisoft highlights Rayman Legends Retold, and the Game France Pavilion brings together more than 30 French studios and games across 300 square metres. The central stage hosts major esports programming, including the EMEA Masters Summer 2026 final, VALORANT Project Blender, Brawl Stars and the Silver Geek senior competition. A 70-PC open-gaming area and approximately 400 square metres of retro gaming further extend the invitation to play.

There is an economic dimension, too. The PGW Business by CMS programme on October 22–23 brings studios, publishers and investors together to discuss production, funding and distribution. For French developers, a hands-on encounter can introduce an unfamiliar game to new players. Nintendo’s polished presence is the blockbuster counterpart to that discovery mission.

Why Nintendo’s Paris Games Week 2026 Stand Matters

Our press-preview photographs document a varied Nintendo space: a Ditto garden, towering Layton and Tomodachi Life artwork, Switch 2 stations and a Zelda tribute. They do not establish attendance figures or the popularity of individual demos. For Paris Games Week’s 15th anniversary, that variety is more significant than any single poster or preview. The strongest argument for visiting a physical video game show remains simple: a game can surprise you once it is in your hands. Nintendo’s 2026 presentation makes that argument at a scale that is difficult to overlook.

Event Recap: Nintendo and Paris Games Week 2026

Paris Games Week 2026
Where: Paris , Paris Expo Porte de Versailles, Hall 1, Nintendo stand A0
When: October 22–25, 2026

You can discover our photos in our Flickr page

Photos: Boris Colletier / Mulderville