Paris Games Week 2025: 188,000 Visitors, What's Next?
Decoding the PGW 2025 results and what it means for gaming events in France. With SELL data.
Key points of the article
- ✓gaming
- ✓PGW
- ✓esport
- ✓SELL
188,000 visitors. That's Paris Games Week 2025's official result, announced by SELL (Video Game Publishers Union). A 4.4% increase from 2024, but far from the 200,000 target and very far from 2019's 315,000.
What happened? And more importantly, what does it mean for those wanting to organize gaming events?
The French Video Game Market: Real Numbers
Before talking about events, let's set the context. SELL publishes an annual French market report. In 2025:
The market remains massive, but it's readjusting after the Covid explosion. Gaming is no longer in hypergrowth, it's mature.
What PGW 2025 Teaches Us
Positives
Record brands. 228 brands represented, versus 210 in 2024. All three console makers (Sony, Microsoft, Nintendo) were present, along with major publishers: Ubisoft, Bandai Namco, Capcom, Sega.
Diversifying ecosystem. Beyond pure gaming, PGW now hosts eSports, streaming, and training school players. Gaming is becoming a complete economic sector.
Question Marks
Attendance is stagnating. 188,000 in 2025, 180,000 in 2024, 150,000 in 2023... We're far from pre-Covid levels. Does the Parisian public have other options? Is the event suffering from its gigantism?
Visitor experience. Social media feedback is mixed. Queues, overcrowded areas, difficulty accessing popular demos. When you've paid 30€ for your pass and queued 2 hours for 10 minutes of play, frustration builds.
Alternatives That Work
Regional Format
Toulouse Game Show, Lyon eSport, DreamHack France... These events attract 20,000 to 40,000 visitors with a different formula: more tournaments, less commercial show, community atmosphere.
Average ticket is lower (15-20€ vs 25-30€ for PGW), but experience is rated better. Less waiting, more actual gaming.
LAN Parties
The original format of community gaming. 100 to 500 players bringing their PCs, non-stop tournaments, all-nighter atmosphere among enthusiasts.
Organizer budget: 10,000 to 30,000€. Profitability: very good if well executed. Business model relies on player registrations (30-50€) and hardware partnerships.
What Organizers Must Understand
1. The 2025 Gamer Isn't the 2015 Gamer
39 years old on average. They work. They have children. They won't spend 8 hours in a crowded hall.
What they want:
2. Content Is King
Brands come if you have audience. Audience comes if you have content. It's a virtuous circle you need to start.
What brings people?
PGW 2025 had big publishers but few striking exclusives. Without a shock announcement, buzz falls.
3. Streaming Isn't a Substitute
Some thought streaming would replace physical events. It's false.
The Twitch viewer and trade show visitor aren't the same people (or not in the same mindset). You can watch a tournament on Twitch while cooking. Going to an event is a different commitment.
But streaming can amplify your event. A good stream with pro commentators generates content that lives beyond the weekend.
Realistic Budget for a Regional Gaming Event
For a 3,000 to 5,000 visitor event:
Revenues:
Expenses:
Margin: 31,000€ (20%)
It's tight but viable. The key: sponsors covering a significant portion and tickets selling early.
Fatal Mistakes
Neglecting Network
A gaming event without stable WiFi is guaranteed failure. Players want to stream, share, download. Tournament organizers need reliable connections.
Plan dedicated fiber. It's expensive (3,000 to 10,000€ depending on duration and bandwidth) but non-negotiable.
Undersizing Electricity
100 gaming PCs = 50kW minimum. Add lighting, sound, giant screens... You can easily reach 100kW.
If the breaker trips mid-tournament, you have a reputation problem that will last years.
Ignoring Parents
40% of the gaming public has children. If you don't plan zones for the youngest, you lose an entire visitor category.
A Nintendo/family games zone, a lounge with comfortable seats, adapted food... These details make the difference.
2026 Outlook
SELL predicts a stable market. No explosive growth, but no crash either. Gaming is established in the French cultural landscape.
For events, that means:
Winners will be those offering a memorable experience, not just a lineup of booths.
My Conclusion
PGW remains the national reference event. But its "giant commercial show" format is showing limits.
The future of gaming events is probably hybrid: national events for announcements and B2B meetings, regional events for community experience, LAN parties for hardcore gamers.
If you want to start, start small. A well-organized 100-person LAN is better than a chaotic 2,000-visitor show.
Gaming is a demanding sector. Players know how to recognize who respects them and who sees them as wallets.
Sources: SELL Report 2025, Paris Games Week 2025 Press Release
