Largest East Coast Gaming Conference Commits To Boston

The largest videogaming conference on the East Coast will continue to call Boston home, according to the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority.

Organizers of the convergence known as PAX East have now signed an agreement to return to Boston each year for the next decade.

Since it first came to Boston two years ago, PAX East — the counterpart to the West Coast conference — has attracted 70,000 avid fans and influential players from the industry.

In Wednesday's annoucement PAX East also committed to make an annual $25,000 contribution to the Massachusetts Digital Games Institute (MassDiGI), based at Becker College in Worcester.

In a statement, Lt. Gov. Timothy Murray said, "Massachusetts is excited that PAX East shares that vision for the industry across the Commonwealth. PAX East’s commitment to bringing the largest East Coast video gaming convention to Boston and providing an annual donation to MassDiGI complements ongoing collaboration to increase economic activity within the state and foster knowledge-transfer between Massachusetts and the rest of the world.”

PAX East 2012 descends on the Boston Convention Center in early April and organizers expect 75,000 gaming enthusiasts to show up.