A new pop-up at the Museum of Vancouver celebrates the city’s role in shaping the global gaming industry.

This summer, Vancouver’s decades-long legacy in the video game industry is taking centre stage, with the launch of Press Start: A Vancouver Game History Pop-Up, a temporary exhibit at the Museum of Vancouver (MOV) on July 9.

Developed in collaboration with the Canadian Video Game Museum and the MOV, the exhibit examines the role Metro Vancouver played in the creation of the global video game industry, from Nintendo’s North American growth and Burnaby’s launch of the first controller manufacturing facility in the province (during the late ’80s and early ’90s) to big-budget blockbusters published from studios like Electronic Arts and Microsoft, award winning indie developers and mobile gaming triumphs.

The pop-up will feature vintage gaming consoles, playable arcade cabinets, game demos and interactive displays that showcase the evolution of game development. The exhibit also features Vancouver-produced hits such as Marvel Contest of Champions, Celeste and Darkest Dungeon.

“Starting research for this project began all the way back in 2016 beginning with a database of game companies that have existed in Vancouver, later expanding to include all of B.C. Over time this concept evolved, recognizing a need for a physical entity to spread awareness and education around game development and Canada’s role in the game industry,” says Ryan Dunnison, founder of the Canadian Video Game Museum, in a press release.

The exhibit also recognizes Vancouver’s reputation as a global hub for game development, buoyed by its ties to the film, visual effects and interactive entertainment industries.

“The Museum of Vancouver exists to share Vancouver’s stories and the people who’ve built Vancouver’s video game industry have made an indelible mark of global storytelling. We are excited to provide a platform to an emerging museum focused on video games and the people who make them,” says MOV CEO Ryan Hunt.

Admission to Press Start will be offered as a stand-alone ticket, or as a combination ticket with MOV admission.

Press Start: A Vancouver Game History Pop-Up

When: July 9 to fall 2026

Where: Museum of Vancouver – 1100 Chestnut St.

Tickets: General Admission: $5. Bundle pricing with MOV tickets: $3. Free entry for Indigenous Peoples and children under 12