It used to be E3 was a huge event, both in person and digitally. Press conferences from big companies would happen in front of a live audience and be streamed live. For the passed three years it has either been digital only or cancelled all together. This year, however, E3 is back with an in person event. This year’s is geared up to be completely different from before the pandemic. Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo are all reportedly sitting it out. Sony hasn’t attended the event since 2018. Geoff Keighley’s Summer Game Fest is set to start before it this year on June 8th. So far the only company that has indicated being at E3 is Ubisoft who has said that they have a lot to show off. If Ubisoft is the only press conference, then it looks like it could be smaller than previous E3s.
Microsoft said that they will have a press conference over the summer in LA, but hasn’t indicated a date yet. Sony has stated that they will have a press conference before the conference. In January, Microsoft had a smaller event that showcased some of what’s to come in 2023. In February Nintendo had a smaller event showcasing new games and releasing a Metroid Prime remake. Nintendo is expected to have more Nintendo Direct press conferences throughout the year. Though we have yet to hear from some other major players in E3, like EA, Devolver Digital, and a PC World’s PC Gaming Showcase, it already feels like it’s going to be different.
How different can E3 be before it becomes unnecessary?
At this point it may already be unnecessary. Last year, PC Gaming Show held off until November and people still referred to it as their E3 conference. People considered Summer Game Fest to be a replacement for E3 in the years it was cancelled. At this point E3 seems to be more than just a single event, but an idea. Much like Kleenex is used for tissues, E3 has transcended to something much bigger than itself. So is an E3 event necessary to the average person? Probably not, but that doesn’t mean it won’t keep evolving and changing and being used for things that it isn’t.
