Microsoft to Have Xbox Digital Event in Place of E3

Phil Spencer tweets: "E3 has always been an important moment for Team Xbox. Given this decision, this year we'll celebrate the next generation of gaming with the @Xbox community and all who love to play via an Xbox digital event. Details on timing and more in the coming weeks"

[Spurg]

At least they are having there own event at that time. Hopefully it will have third party game announcements and other publishers use that platform as an opportunity to show off their games which they would miss at E3

This is the E3 to kick start next gen, Phil Spencer is doing the right thing by having an event at the same time.

[pwnmaster3000]

Agreed, if any of the big three is smart.. they would use this opportunity to have 3rd party devs show case their new games.. even if it’s Multi they can still bring in the attention on them.
I wonder if Sony predicted this and started planning ahead.. Who knows.
But Either way Microsoft is ready to show what they got and this could help them have a better showing.

[Sitdown]

Are you saying you wonder if Sony predicted the virus?

[pwnmaster3000]

@Sitdown
What?? No lol
Predicted they will cancel E3 because of the virus.

[timotim]

Bravo Team Xbox!!! You guys deserve all the praise you get for this.

Use that money you would have spent on E3 (well at least the rest of it haha) and put it towards big production values for this event. Maybe go with narration work instead of the cheesy characters you typically have during your webcasts...mix this with Phil Spencer, key hardware personnel and most of all, the dev teams working on projects. No used car salesmanship...just the facts and the devs telling us about their games...could be awesome.

[aaronaton]

hhmm that should take them up to 15 minutes, what are they gunna do for the remaining few hours?

[shiva1]

Prettry sure there wont be a musical event as a filler.

[xX-oldboy-Xx]

I wonder if they'll put a whooping and hollering sound bite after every announcement.

[timotim]

Tweet Phil Spencer and see what he says...

[xX-oldboy-Xx]

Probably offer me a job, I hope they keep it concise and don't blow everything out of proportion. Though they have a reason to be excited no doubt.

[luckytrouble]

I mean, why are we acting like this is praise worthy? E3 is an expensive event with a crap ton of planning. I can't imagine how much money Microsoft already sunk into it with the cancellation only happening three months in advance. Of course they're going to do their damndest to make as much of their original plan happen as possible.

Honestly, this year is just going to prove how unnecessary E3 itself actually is in the modern age of gaming.

[ApocalypseShadow]

Exactly.

Of course, we were telling these people the same information can be provided online now that we have the means to do so without going to E3. I mean, most of us were watching from home or work anyway. Sure, about 60 thousand go to E3. But millions upon millions were watching a stream or updating web pages for new information.

We said Sony didn't need to go and heard nothing but nonsense on how E3 is so important. But now that E3 is canceled,

"look how Microsoft is so quick to update us on streaming an event and providing information on what's coming."

When Sony has been providing news about what's coming in the immediate future already. This gen isn't over but Microsoft can't wait to get it over with.

It's not like Microsoft has a choice anyway being curb stomped this generation in games, sales, awards, add-on technology with VR, amount of online users, etc. It only makes sense that the loser get the word out as soon as possible before Sony, the market leader, **really** opens their mouth about next gen.

[ElementX]

Every conference or convention is important. Not only do people get to see things in person, they are able to ask questions and meet devs. Conferences bring large amounts of revenue to local businesses, they stimulate local economies. They also provide labor for tons of people across several different service industries. It's about more than getting information out, it's bringing people together. Conferences could've gone streaming a decade ago, but most continue to grow because people like going to them.

BTW I didn't see you in the HZD coming to PC article. Nothing to say, or did you not want to be seen saying anything negative toward Sony?

[Gunstar75]

Cringe

[ApocalypseShadow]

What is there to say about a 3 year old game coming to PC? Not really important or relevant. But I didn't see Herman announce that all PlayStation games were coming to PC or day and date. Microsoft needed PC because their games and consoles weren't selling like Sony's. Could you quote me those Xbox one sales again? Or did you want to provide me with how many shots were fired in Halo?

Anyway, my point still stands. That same information Microsoft is going to provide by using online, is the same thing we were saying that Sony is providing and will provide for PS5.

So, Sony was right about E3. And, was right about streaming information when it's time without the need of an in person conference. You'll still get the same information. Sony's 2 for 2.

[AngelicIceDiamond]

Its good news now live with it.

[PimpDaddy]

STFU. The fanboy shit is so played out 🤦🏻‍♂️🤦 🏻‍♂️🤦🏻‍ ♂️

[LordJamar]

Was good until it went into fanboy nonsense

[rainslacker]

We'll get the same information. The format may not be as exciting or as much of a spectacle that we've come to expect from E3. There is merit to having centralized events. But centralized events aren't absolutely necessary. Deciding to go to one or not will not make or break any company nowadays.

And to some saying it, Yes, Xbox fan boys were relentless in saying how Sony was making a mistake, and were scared and had nothing to show, and that E3 was one of the most important events of the year. Just like BC at the start of this gen, when it becomes a non-issue, people stop caring or changing their viewpoint on the matter.

I think it's cool that MS is doing an streamed event to make up for E3 not being possible this year. Nothing to criticize there. But I also feel since Sony is likely to do something, or at least get the info they want out there anyways, that there is no reason to criticize them just because they haven't made their plans known. Many things PS this gen were reported without any warning. Like the Horizon announcement a couple days ago. The interview that first talked about the PS5. Other random things they do. About the only thing they announce is their state of plays.

[timotim]

Its praise worthy to me for a couple reasons. For starters, this took place on the very day E3 was officially canceled, which tells me Xbox already planned for this as a possibility and that there alternative could potentially be better positioned due to the fact that they weren't blind sided by this. It shows proper organization and sends a message that the info is more important than anything else and that they will get that info out there by being creative. Xbox is being efficient and transparent...two things they said they would do. We look forward to E3 because of the info we get on these games and consoles...rather a live event called E3 or a pre recorded web event...as long as we get the same info, thats all that matters. 👍🏾

[ApocalypseShadow]

It only shows that Sony was ahead of the game about E3, protecting it's employees and using online as a delivery medium for information that's just as effective.

Transparency? You mean they have provided reasons why you **pay** to play free games? I must have missed that article.

[moriarty1889]

yeah i agree. ms didnt make people wait and wonder the way sony is doing about ps5. At least we KNOW ms will have an event already in place of e3 and we KNOW about the XSX and some of the games. give credit where its due. they stepped up the same day E3 was cancelled and informed fans about the new format to replace their e3 showing.

[ApocalypseShadow]

Ask yourself these questions moriarty.

Has Sony not delivered each generation with hardware and software? Did they not win 3 out of 4 hardware generations they were in?

Then why are you worried about when Sony announces their product? PlayStation fans aren't. Did you not see TLofU2 and GofT? You don't think they have more they are not talking about? I think real fans know Sony's pedigree of hardware, software and risk taking like VR, that Sony will be fine. I'd worry more about viruses and the economy over what Sony is doing.

[timotim]

@Apocalype

The topic isn't about if E3 is the right call or not...E3 was only canceled because of a very threatening virus going around, not because Sony pulled out haha. Please don't attempt to use that virus as some sort of win for Sony...that's disgusting. Microsoft could have cried and moaned about this, but instead they had a plan in place the day it was officially canceled...that shows they have their partners and fanbase at the forefront of their decision making process.

Yes transparency. Meaning in this case to have complete clarity about their plans with their partners and fanbase based off their expectations. The very thing Sony is doing the opposite of with theirs.

[rainslacker]

Weren't you one of the one's saying that Sony was overreacting by using the virus as an excuse to drop out? Now you're accusing others of doing something disgusting because they were using the virus as an excuse for Sony pulling out? You know MS probably would have pulled out of E3 if it wasn't cancelled right? MS employs thousands of people at the Redmond campus, and despite what people may think of them, they do care about their employees.

You say they had this contingency planned for the day E3 was cancelled? Isn't it more likely that they knew E3 was going to be cancelled and just let it ride so they wouldn't come off as the bad guy like Sony did? Or maybe they just had this ready to go anyways and used the E3 cancellation to get attention for it? Maybe they heard from the ESA about the cancellation before the public, and decided on this as their contingency at that time. It's not terribly hard to say, we'll make a streamed event instead. Yeah, Sony can do that, they just didn't make their plans known, and Sony isn't prone to stating plans before they're in place.

You make your preponderances as if you were in that marketing room strategy meeting, but you are probably about as informed on the inner workings of MS as anyone you are responding to. At least keep it to potential scenarios. Hell, I listed three without even trying, and will readily admit I have no clue what happened when and for what reason.

[annoyedgamer]

E3 was bad anyways. Glad it got canceled. Ruining journalist parasites plans makes me giddy. No more back door interviews where they claim gamers are offended by stuff.

[King_Noctis]

So where are we supposed to get our yearly big gaming show now that almost every gaming shows out there are cancelled?

[pwnmaster3000]

@King_Notice
Honestly, E3 canceled or not. It wouldn’t have made any difference for me.
The majority of the time people complained about the show and just wanted to see the games and not the talking...
Watching the trailer Online or then talking about the specs is all I really need.

[King_Noctis]

“ Watching the trailer Online or then talking about the specs is all I really need.”

Instead of having a show where everything is there, you’d prefer to watch the game announcements one by one video by video on Youtube?

I’m not saying E3 should go on, but how convenient is doing thing you way?

[LordJamar]

Have you ever been to a E3?

[rainslacker]

There are good journalists out there too. We usually see them shine during E3 or other events, as they're the one's that have the connections to get those good interviews or exclusive info. I remember the E3 before the launch of this gen, and it was the good journalists that called MS to task. Was actually rather surprising, because they mostly do suck, but you take the good with the bad. Unfortunately, we tend to focus on the bad, and the bad rip off from the good.

I always enjoyed the conferences and announcements from E3. I won't lie about that. As far as conference production value went, E3 was king, even if the shows were not that good. Others feel dry in comparison. I missed the Sony conference last year, although Square did make up for it to some degree. I'll miss it this year, along with other conferences. I'll still find the info otherwise.

@King

"Instead of having a show where everything is there, you’d prefer to watch the game announcements one by one video by video on Youtube?"

My biggest issue with E3, or any big show, is that E3 news tended to end up being focused on a few key things. Usually whatever was controversial, and way too much, "who won E3" click bait and discussion. Announcements more spread out, or conference not competiting against one another in rapid succession, is actually a better way to allow more of that stuff to get out to the public.

Just think of all the conferences of E3 past. How many things to people remember besides the big announcements and whatever fan boy controversy that can come from it?

[King_Noctis]

“ Honestly, this year is just going to prove how unnecessary E3 itself actually is in the modern age of gaming.”

Yet gaming companies still trying their best to have a show during the cancelled E3 week. Let face it, without E3 none of these companies would have any shows at almost the exact same dates.

[Gunstar75]

They use their own premises.

[SpaceRanger]

The importance of E3 has continued to be flushed down the drain with all these cancellations. Further proving the point of those who tried getting it across to fanboys. As unfortunate as the coronavirus is, it’s a rude awakening to many that these digital showcases are the future.

I expect next years E3 to be a barren wasteland with how successful most digital showcases will be.

[timotim]

I expect E3 to return next year bigger than ever...to much fanfair...granted the virus is gone by then 🤞🏾

[spicelicka]

E3 was affected by pull-outs from big companies like Sony, but that has nothing to do with digital showcases because Sony was likely just going to do their own event. Coronavirus has nothing to do with the importance of E3 either.

Digital was always there. People go to live events for the atmosphere and experience, which is not being affected by any of this.

[King_Noctis]

So as gamers, what else you got to look forward to now that almost every gaming shows is cancelled?

....1 or 2 minutes Youtube clip to reveal new games? Alright.

[rainslacker]

hard to say if the success of such digital endevours will show fruit in the time frame it takes to start planning for next E3. E3, or other conferences do indeed have their benefits to those in the industry, but it's not absolutely necessary for everyone to attend to be successful.

[--bienio--]

Good! I will stream;)

[RazzerRedux]

As expected. Looking forward to seeing what Microsoft will be bringing to my PC.

[TheHateTheyGive]

Lets hope he shows some exclusives.

[AngelicIceDiamond]

8 studios that are AAA's 6 of them are highly likely to show something. Which leaves 5 AA studios. I mean, MS might show something...

[Az1ner]

Have you not been paying attention? Matt is on record we will see new stuff from many of these devs.

[mrmikew2018]

Am I missing something here? Of course they were going to have their own event now, E3 was just canceled.....

What’s the praise for?

[RazzerRedux]

Yeah....none of this should be a surprise or especially praise worthy. I don't get it either.

Glad there will be a show, but beyond that.....?

[LordJamar]

Mainly cause people didn’t want them to be Sony majority like and enjoy E3 but the loud minority of gamers will say its dead for some reason which is far from the truth

[shiva1]

Each to their own opinion...

You have lower expectations for this conference, brand and what they do. But its not the same as what others think.

So dont assume.

[King_Noctis]

Because they didn’t back down even after E3’s cancellation?

[mrmikew2018]

Back down from what?

You know what, you don’t have to answer that. I’m done with this site you guy’s comments are incredibly too stupid for me.

[RazzerRedux]

lol....back down? What were they doing to do? Hold the event anyway?

[King_Noctis]

They could always not have any show after E3’s cancellation. Yet they still choose to hold a digital event. And who’s praising them? This is just news.

“ Do actually think before you post? Serious question”

My serious question for you is do you ever read and understand anything regarding my comment? Or do you need me to explain everything in one comment?

[RazzerRedux]

"They could always not have any show after E3’s cancellation. Yet they still choose to hold a digital event. "

It would have been incredibly shocking if they did not have their own event. That was never not going to happen. Stop pretending.

"And who’s praising them? This is just news."

"Bravo Team Xbox!!! You guys deserve all the praise you get for this."

"SAVIOR!!!!

Xbox is no f* around. I can´t wait for Xbox Series X and the awesome games reveals.

Thank you, Phil!"

And you were answering the question "what's the praise for" when you posted: "Because they didn’t back down even after E3’s cancellation?"

"My serious question for you is do you ever read and understand anything regarding my comment? "

Obviously you don't when I have to remind you of the very question you were answering. So my redacted question was answered. Thanks.

[King_Noctis]

“It would have been incredibly shocking if they did not have their own event. That was never not going to happen. Stop pretending. “

They could always do a Sony and not show anything you know. There was no guarantee that they would have a show after E3’s cancellation. The fact that they still go ahead and show something is at least should be seen as a good thing for gamers.

Thanks for pointing out all those praises that I had missed by the way. I don’t agree with most of them anyway.

[IRetrouk]

I agree it was a good shout for ms to announce a replacement so quick, I dont agree with this bit though,

"They could always do a Sony and not show anything you know. There was no guarantee that they would have a show after E3’s cancellation. The fact that they still go ahead and show something is at least should be seen as a good thing for gamers."

Now if I remember correctly sony already confirmed that it would be doing other events and videos in light of their e3 cancellation, while we have no solid dates, we can be sure sony will indeed be showing stuff, but other than ps5 sony has been sending out plenty to their fans, game releases, release dates, big interview with hulst...

[rainslacker]

Because they confirmed they were having an event. The praise is because it makes Sony look bad. I'd be more surprised if they didn't have an event. I fully expect Sony to have something. Sony last year started their State of Plays. It wasn't as grand as E3, but we know what they had to say. No reason this year will be different.

I commend MS for still doing an event. I don't feel it requires gushing praise for them, nor does it require excessive criticism for Sony as of right now.

This is just an extension of the, "Sony is being quiet, they are scared or have nothing to show" routine we had after MS announced their specs. That discussion was shut down, this is the next best thing.

[moriarty1889]

ms is definitely not holding back on info and communicating with the fans. good job by them and will be interesting to see this.

[Smokehouse]

I approve

[Vasto]

Thank you Phil

[TommyVercetti88]

I want to see Halo Infinite gameplay on this new 12TF beast. Expecting big things like 4k@60/120fps ultra textures with hardware acclerated raytracing. Also excited what new games will be unveiled.

[chiefJohn117]

Thank you, I thought any news about it would be delayed. Phil my dog he ain't never let me down. Still sucks E3 was cancelled I enjoy hearing for the wide range of Devs and getting news about a multitude of things all in a single event.

[IrishScotsman32]

So E3 isn't until June, but it is still canceled?

[BrainSyphoned]

It started three to four months ago and China is just now starting to pretend it is safe in Wuhan. It just got to the US add 3-4 months and it might be cleared up by June or July. Cleared up unless we keep having mega events to hand it to new people.

[ThinkThink]

Spring Break isn't going to help

[rainslacker]

There are more cases cropping up in the US now. Given the incubation of the virus, it makes sense to look at what's going elsewhere, to know that something is going to happen where you are eventually. Maybe not next door, but some states are starting to be hit by it some. There are more and more quarantines happening, and confirmed cases are showing up. Some states are taking measures to try and contain an outbreak, and it's likely by July, California, being the hotbed of travel that it is, would be under some restrictions for gatherings as it is without E3 having to have done this. Ohio, for instance, closed schools for 3 weeks and are banning any gathering involving more than 100 attendees.

I keep saying things are going to get worse than get better, but I also think that once the hysteria dies down, that things will return more to normal. Probably still be attentive to the situation, but less reactionary things going on. If any major world power, or country, has to sustain a long term quarantine or cessation of everything, it will drive our world economy into a depression. We're already seeing signs that a recession is coming.

[Blu3_Berry]

Well while e3 may be cancelled, at least they are looking for ways to share news online. Honestly maybe everyone should do this going forward as it saves them alot of money and time. Though if they do that, I will miss the live audience reaction for e3 as it always felt so lively.

[Az1ner]

Awesome to know it's still happening. I would love if they went to each devs spot and gave a quick tour of their teams and showed off what's next. Spread out and mix it up with 3rd party stuff and another indie real. Also, do a intro of studios if any that were purchased.

[Kaedro]

Good. You see that PlayStation? At least they are saying something. We still have no idea when PS will do any State of Plays or whatever. More like State of Nothingness.

[Donnie81]

They are gonna have a monster show! Series x full reveal and plenty of games to go with it

[Cmoney007]

So a digital event with a lot of CGI trailers and too much talking? Is MS finally going to learn that showing more gameplay about games that people are excited about is a good thing?

[Auron]

Dude come on! I guess youve been living under a rock for the past few e3 shows... Microsoft cut all that nonsense talking and just show games.

[Cmoney007]

So why did Nintendo have the best show last year? Could it be that a lot of gameplay was shown? Why should MS get a pass? If I was living under a rock, then I wouldn’t be paying attention to these things. MS needs to start showing less CGI trailers and more gameplay, dude.

[LordJamar]

Where have you been? Last 2-3 E3s were just games games games

[King_Noctis]

At least they never have a borderline concert during their conferences.

[Cmoney007]

Sony wasn’t even at E3 last year, and MS had a great opportunity to make a splash. They failed because the conference didn’t have much gameplay from many of their games including the newest Halo. A better direction for MS or any other conference is to show less CGI trailers and more gameplay. The reason Nintendo had the best show is because they showed a lot of gameplay from games that people are excited about. When will you stop making excuses for MS?

[rainslacker]

Isn't that first part what a MS E3 conference was to 99.9% of the people that actually watch them?

[franwex]

Won’t be surprised if going forward Microsoft skips out on E3.

[AK91]

Wise decision.

[QuePasa87]

I bet things were headed in this direction in a few a years anyway

[Imortus_san]

Very good, gamers want to now about games, gaming events and gaming new are always welcome.

[RobLoPR]

Awesome! Always preferred watching from home