E3 Is a Relic Desperately Clinging to Relevancy

E3 has been the event around which the video game industry revolves for nearly three decades now, but it’s time to admit it’s a relic that has long passed its sell-by date. There will be critics of this article that will point to the pandemic as justification for this year’s inept event, but such a response ignores the very real reality that the show has been in decline for several years now – lest we forget that last year’s convention was sounding like a catastrophe, before coronavirus came in and saved organisers ESA’s blushes. The cold hard reality is that it’s time to move on.

[lodossrage]

I'm going to say the same thing I said for the past 6 years.

E3 isn't needed. The ones that keep trying to tell the world it's a necessity are the gaming media that need E3 for free swag and ad traffic to their blogs and websites.

Hell even though Nintendo came back to E3, they and Rockstar have shown the world long ago E3 isn't the only way to reach an audience. When E3 didn't happen last year, did the gamers still get their gaming news and reveals? Yes, they did.

Companies put together their own shows a lot now.

[Obscure_Observer]

Those losers are giving Playstation fans (not the diehard fanboys) a bad name and reputation.

They´ll cry and whine over and over that E3 is dead, E3 is not relevant anymore blah blah blah just because Ryan broke the tradition of many things that made Playstation what it is today.

PC gamers are happy, Nintendo gamers are happy, Xbox gamers are happy and even mobile gamers are happy. And we can´t wait for E3 2022.

[TheTony316]

Sony stopped doing E3 before Jim Ryan was in charge. But whatever you say lol.

[scofios]

@Obscure_Observer that die-hard Xbox fanboys (as your self) need E3 is true , the fameus " just wait till E3 " defense words is all you guys had the last 10 years.

[nix]

They wasted an entire generation waiting for E3 every year. It's going to be tough to give up the addiction easily.

This year i'm so consumed by Euro Cup and Copa America... i actually forgot E3 was happening. i think i've watched 1 trailer so far.

[lodossrage]

This has nothing to do with any system's "fanboys" Obscure. Let's not act like people haven't been saying this for years, myself included. WELL before Jim Ryan took over the helm people have said that. ESPECIALLY last year when E3 got cancelled.

But since you want to make this about fanboys, Xbox fanboys are finally able to pump out their chests mainly because Microsoft has been trying to buy out the industry.

[annoyedgamer]

E3 sucks, and has for years. Companies used to at least pretend to cheer on the fans with it by showing of cool stuff and mingling with actual gamers on the floor but now its just a giant ad reel loaded with cringe and corrupt parasitic journalists looking for hand outs in exchange for glowing reviews. And dont get me started on the game reveals that end up being vaporware.

[Levii_92]

You just live in your own special little world don't you ? Delusional.

[F0XH0UND922]

What an ignorant and clueless comment. Conveniently leaving out that PS gamers are happy. PS gamers are just so upset that were already seeing a constant stream of AAA, critically acclaimed, and next gen games while Xbox fans are jumping up and down at pre-renedered trailers with no gameplay during their 6 year game drought. What has gaming become nowadays that actual nextgen games are thrown to the wayside behind CGI trailers and last-gen games?

[Orchard]

For something that is supposedly dead, I had a pretty good time watching it over the past days and look forward to next years show.

[phoenixwing]

I thought it was okay but I have no investment either way. The one good thing it does is create a time once a year where devs feel a bit forced to reveal info trailers or gameplay. As a gamer I want info trailers and gameplay.

[Vegamyster]

I find they're generally fun to watch, there was plenty of games shown coming out this year that I'm looking forward to.

[F0XH0UND922]

I suppose you're in the minority nowadays. I'd rather get a constant stream of news, trailers, and events throughout the year than one cringe long event with padded filler.

[UltimateOwnage]

E3 is an occasion more than an event, and I’m happy with that.

[garos82]

im one of the biggest defenders of e3 and always will be. its my personal christmas. this years one was beyond dissapointing. Only Nintendo made it feel normal and of course revolver digital (god bless those guys)

[chronoforce]

It is clear that many developers no longer want to devote the resources needed to make the show worthwhile for the wider public. Maybe it should become a less high profile event.

[FinalFantasyFanatic]

That and alot of developers or consoles are having their own online shows/directs/whatever you want to call them, and I'm perfectly fine with this. E3 hasn't been much of a thing for almost a decade now, it just keeps getting smaller, although I still get excited for it every year.

[DarthSocio]

I still really look forward to E3 tbh.

[badboyz09]

VHS,Blockbuster,ToysRUs,Circui tCity,GameStop...........E3

[Elda]

E3 is done...it doesn't have that wow factor it once had. I didn't mind watching the Summer Game Fest & Square-Enix's show everything else was meh or I didn't bother watching.

[ScootaKuH]

E3 is crap, it has been for years. I much prefer the developer's own showcases.

[CrimsonWing69]

Well, this year was the worst I’ve ever seen it. Might as well as canceled it and everyone do their own “directs”.

[Gheritt_White]

Anyone who says that E3 is dead or unnecessary doesn't understand that the real audience at E3 isn't gamers or even gaming journalists, it's mainstream media outlets and their broader audience.

[lodossrage]

We do understand that it's about the gaming media and journalists.

Which is EXACTLY why they're the ones trying to tell people E3 is still necessary when it really isn't. They try to tell people it's necessary for the consumer. But the reality is it's NECESSARY for the media to drive views and traffic, not the actual consumers

E3 was cancelled last year

Did game companies lose out on money for it? Nope, they made record profit last year.
Did the consumer(s) stop spending because of it? Nope, they spent more than ever.
Did the gaming media and websites take a hit? Yup.

That tells anyone all they'd need to know

[Gheritt_White]

Not all consumers receive their news in the same way/places - one size does not fit all. E3 is the only gaming event in the annual calendar that the likes of the BBC/MSNBC etc. cover in detail. Microsoft will be able to get mainstream media to report on multiple messages by making announcements at E3. For Sony's Days of Play, it'll be one or two messages that break through to mainstream audiences at best.

Do you need E3 for "connected" gamers? Hard no.
Do you need E3 for mainstream broad audience and/or investor-type audiences? Yes, absolutely.

To your point re: console sales, it's core gamers that tend to pick up new console systems in their first 12 - 18 months on sale. I agree, E3 is not necessary to sell to core audiences.

[lodossrage]

Gheritt,

Even though I see your point,

Last year's E3 not happening already shows that they aren't even needed for mainstream support. I give an example

Valorant came out last year. Last June. It's one of the top games out there at the moment without having the E3 coverage it would have received had E3 happened last year. It has mainstream growth without having the mainstream coverage. I can say the same for Sony and Nintendo. Nintendo especially since they have shown for many years E3's mainstream attention isn't needed.

Don't get me wrong, being at E3 certainly expands the message. I agree with you there. But being on mainstream television networks isn't what it once was when you have more people cord cutting by the day. Microsoft will get the message through, you're right. But they've had that same advantage with Sony not attending E3 2019 and Nintendo not showing up for years, and the results have been minimal.

Companies see having digital and social media events cost them less money and have better reach. Not to mention the recurring viewership of it. It falls in line as to why gaming media have such disdain for youtubers, twitch, etc.

[OneLove]

This is a dumb conclusion considering gaming sales rose because of the quarantine. Drastically too.

[lodossrage]

@OneLove

games sales were going up regardless for the past 11 years. Pandemic or not. So it would have been record profit regardless

[Levii_92]

It was horrible. I'm just so disappointed.

[OneLove]

We all know the people who are saying this😂😂 was there not an article last E3 of how they break guest records every year.

[F0XH0UND922]

Yeah probably the same people with nextgen exclusives to play and a steady pipeline of games coming in the near future. Weird, right?

[Noxxicity]

Personally I dig it still. It's not going to blow me away every single year and that's okay! It doesn't mean the games aren't coming (hopefully lol). They just weren't shown at E3 this time. If they want to end it then oh well. I'm sure there will always be some events to watch. I like seeing people together celebrating new games and such :)