The Electronic Entertainment Expo, otherwise known as E3, has captivated tech enthusiasts and video game lovers alike for more than two decades. Each year fans eagerly await to see what the next big reveal is, whether it be an announcement for a new highly anticipated video game or a teaser for a new next-gen console.
Though E3 has played a huge role in pushing the gaming, tech, and entertainment industry forward, some fans are now wondering, what exactly is the relevancy of the tech fair in this day and age? Some fans believe that the expo, though contributing much to the industry, has now lost its steam. Other fans believe the opposite, arguing that the expo will always be relevant to the gaming industry and that it will only be a matter of time until E3 is once again in the public eye.
10 Irrelevant: Would Fans Prefer A Virtual Event Or An In-person Expo
With the new online format for E3 2021, some fans are now wondering whether this online approach will become the new norm. Although it is nice to go to an actual physical event, trying the games and consoles in-person, some fans believe that a convention isn’t really necessary. For one, the online setting would be much cheaper, as fans wouldn’t have to spend money on travel. Announcements would also come a bit quicker, as the online format would cut down on the transition times between presenters.
Even with the benefits, E3 would be taking a huge blow if they adopted this virtual practice permanently, as the whole event was originally designed to be a physical expo. The decision to go virtual would be controversial but not unrealistic, however.
9 Relevant: E3 Provides Consistency To The Gaming And Tech Industry
E3 takes place annually at the Los Angeles Convention Center. For the most part, the expo is rather consistent, which is a good thing, especially for game developers. It keeps game developers on track, setting a hard deadline for announcements. Without these deadlines, certain developers might not be as dedicated to their release schedules and agendas as they should be.
It also keeps game and tech developers on their toes, pushing them to release, or re-release, something new and exciting each year for fans. Without the drive and competition, new and exciting video games and consoles would never be released.
8 Irrelevant: Newer E3’s Aren’t As Exciting As The Older Ones
Although attendance for E3 has increased over the years, the event itself has become a bit boring, according to some fans. E3 has only been open to the general public since 2017. And since then, it’s gone through a bit of an identity crisis due to the rebranding. Fans are confused as to what exactly E3 is. Is it a festival, a convention, or is it an expo?
Because of the new rebrand, E3’s have not been able to live up to the hype and excitement of its earlier incarnations.
7 Relevant: A Great Place For Media, Developer, And Fan Interactions
The environment at E3 is distinct from other conventions and expos. The attendees are able to interact with the media and developers on a more personal level. Fans get to try games and consoles for themselves, see huge company heads with their own eyes, and interact with other fans who share a common interest.
The gaming industry needs events like these because it ties the community closer together. E3, being the biggest event that allows for this type of interaction, is extremely important for video game consumers and producers alike. Without this, the video game industry wouldn’t be as successful.
6 Irrelevant: E3 Has Hyped Some Notable Disappointments
For all the highs at E3, there were certainly some lows. There were many overhyped games, announced at E3, that ended up being huge disappointments. In turn, the commercial failures of these games can and will detract fans from attending and watching future E3’s.
An infamous example was Cyberpunk 2077, announced at E3 2019. As part of Xbox’s presentation, Keanu Reeves was a guest speaker, spawning the “you’re breathtaking” moment that fans might be familiar with. But despite the hype, the game turned out to be a disappointment. Other noteworthy commercial failures, announced at E3, included Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite, Marvel’s Avengers, and Anthem to name a few.
5 Relevant: New And Upcoming Developers Get Their Time To Shine
Though fans enjoy hearing from big developers like Sony, PlayStation, EA, and Xbox, E3 has featured some other smaller publishers as well, such as Devolver Digital. Up and coming publishers are given the chance to showcase their new and exciting game.
These games have the potential to put the publisher on the gaming map, giving them a chance to cement their place among the top video game creators from around the world. The gaming industry needs this, as it expands the existing video game pool, thereby bringing more attention to the industry as a whole.
4 Irrelevant: Big Video Game Publishers Don’t Need E3 To Promote Their Games Anymore
Some of the larger video game publishers, particularly Nintendo, PlayStation, and Xbox, don’t even need to go to events to promote their games anymore. They have gotten so famous and so big that some have started to run their own events to announce their games.
E3 has become irrelevant to these companies, which is problematic as the entire foundation of E3 depends on these notable presenters. Over the years, big names, like Nintendo, have opted out of E3, setting a trend that has seemingly haunted E3, still to this day. As these companies become more successful, the future of E3 becomes evermore uncertain.
3 Relevant: Still The Premier Event For Emerging Tech And Video Games
Even with all of its problems, E3 is still the premier event for new tech and video games. There is no event, as of now, that can quite match up to it in fame and size. E3 is like San Diego Comic-Con but for gamers. Fans, media, and publishers still use it, and as long as E3 continues to exist, it will stay this way. There will always be new announcements at E3.
E3 might have a few hiccups every now and then, but they are still doing well compared to some other smaller expos.
2 Irrelevant: Hype For E3 Depends Too Heavily On The Release Window Of Games And New Consoles
E3 runs into the same problem that Blizzcon often runs into. Although new and exciting games are announced every year, there are some announcements that are bigger than others, like next generation console announcements. Because of this, hype for E3 depends very heavily on the release windows of certain games and consoles. When a new console is announced, hype for E3 skyrockets.
Resultingly, some years seem lackluster while others are filled with excitement. This ebb and flow is not healthy for E3 in the long run, as they have to depend very heavily on the big money maker announcements to keep the convention relevant to fans and guests.
1 Relevant: E3 Could Inspire A Bigger And Better Event In The Future
As important and as monumental as E3 is, it would be a bit foolish to think that they can go on like this strong forever. Down the line, if things really got bad for E3, ESA or another giant association, could consider replacing E3 with something even bigger and better. This new event could be like an upgraded version of E3.
Although this might not be likely, at this point in time, E3 could be a blueprint for future expos, demonstrating the do’s and don’t of running a video game and tech expo.
About The Author
