In the 25-year history ofE3, or Electronic Entertainment Expo, the show has never been cancelled or postponed. Since 1995, every summer the ESA has organized one of the largest video game expositions in the world for developers/publishers both big and small to show off the latest and greatest in gaming. 2020, due to the most unfortunate circumstances involving Coronavirus disease concerns, will mark the first year where the show will be officially cancelled. While it’s clear the Big Three (Nintendo, Microsoft, and Sony) may suffer due to the cancellation, smaller Indie developers and games will suffer just as much, if not more.
WithE3taking its first year off ever, as much as the biggest players in the gaming industry are taking a hit, indie developers are losing a huge opportunity that they’ve had for years prior. Sure, there are plenty of other conventions/conferences throughout the year to which developers and publishers may attend and show off their games, but the E3 show floor was always a premier moment every year for all games. New games arguably got the most attention at E3 compared to any other event throughout the year. With E3 2020 now cancelled, we may not see another conference again, leaving in its wake the ending of a 25-year-long tradition for the industry.
Doomed by Circumstance
Not to be all doom and gloom, butE3 has been changing and struggling with its identity for the last few years. Ever since the popularization of Nintendo Direct-styled presentations in favor of traditional press conferences, the trade event has been having issues maintaining relevancy for the industry at large. 25 years ago E3 was just the opposite.
In the past, when the internet was not as ubiquitous or universally fast enough to handle worldwide streaming, the event was extremely important. Sure,E3 has had its fair share of embarrassing moments in video game history, but at least back then the internet didn’t meme those moments into oblivion (at least not right away, that is). It allowed news sites to get the scoop on every new update from the event and get pre-recorded footage up before everyone else. Announcements were filled with pomp and circumstance to entice both consumers and professionals in the industry. Developers, publishers, and games used E3 as their launchpad to unveil their games to the world.
Nowadays E3’s purpose in the industry has become less important. Exemplified by Nintendo’s adoption of pre-recorded and live-streamed announcements, and Sony’s total self-exemption from the event entirely (in favor of their own “State of Play” live-streamed presentation series), there’s no need for a physical space for gaming’s Big Three to make their big announcements each year. Even in 2020, we’re seeing Microsoft’s Xbox maybe opting for a fully digital presentation in lieu of no E3 this year. Assuming these types of live online conferences continue to do well for the big companies, from their perspective, there may be no need for E3 in 2021 and beyond.
No More Spotlight
Assuming E3 doesn’t come back in 2021, it begs the question of what indie games are going to do each year?E3 is a perfect opportunity for the best Indie gamesto get the recognition they deserve. In an industry where independently developed games may never see the light of day, it makes exposure and marketing even harder for smaller games. No matter how innovative or fantastic a game might be, if it’s not featured in Microsoft, Nintendo, or Sony’s conference, it becomes much harder for that game’s popularity to grow.
The Big Three often feature a plethora of smaller games in dedicated indie games showcases, but that still leaves thousands of games by the wayside. At least at E3 indie game publishers can rent exhibition floor space where their games are physically on display to entice event goers. Without that physical presence, relying on the internet to spread word about a game becomes infinitely more difficult. Even though otherevents like PAX are better geared towards showing off the best Indie games, E3 is usually the most anticipated event for these games.
Other than Microsoft, Sony, orNintendo showcasing these games as part of their individual press conferences, there’s seemingly few alternatives for indie games. Smaller independent developers and publishers could band together to create their own conglomerate press conference specifically geared towards indie games, which could potentially draw in viewers. We’ve seen similar situations with other organizations outside of E3, like the Indie MEGABOOTH exhibitions or the Kinda Funny Showcase giving these games proper attention. But these showcases and exhibitions can only go so far, and without E3 to project these games to consumers and professionals directly, combating obscurity becomes an even more uphill battle.
The Big Three’s Relationship with E3
Outside of just indie games, the Big Three finds themselves in very unknown territory as well. In 2020, Microsoft, Nintendo, and Sony will all be orchestrating press conferences independently from E3 for the first time altogether. Nintendo has been doing it for several years now, and Sony doing it for their second year, Microsoft will finally be joining themdespite Xbox’s willingness to participate in E3 2020. Likely the Big Three will still thrive with their own conferences, but at what cost?
E3 usually allowed Nintendo, Microsoft, and Sony to mingle with one another at least briefly, allowing cross-pollination between the powerhouses of the gaming industry in ways otherwise impossible. Outside of E3, the only time this happened publicly was atThe Game Awards in 2018 during a landmark momentwith executives from all three big companies on stage sharing a unified speech. A rare moment indeed, but now without E3, what’s going to happen with the Big Three’s relationship with one another? It’s very possible the few milestones of unification we’ve seen in the last few years may dissolve over time as each company focuses on their own business.
Now that’s not to say the Big Three are going to suffer without E3. In recent years Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo have rented out their own spaces for their respective press conferences anyway. They’ve all live-streamed their press conferences on the internet as well, giving fans at home the chance to see the latest and greatest as well. Unfortunately showing off these games to event goers,like Xbox’s “deep portfolio” of promised games for this year’s E3, isn’t happening this year. Nintendo has seen huge success with their Nintendo Direct live-streamed announcements, along with Sony recently starting their own version of Directs as well. The truth is that the Big Three haven’t really “needed” E3 in recent years, but with the event actually being cancelled in 2020, we may find out the true importance of E3’s impact when it’s gone.
Games Have Never Been Further Apart
For the first time in the game industry’s longest-running tradition, games won’t have their moment to shine at E3.Among a variety of events and other effects on society due to Coronavirus complications, E3 has now fallen victim to the pandemic as well. Video games specifically are in a strange scenario in 2020, with a variety of circumstantial symptoms from the virus affecting the industry in various ways. Games are getting delayed, console manufacturing is becoming more expensive, and now one of the biggest gaming conferences of all time is no longer happening.
E3 may have trouble mounting a comeback after 2020’s cancellation, but as a result we may also see the necessity of the trade show after all. In due time fans and professionals will understand the true impact of E3 on the industry, but for now we can only hope and send condolences for the well-being of all members of the games industry in 2020.
