E3 was once the biggest show in the gaming industry. In some ways, it still is, as eyes still go there when the event happens each and every year. But as times have changed, the scope and importance of the event is starting to falter. Sony is skipping the show entirely for the second year in row, and Nintendo stopped live conferences years ago. Microsoft is the only platform holder seemingly still all-in on the event. In response, he company behind E3, the ESA, is looking at ways to spice up things with a new direction.
In a recently issued statement, the ESA promises bold changes to the show. From the statement, it seems they are aiming to create a more entertainment-driven environment. More celebrities, guests, more access to “insiders,” stage events, and “experiential zones” are metioned. Part of this will come from the ESA teaming up with online retailer iam8bit, though it’s unclear what role they will play in the grand scheme of things.
Something else the ESA came under fire for was their surprisingly lax security, which saw them inadvertently leaking private information of various attendees from the press last year. Their statement briefly (and vaguely) touches upon that as well, saying, “You should also know that we’ve upgraded our media registration process, which received a lot of attention this past summer. Earning back your trust and support is our top priority.”
It’s not really clear what most of that means, especially the experiential zones part (that honestly sounds kind of terrifying), or how it will be implemented exactly. Whether or not it’ll be enough to revitalize the ailing conference is anyone’s guess, but we’ll see what this thing looks like as it gets closer.