- E3 was declared dead for good last year, and Summer Game Fest is considered its replacement.
- Despite this reputation, the latter has never matched the excitement and thrill of E3 conferences.
- E3 had a completely different energy to it, with many now missing this event.
Like every other gaming enthusiast in the world, I was glued to my screen yesterday as I waited for Summer Game Fest to go live.
This annual event, hosted by Geoff Keighley, has been propped up as the E3 killer since 2023. With the latter no longer around, someone had to take up the mantle, and Summer Game Fest did just that.
While Geoff Keighley never claimed to offer a replacement, it’s become clearer than ever that Summer Game Fest does not have what it takes to match up to E3.
Why it matters: The gaming industry has changed drastically in recent years. Among the many shifts, publishers and developers have changed their approach to marketing, with E3 no longer being relevant.
E3 Was Unmatched
E3 was, for lack of a better term, the holiday season for gamers around the globe. Come June, publishers, developers, and media personalities would gather under one roof to celebrate their beloved hobby each year.
As someone who followed E3 conferences for over a decade, I find it hard not to feel nostalgic about the event. Whether it was Sony’s incredible presentation from 2016 or Keanu Reeves’ appearance on the Xbox stage in 2019, E3 always had something special for audiences.
Even at its lowest, the convention was full of heart. Outright bad moments like Sony’s PS3 reveal from 2006 have become famous as iconic moments of gaming culture, reflecting the importance of this convention.
As a gaming fan, it’s hard to describe how great it felt to know that Sony, Microsoft, Ubisoft, EA, and Nintendo would bring their A-game to the convention each year. All of the major press conferences were also held back-to-back to offer non-stop delight and joy.
Summer Game Fest Failed To Impress
Geoff Keighley’s attempt to recapture the magic of E3 after everyone had moved is commendable, but it doesn’t hold up.
In the past, this event has been put on blast for being filled with advertisements. The last thing I expect during a gaming showcase is to see The Rock advertising his upcoming Hollywood film.
However, this is par for the course when it comes to Summer Game Fest. While 2024’s event was mostly free of these forced ads, it still failed to meet the high bar that previous E3 conferences set.
Recall the first time PlayStation unveiled Kratos’ new look or Insomniac’s take on Spider-Man. The crowd went wild after such reveals, the E3 halls bursting with screams of excitement and joy.
Tune into Summer Game Fest, and the crowd speaks for itself. Yesterday’s livestream had little else to offer apart from short trailers and a slew of indie games. Even returning games like Black Myth: Wukong had laughably bad trailers to offer.
I like indie games as much as the next person, but Geoff Keighley has historically failed to balance these reveals with AAA announcements. Even though he asked everyone to keep expectations in check, the crowd echoed a sense of disappointment.
It was clear that fans were not impressed.
A Celebration For Gaming?
Perhaps the most disappointing part about E3’s demise is the fact that Summer Game Fest feels like just another showcase. In comparison, E3 was a completely different experience.
Sure, Gamescom was great, and Sony typically saved a few big reveals for other places like PSX while E3 still existed. However, this convention towered above everything the gaming industry had to offer.
It wasn’t like any other showcase. Instead, this was, in many ways, the heart of the gaming industry.
Unfortunately, E3 was very much a product of its time. Publishers and developers eventually realized they could save millions of dollars by skipping the event. Covid became the final nail in the coffin, and everyone moved on.
While the death of E3 may be somewhat logical, these justifications don’t make it any less sad. With both Summer Game Fest and State of Play completely missing the mark, all hopes are on the Xbox Games Showcase to bring the hype. Here’s hoping Xbox is ready to deliver.
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[News Reporter]
Avinash is currently pursuing a Business degree in Australia. For more than three years, he has been working as a gaming journalist, utilizing his writing skills and love for gaming to report on the latest updates in the industry. Avinash loves to play action games like Devil May Cry and has also been mentioned on highly regarded websites, such as IGN, GamesRadar, GameRant, Dualshockers, CBR, and Gamespot.
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