E3 has fallen simply as Summer time Recreation Fest has risen to take its place. However whereas it could appear to some that the latter killed the previous, Summer time Recreation Fest creator and host Geoff Keighley stated that E3 fell by itself sword.
Keighley stated he “noticed the wheels falling off the wagon of E3”
Keighley spoke about this battle of the summer season exhibits at size on the VGC Podcast. He was requested what he felt about being the “E3 killer,” however as an alternative of dancing on occasion’s grave, he stated it was extra of a self-inflicted wound.
“I believe E3 kind of killed itself in a manner,” stated Keighley. “I perceive why individuals say [Summer Game Fest killed E3], however I believe if something, we created Summer time Recreation Fest, and I constructed Summer time Recreation Fest as a result of I noticed the wheels falling off the wagon of E3.”
Keighley famously pulled out of the 2020 show (which was said to be full of influencers and celebrities) earlier than it folded that yr as a result of he “didn’t really feel snug.” Through the podcast, he recalled going to E3 when he was 15 in 1995 and stated it was an awesome present that “outlined his summer season” yearly. Earlier than stating that its 2023 plans have been a bit bold and that the market would have determined if each exhibits stayed, he reiterated that E3 had its personal points.
“It was so thrilling to me, and it was heartbreaking to see that begin to disintegrate,” he continued. “I believe that they had a relevancy drawback, after which in addition they had a participation drawback over the ultimate years.”
Keighley pushed again on the concept that his present accelerated E3’s loss of life, as some assumed that Summer time Recreation Fest was one other outlet publishers might go to and that meant E3 would atrophy. He additionally stated that he simply didn’t see E3 and Summer time Recreation Fest combating for exclusives and known as out that this yr’s lineup didn’t change as soon as E3 formally folded.
“I get the sentiment round it,” stated Keighley. “It was unhappy to me that we needed to determine to go off and construct one thing new, however we did that every one in partnership with the publishers, and our record of companions for Summer time Recreation Fest didn’t change in any respect with the cancelation of E3 this yr. Everybody we’ve been working with, we’ve been working with for months round Summer time Recreation Fest. So there was a world the place Summer time Recreation Fest and E3 would have coexisted, and we had talked lots to [E3 organizer] ReedPop about that risk, as a result of they have been centered rather more on an enormous commerce occasion, and shopper occasion, and that’s not what we have been doing with Summer time Recreation Fest.”
Along with the livestream on June 8 at midday PT, Summer time Recreation Fest can also be holding Play Days for the press, one thing that’s non-public and lots smaller than what E3 was aiming to do. He additionally known as out how costly it was for some publishers to go to E3, one thing that’s not as a lot of an issue for Summer time Recreation Fest.
