Gamescom is almost here, and we at Gamereactor are getting ready to fly to Cologne to play a bunch of the latest titles and chat with the amazing people who make them. With this big event on the horizon, Ben and Alex decided to head to head again to discuss whether Gamescom is the new E3.
Gamescom is the new E3 – Ben
Let’s be honest, Gamescom isn’t far behind E3, even in its heyday.If you like video games and live in Europe, the German convention isTHEplace, because since E3 is in Los Angeles, it’s never been the easiest place for Europeans to get to. Now that the dust has settled on E3, none of that has changed for Gamescom, it’s just missing its biggest major competitor.
Don’t get me wrong, I don’t think we’ll ever see an event that integrates show and reveal like E3. Summer Game Fest will try, but we’ll never hold a large conference in one location again, for the simple reason that it’s cheaper and more profitable for publishers to just hold their own digital showcases. Plus, an early summer window is better suited to get the jump on a fall launch, and Gamescom may never be able to match E3 in both respects.
But without the show in Los Angeles, Gamescom is now the biggest gaming convention in the world. It’s always been the better event for consumers, but now that E3 is gone, it’s also the best place to get deals – as the Tokyo Game Show came a little too late and is mostly tailored for the Asian gaming market. So, by default, if you ask me, that makes Gamescom the new E3.
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If you want to play the biggest upcoming games, chat with developers, attend tournaments and tournaments, shop for quirky and unique merch, and just revel in all things video gaming, Gamescom is the undisputed place to be.
Hopefully in the next few years we’ll see all the major publishers understand how valuable and important the event is to fans, given the conspicuous lack of Sony PlayStation, Electronic Arts, Ubisoft, etc. at this year’s show. Still, with record attendance and over 1,200 exhibitors, there’s no denying Gamescom’s appeal, especially for indie and AA developers and publishers.
Long story short, you could argue that Gamescom isn’t the new E3, and Alex will do it, but if not, what is? Do we just move on and accept that the Olympic calendar is missing that major annual trade show? Are we pinning all our hopes and efforts on Geoff Keighley and Summer Game Fest? No. We have a new king of conventions and its name is Gamescom.
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Gamescom is not the new E3 – Alex
E3 is dead. While you may still be grumbling hard, desperately hoping for its big return in 2024, this year has proven that even if it does return, it will be an empty shell of its former self. With many looking forward to the next show in grief, Alternatives, it’s fair to say that Gamescom does look like a tantalizing new king of shows. It’s nice that it’s closer to us in the UK, and it’s packed with important players, allowing people to get hands-on with upcoming titles. It’s miles ahead of Keighley’s supposed replacement at SGF.
But, as you can probably tell from the fact that I’m on the opposite side this time around, I don’t think Gamescom is the new E3. There’s nothing like the new E3, because while Gamescom is the big event in Europe, it can’t command the same attention as those three E’s. Some things simply cannot be replaced. Today’s world is fickle and has a short memory. If you’re not the biggest thing, you have little chance of being it. In my opinion, Gamescom will continue to hold second place until we start to see some real changes.
This year, yes, we saw a record number of exhibitors, but in terms of big disclosures, Keighley has said that ONL will only give us the latest information we know. E3 used to have its signature annual announcement, and now companies prefer to keep their big announcements to their own shows. Of course, exceptions may exist, but now that we live in an age of state of play, directors, etc., it’s hard to imagine a show being the place where you hear everything.
Also, let’s not forget that there are not only two major fairs each year. SGF may not have as much cachet or stuff as Gamescom, but it does happen in the A’s of America, which means it automatically draws more eyes. Tokyo Game Show is not to be underestimated either, as we see franchises from Japan such as Final Fantasy, Pokemon, Souls, and more take root in the West, Tokyo may be the place to go sooner or later.
Gamescom has a long way to go if it’s going to be the new E3. We need to put more effort into making this show something that audiences around the world can’t miss, and while there’s a lot going on there, Tokyo Game Show can still take the crown from Europe’s largest gaming expo. There’s a power vacuum right now, and while Gamescom might be the one to fill that gap, there are other equally viable options.