ESA Wants To Replace E3 With a Bunch of Buzzwords

The Entertainment Software Association is launching a new gaming event to replace E3, which was permanently canceled in 2023. According to Engadget, the new event is called iicon (short for "interactive innovation conference") and will feature many of the same major gaming companies that once participated in E3. "Sony, Nintendo, Microsoft, Disney, EA, Epic Games, Ubisoft, Square Enix, Take Two Interactive, Amazon Games and Warner Bros. Games are all named as participants." From the report: [T]he announcements on social media promote iicon as being for "visionaries," "changemakers" and "innovators," so our best guess is that this event will swing more toward the corporate side of gaming where people might use that language unironically. If that's the case, this won't really be a replacement for the heyday of E3, when studios big and small would showcase their upcoming projects and drop internet-breaking surprises. Instead, the inaugural event in April 2026 sounds like it will focus more on moving the needle, brand alignments and synergy.

PAX

[SirSpanksALot]

We don't need E3 or IICON... PAX replaced E3 as the real gamers conference years ago.

Re:

[Rinnon]

Your attempts to be clever just belie your shocking ignorance of the subject. I'm not even sure where to begin educating you. First off, PAX has been running for 20 years, so it predates YouTube. Second, PAX West, the Seattle Conference, (one of 4 yearly conferences they run) has 120,000 attendees; it sells out every year. Third, Penny-Aracde is anything but a bastion of DEI, these guys making a living on dick jokes. If you're going to get confused and stop at the dull corporate site, let me help you out: h [paxsite.com]

Re:PAX

[Pascoea]

It's also full of shitty DEI as indicated in their mission statement.

This is the statement that's got you all triggered? "We do not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, age, ability, or any other characteristic that makes individuals who they are. We strive to create an event where everyone feels safe, respected, and valued."

And you crybabies call us snowflakes.

Re:

[JThundley]

Be specific, which part do you disagree with? The statement says:

"PAX started as a celebration of games and our community — everyone in our community. We want to make it definitively clear that you’re all welcome to find a home here at PAX. We do not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, age, ability, or any other characteristic that makes individuals who they are. We strive to create an event where everyone feels safe, res

Re:

[Morromist]

What are you talking about?
in 1998 the gaming industry generated worldwide sales of $30 billion in 1998 (equivalent to $56.1 billion in 2023).
Now the gaming industry generates $500 billion in revenue. You make it sound as if it has actually declined since the 90s because some game companies offend you, Mr. Snowflake. Are you shocked that some studios lose money on some of their projects? gamedev is a risky business. Pretty sure it was in the 90s too.

Re: I recall when E3 was good.

[zawarski]

Dude, you forgot booth babes. E3 died when they left.

ESA = European Space Agency, you cunts

[greytree]

Any nerd who thinks "ESA" means anything other than "European Space Agency" needs to hand in their nerd badge and pocket protector.

Who the fuck edits this site?

Not getting the point here...

[ctilsie242]

When I see stuff like "moving the needle" and "synergy", that means that this event's cool factor is only relevant for Wall Street, and likely it will be the same old stuff, perhaps demanding people sign up for more accounts, demanding more monthly battle passes be used, or maybe going back to loot boxes and gachas.

This is why the game industry isn't doing so well. If they actually wanted to make something that people would give a shit about, take 2-3 years, create some original IP, original gameplay, mayb