LOS ANGELES — With some publishers splitting from the show floor and more gamers sliding on virtual reality headsets than ever before, this year’s Electronic Entertainment Expo moved the video game industry in decidedly different directions than past installments of the annual interactive extravaganza.
The event drew more than 50,000 industry insiders to the Los Angeles Convention Center this week, while 20,000 gamers attended an all-new fan fest held outside. The attention-seeking competition for eyeballs and hashtags was fierce as rivals showcased new hardware and software.
Who won E3?
Inside vs. Outside
In the weeks leading up to the gathering of the game industry, much was made about the decision by Electronic Arts and Activision to forgo their usual spaces on the E3 show floor. EA opted for a fan-focused event across the street at the LA Live entertainment complex, and Activision hunkered down in meeting rooms and at Sony’s booth. Their absences on the floor were noticeable and allowed other publishers to command more attention, such as 2K Games with its lavish New Orleans-themed revelry to promote “Mafia III.”
WINNER: Inside.
Microsoft vs. Sony
The titans of the gaming industry faced off this year utilizing very different strategies. Sony solely focused on a mix of established series and original games coming to PlayStation 4 and PlayStation VR. Meanwhile, Microsoft boasted slimmer and more powerful versions of Xbox One, as well as the ability to buy and play games across devices. Sony’s games felt more solid than Microsoft’s lineup, but the Xbox maker proved it isn’t afraid to break down barriers.
