E3 2016: Attendance Drops as E3 2017 Is Dated

Ready to go again?

by Sammy Barker Fri 17th Jun 2016

Whether you enjoyed E3 2016 or not, we're going to do the whole damn thing all over again next year. The ESA has confirmed that E3 2017 – we suppose we better get the tag ready – will run between 13th June and 17th June in 2017, which is more or less identical to this year's show. That's despite attendance for this year's event falling.

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According to the ESA, just 50,300 people visited E3 2016, down from 52,000 the previous year. While it's a minor change, it's worth noting that EA opted to hold its own event this time, while Activision and Disney ditched their booths – though the latter obviously no longer makes games period. Still, not the best of times for E3, although it obviously won't be going anywhere for some time.

[source vg247.com]

As the Editor of Push Square, Sammy has over 15 years of experience analysing the world of PlayStation, from PS3 through PS5 and everything in between. He’s an expert on PS Studios and industry matters, as well as sports games and simulators. He also enjoys RPGs when he has the time to dedicate to them, and is a bit of a gacha whale.

1
sub12
Fri 17th Jun 2016

Pretty minor change in consideration that EA, Activision, Disney, and Konami were not on the show floor. So it's really not that dire IMO.

Say what you want, but E3 still brings the hype, if it wasn't for all the leaks and early press releases, I don't think people would be critiquing this year nearly as much (I though it was good).

Lets face it, Gamescom just doesn't have the same glitz and glam,.......guess what people?!!!? Codemasters just announced a new rally game!!!...........(it's not that bad, lol, but it's no E3)

2
BigDaddyT0101
Sat 18th Jun 2016

I think e3 will always be around, but I for one would love them to move it around the US if only for my sake an E3 in Boston would make crossing going to e3 off of my bucket list. Hell even if they held it in NYC. It ranks only behind going to Rome on my list of things to do before I die, and in my house it's widely known that the 1 or 2 days of press conferences is my 2 days of not being a husband or father (barring emergency of course) and my wife grants this usually taking my daughter to visit family those 2 days. I love everything about e3, what it celebrates and promotes, and hope it never goes away.

3
Mahe
Sat 18th Jun 2016

Not a surprise. Sony is the only one of the big three holding down the fort currently, and even they've made some missteps.

4
Berto_Gamut
Sat 18th Jun 2016

I feel it'll be dead by 2018, unless they switch over the trade show aspect to a videogaming convention. It seems they have to hype up their expo so the bigger vendors actually care about showing up.

Personally, it was alright but it's something these huge companies could've technically set up themselves, still filled the seats, and still got the internet talking.

5
kyleforrester87
Sat 18th Jun 2016

BRING IT ON!!!

6
sub12
Sat 18th Jun 2016

@BigDaddyT0101

Here is the thing, Microsoft is based on the west coast, Sony's global Playstation HQ just moved from Japan to the west coast, Nintendo of America is west coast, EA, west coast, same with Activision, the same with a lot of the videogame industry.

It just makes sense to have some kind of trade show somewhere on the west coast, no other place is more logical. Be it called E3 or not.

7
sketchturner
Sat 18th Jun 2016

E3 is the event of the year for me. Even if the games end up disappointing, it's always fun having the anticipation that comes with so many games being shown off at once.
Some people look forward to Christmas all year.... I look forward to E3.

8
BigDaddyT0101
Sat 18th Jun 2016

@sub12 oh I know, having them move it around is realistically an absolute nightmare especially for those involved and would only have the effect of driving more companies away because of the costs. But selfishly I would love to see it closer to home, though for years now I've been attempting to get tickets to pax east only to have them sell out quickly and I'm not paying the crazy prices the secondary market gets for them. One thing they could do is to make it larger, longer, have it be a true weeklong experience and a massive celebration of the gaming industry as a whole. Get the pc market way more involved with hardware announcements and more pc gaming announcements. As stated I just love everything e3 so my bias is a bit out there.

9
Rudy_Manchego
Sat 18th Jun 2016

I think that the expense and the proliferation of leaks are the cause. The same is happening to Comic Con, big studios are not turning up there now. The output and money and the risk of a bad showing ups the stakes. Most publishers now go because they have to, not because it always helps sell.

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