Since its conception in 1995,E3has served as the world’s most-awaited gaming expo. When that time of the year came around, both major and small developers and publishers would flock over to the Los Angeles Convention Center to showcase their recent releases and tease upcoming titles. Through the years, E3 has been the site of some of the biggest teases and moments in video game history, including the hyping ofCyberpunk 2077by none other than Keanu Reeves.
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With 2023’s E3 Conference officially being canceled, fans of the expo lie in wait as this might spell the end for the hype of in-person conventions. However, before all fans lose hope, they may want to try looking back at some of the most historicE3 Conferencesever to grace the industry.
102010: The One With Konami
When “Konami” and “E3” are put together, chances are gamers would immediately know exactly the year talked about and, much to the infamy of said event, have a particular moment ingrained in their heads. Of all the years in E3’s slate, it was perhapsE3 2010that became host to one of the most bizarre conferences of all time. While Konami did present some engaging titles such asCastlevania: Harmony of Despair,Castlevania: Lords of Shadow,and evenMetal Gear Solid: Rising, it’s the way Tak Fujii and his fellow presenters that madean indelible mark in E3– or perhaps the entirety of video game presentation – history.
The Konami games were presented with various gimmicks that made it seem more variety show than a formal conference. It came to a point where wrestlers were suddenly on stage, and a magician started doing tricks. This bizarre moment may be infamous for being low-budget, seemingly rushed, and rather improper given the context of the event. However, this presentation could be reinterpreted as one way people can see video games as art.
92017: Devolver Digital Goes Wild
With the spotlight on Nintendo after the release of the Nintendo Switch just months after the event proper, the2017 E3 Conferencebecame host to many historic game announcements. These include would-be notable titlessuch asDestiny 2,Ni no Kuni 2,Monster Hunter: World, Fortnite, and evenAssassin’s Creed Origins. Unfortunately, this was also the height of the negative press about loot boxes and predatory anti-consumer practices. This made the Devolver Digital equal parts appropriate and bizarre.
Aside from featuring their slate of games such asAbsolver,Ruiner, andThe Swords of Ditto, what madeDevolver Digital a show stealer in the conference was its surreal digital presentation. Taking the form of a satirical take on an anti-consumerist version of “E3,” the critical reception and sheer surprise of viewers made Devolver Digital “skits” quite a welcome sight for each E3 Conference since then.
82013: The Xbox One Shade
It had been almost half a decade since the release of PS3 and Xbox 360, which meant it was high time for new contenders to join the market. However, Microsoft coming up with an initial Xbox One that forced players to pay fees to lend games created a backlash so intense that Sony decided to spoof it as a part of their2013 E3 Conference presentation.
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At its core, the highlight ofSony’s 2013 presentationgo beyond reveals such as the critically acclaimedThe Last Of Us. Instead, it was a short stint between Sony execs showing how to lend PS4 games to friends – by simply passing them, free of charge.
72015: The Xbox One Redemption, Sony Year Of Dreams
The2015 E3 Expomade history in how it encapsulated how publishers prioritize different aspects of their contributions to the gaming industry. Onthe one hand was Microsoft, with the announcement of its backward compatibility with the underwhelming Xbox One had the company a step closer to full redemption. With this compatibility, many Xbox 360 titles can now be played on the Xbox One – for free!
On the other side ofthis spectrum is Sony, this time coming with three game reveals poised at the time to rock the current gaming atmosphere with their promises of quality on top of stunning worlds. TheseincludedThe Last Guardian, which was last heard from in E3 2009. Afterward,Shenmue 3was finally teased about being in development, which by then was a historical event for franchise fans who have since waited for the sequel of 2001’sShenmue 2. Lastly, Square Enix finally revealsFinal Fantasy 7 Remake, accompanied by jaw-dropping graphics poised to meet the company’s decades-long vision of creating a game with the same action asAdvent Children.
62006: Snake Goes To Smash Bros., Sony Flops The PS3
Whereas most E3 events had players eagerly awaiting the newest gadgets and games, it’s not all the time that two rivaling companies generate quite the opposite reactions. It was inE3 2006that gamers bore witness to climactic highs and catastrophic lows that cemented precisely why these events are important – it helped gamers make more informed decisions about the industry’s situation based on how giants presented themselves.
For instance, Nintendo generated one of the highlights of the year thanks to its grand reveal ofSolid Snake finally joining theSuper Smash Bros. Brawlroster. This was quite the fan-made request, which Hideo Kojima asked Nintendo to allow especially since Solid Snake is nowhere near their IPs. Meanwhile, the PS3 made for anunderwhelming performance by Sony, something that would prove evident in the initial sales of the platform.
52003: Meet Half-Life 2, Halo 2
Gaming at the start of the 21st Century had two “modern” titles poised to change the gaming landscape. First was 1998’sHalf-Life, which skyrocketed Valve into gaming stardom with unique physics alongside an eerie horror-extraterrestrial experience. Opposite this entry wasHalo: Combat Evolved, Bungie and Microsoft’s sci-fi FPS that jumpstarted the fame surrounding the Xbox 360. Since their releases, fans have been eager to see what lies in store for both Gordon Freeman and the Master Chief in their respective games, all of which came to life in the historic2003 E3 Conferencereveal.
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Slated for a PC, PS2, and Mac release back then, Valve revealedgameplay footage ofHalf-Life 2that showcased impressive graphical fidelity and a smooth playthrough demonstration. Not to mention, the introduction of the Gravity Gun and how it can lead to potentially-crazy antics showed just how creative games could get right at the beginning of the 21st Century. Meanwhile,Halo 2upping the ante in both graphics and multiplayer optionshad the game remain one of the most appreciated reveals in an E3 Conference.
42000: Metal Gear Solid 2 Steals The Show
Since the start of the first E3, gaming’s biggest companies and publishers have all had their execs and some high-profile presenter hype their respective new releases in the hopes of garnering fan interest. Hideo Kojima switched things up at the2000 E3 Expo, where he met the start of a new century with an equally game-changing performance. Compared to most other teams present, Kojima and Konami presentedMetal Gear Solid 2with almost no voiceover.
Instead, they showed analmost 10-minuteMetal Gear Solid 2trailerthat combined both cinematic storytelling and gameplay footage, giving viewers more or less a “short film” that encapsulated what kind of storytelling Kojima wanted to share through his beloved series. While E3 2000 also revealedPokemon GoldandSilveras well asPersona 2, it’sMetal Gear Solid 2that stole the showby enthralling fans with the cinematic political-thriller direction that Kojima had always dreamt of showcasing.
32004: The Reggie Reveal
Reggie Fils-Aimé, the former President and COO of Nintendo, became an icon in 2004. Whenhe came up to the stageand said, “I’m about kicking ass, I’m about taking names, and we’re about making games,” he created an image of a video game company president who understands exactly what gamers want.
The Reggie Reveal was quite the spectacle in the2004 E3 Conference, especially when stereotypical execs took the stage for other companies in years prior. Reggie’s confidence and charisma, especially when presenting the portable gaming revolution via the Nintendo DS reveal andthe tease forThe Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, told the video game scene that gamers need presenters to be just as excited for the products they’re showcasing as the audience. Since then, various companies upped the ante by trying to add their own “spin” to their presentations, but Reggie continues to step up his game.
22019: The End Of An Era
While the “last” official E3 event came in the form of the E3 2021 Conference, its digital-only nature made the presentations seem stale. And with both E3 2020 and E3 2022 canceled, it’s the2019 E3 Conferencethat marked the end of an era. This conference held the stage for some rather epic moments and announcements, such as theunveiling ofFinal Fantasy 7 Remakefor the PS4and Activision teasing a remake of critically-acclaimedCall of Duty: Modern Warfare.
Not to mention, some presentations earned a spot in the memory of gamers through sheer appeal. For instance, Keanu Reeves hyped the release ofCyberpunk 2077, where he’s also part of the main cast. Likewise, the casual yet energetic delivery ofGhostwire: Protocolcreative director Ikumi Nakamurawas quite the highlight.
11995: The 299 Moment
Players may remember the ’90s as gaming in its adolescence; the industry was changing rapidly throughout the decade. However, one of the most shocking moments that represented this was the1995 E3 Expo, which saw Sony dethrone gaming giant Sega in the console scene, courtesy of thePlayStation and its eventual slate of games.
It was in E3 1995 that Sega announced that the newest Sega Saturn would retail for USD 399, which left fans eager to learn what Sony would offer. As such, when Sony presenter and exec Steve Race walked up to the stage andsimply said “299,”fans knew it was already over for Sega. It’s usually these unpredictable moments that launch the start of a new era.
