E32020

The Entertainment Software Association is set to make some rather significant changes to the annual gaming trade event, E3. Starting from E3 2020, it hopes to turn the event into a "fan, media, and influencer festival".

The news comes from an E3 2020 planning document, as reported on by GameDaily.biz. In a pitch deck reportedly intended for the lobbying group’s members, ideas including "experience hubs" and influencer and paid celebrity deals were shared, with one example suggesting that members of the Los Angeles Lakers could play a basketball video game in front of fans.

There's also talk of an app which could help with lengthy wait times, which GameDaily.biz notes could act like the 'FastPass' system found in amusement parks, allowing players to register for demo slots rather than queue for too long. Having said that, the ESA also plans to adopt what it is calling “queuetainment” in a bid to market to those who are stuck waiting to take part in an experience.

Elsewhere, it has been reported that the ESA membership has approved an additional 10,000 attendees, bringing the total number of consumers on the show floor to 25,000. This has sparked a potential rescheduling which could see an industry-only day take place on the first day of the show, with the following days being opened fully to the public.

We've seen E3 become arguably less important in the gaming calendar over the last few years; with Nintendo using 'Direct' presentations to showcase its upcoming games, and other companies like Sony ditching the show altogether last year, the ESA clearly feels a need to freshen things up.

It'll also have an awful lot to do in order to regain the trust of the media after a major data breach leaked the personal details of more than 2,000 media and influencer attendees this year. At present, the ESA hasn't provided any substantial reassurance that it will be safe for media to attend going forward.

E3 2020 will be taking place from 9th - 11th June 2020.

[source gamedaily.biz, via uk.ign.com]