We don't know about you, but we're pretty excited for E3 this year - more specifically the Xbox and Bethesda Showcase. It's always an exciting time of the year, and one that was sorely missed last year as events were spread around sporadically. While this year is by no means looking to be the triumphant return we'd originally hoped, it's a step in the right direction and one that is filled with promise.
With that said, we've been revisiting old E3 memories over the past few weeks to get us in the mood. From the announcement of backwards compatibility on Xbox One, all the way to Keanu Reeves' explosive appearance on Microsoft's stage - there are a wide range of incredible and memorable moments we'll never forget.
But what are your fondest memories of E3? With multiple conferences and plenty of years to choose from, the list of applicable moments is seemingly endless. And of course, it wasn't always positive, like the dark period where the Kinect was a major focus of the conferences. There's so much to choose from, and it's a great time to trigger the memories of past events that you may have forgotten. So let's sit back, reminisce, and revisit the E3 Showcases of yesteryear.
What's your fondest memories of E3? Let us know down in the comments below.
Comments 16
My fondest memory is probably from E3 2013 when Sony completely showed up Microsoft for trying to enforce things like always online, no used games etc on Xbox One. Microsoft had their conference first and because of that, Sony took the opportunity to revise some of their conference that was later that day by stating that PS4 wouldn't have these things. I still remember the cheer from the crowd when Jack Tretton said stuff like "You don't need to check in online every 24 hours in order to play on your PS4". And then we had that video of Shuhei Yoshida and Adam Boyes showcasing how you trade PS4 games with other people by simply handing them over. Absolutely golden! Not only did that conference shape how the entire generation would play out, but it gave us a conference that has never been able to be replicated since then. It was a sheer spur-of-the-moment so that's why it'll most likely never happen again. Anyway, I just remember feeling so happy that Sony put Microsoft in their place because what they did at the time wasn't right at all. If it weren't for Sony, we would still have Don Mattrick as the Head of Xbox and things like Game Pass probably wouldn't exist today. Truly a generation-defining moment!
I don't have any as i never really followed gaming that closely and it wasn't a thing when I was a kid? Last year was my first exposure to game showcases and news and it wasn't great so i really don't see how this year won't be a vast improvement on that. Really looking forward to what they announce for gamepass this time around.
Gotta be Keanu Reeves, obviously not used to as huge crowd, trying to stay on script
What @LtSarge said.
Regardless of your console preference, that entire E3 was incredible to witness and still unbelievable to this day.
From Microsoft specifically, it has to be E3 2009. So many surprises and announcements, like the return of Alan Wake and Splinter Cell: Conviction, the reveal of Left 4 Dead 2 and Halo: Reach, not to mention MGS: Rising, Crackdown 2... And, of course, the debut of Kinect, back when it was Project Natal. Even though Kinect never worked out, it was very much a big deal back when it was announced and generated quite a bit of buzz and excitement. And that's what counts at E3. Not everything they showed turned out as well as we'd hoped (Crackdown 2 essentially being a glorified expansion, for instance, and the version of Rising shown being scrapped), but all of these games kept coming thick and fast it was almost hard to keep track. Microsoft really did steal the show.
E3 2009 was also, in my eyes, the E3 which got E3 back on track. The previous years were not especially great, and I vividly remember mostly strong showings all-round in 2009. Uncharted 2's excellent stage demo from Sony, Super Mario Galaxy 2 revealed by Nintendo, Assassin's Creed II and Modern Warfare 2 looking ace from Ubisoft and Activision respectively... I'm not sure if games were better back then, or if I was just more excitable?
E3 2018 when Microsoft announced they acquired 5 studios. It was more that they are in it for the long haul as from 2014 until then there was always talks that Xbox was just gonna go away at the end of the Xbox one generation.
Probably this one...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZitQUSwhEQ&t=28s
@LtSarge yup, that while thing was memorising! I watched it streaming at the local Game store, wasn't it about 11pm gmt, and we were all in a state of... Shock probably the best word
I would say e3 2006 when Halo 3 was announced. Even though everyone knew it was coming it was an epic trailer. The other would be 2018 when all the studio purchases were announced.
@LtSarge and @Jacko11 what’s weird about e3 2013 is arguably Microsoft had better game announcements (including the likes of Sunset Overdrive, Dead Rising 3, Titanfall and Ryse) but all that was overshadowed by the system price announcement. Even the drm thing is basically a thing today on both consoles. It was ultimately that moment, though, that sealed the deal for the x1. I remember feeling like I had better exclusives on my x1 for basically the first year and a half before things really started to turn. I’m glad it all happened though because Phil has done an excellent job righting the ship so at least we got rid of Don.
Keanu. Reeves.
https://youtu.be/SJ-To7WJyWs
Ironically I don’t think there is much from Microsoft in this discussion! It that their E3 show sings aren’t great (they still show up which is more than Sony!) but their haven’t been many stingers or huge reveals over the years.
Sony used to be really good at this sort of thing, from lampooning the Xbox One disk swapping to just firing off the FFVII remake and Shenmue 3.
Nintendo, as ever are top of the pile here. I remember coming home from my girlfriends late at night to catch up with the E3 news I missed in 2004 only to take an age loading the Twilight Princess trailer over 56k. I still get goosebumps watching the crowd reaction.
The Smash Bros Brawl reveal which slowly took place over the show as more characters were revealed was a stroke of genius and kept the hype going long after the press conference.
There was also the fantastic one in 2010-ish when Sony and Microsoft were babbling on about the technical details of Kinect and Move Nintendo just dropped a new Metroid, Kirby, Goldeneye, Sin and Punishment, Zelda and Xenoblade one after another.
If i ask myself to recall one particular moment, e3 2006 stands out with the Halo 3 trailer. The music and Cortana voice over are just epic in that trailer
Another stand out (which happens to be from 2006 as well) is Peter Moore and his GTA4 tattoo which was big at the time as GTA was very much seen as a PS centric franchise
@LtSarge @xMightyMatt14x Another staggering thing about that 2013 E3 was that Sony actually did very little, it was mostly 'more of the same' but fan reaction and it's legacy was a testament to how badly MS had scored an own goal.
Personally my favourite one was Sony 2015 - the announcements of Shemnue 3, FF7 Remake and The Last Guardian finally getting a release date were a fan's dream. Plus there was Uncharted 4 and Horizon Zero Dawn (one of the best reveals I have ever seen, great trailer straight to jaw dropping vertical slice gameplay.) Though, perhaps surprisingly with hindsight, those last two were not the big headlines the next day compared to the first 3. Dreams, Hitman, No Man's Sky, Arkham Knight, CoD, PSVR and more all also made strong showings. A start to finish great conference of hype.
For years I have been saying "this year is Xbox's year", I hope that may be the case this time round!
Sony's death note to Sega was a big one too, just three words
"Two Ninety Nine" made Sega's less powerful Saturn at $399 D.O.A.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ExaAYIKsDBI
Equally the "$599" for PS3 almost killed PlayStation. Hubris
Iwata presenting WiiU badly....I love Iwata, I love WiiU, but the sheer disaster of that presentation is a charming favorite. Iwata v Reggie Smash. I don't even like Smash, but seeing two corporate executives doing a whole choreographed kung fu thing is priceless.
Short of that, "This is how you share games on PS4" is a timeless moment that will last forever. After the agape mouth still carrying over from Matrick's meltdown, it felt like gaming was saved by someone who gets it (even if poor Shu later got banished to the indie dungeon by "Hollywood" Jim Ryan. )
X1X reveal - "The greatest quality pixels anyone has ever seen" - how do you top that? I mean, really?
Sega's Saturn - "Available starting now!" has to be the winner of all time though. Not many companies have the brass to walk into E3, announce their new console that was scheduled with partners for months from now is suddenly available at select retailers now.....all so they can bag the launch game profits themselves. Yes, it destroyed Sega, but it's a priceless E3 moment for the ages.
Only matched, perhaps by Nintendo jumping on stage with Philips in front of Sony to announce a console other than the one they were there with Sony to announce.....
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