List of Video Gaming Events

Every year, new and upcoming video game announcements are made during several major press conferences around the world as well as online. Everyone has heard of E3, but there are also a handful of other major events throughout the year, giving software developers the opportunity to discuss the latest video game releases with valuable information and sneak-peak trailers on all upcoming video games you are patiently waiting for.

To ensure you don't miss out on the latest video game announcements, we compiled a list of the annual events you need to mark on your calendar every year. We might not know what each year will bring when it comes to video games, but we do know the information you crave will be delivered at one of these prestigious events.

Nintendo Direct

Nintendo Direct is a recurring live stream and a must-watch for anyone who is a fan of this electronics and video game company. Nintendo game reveals and announcements are made during their live streams with over 10 Direct streams in 2017 alone. The 2017 events included information on massive game releases, such as Fire Emblem Warriors, Xenoblade Chronicles 2, Arms, and Splatoon 2. Although these live streams aren't revealed until a couple of days before they are aired, Nintendo usually hosts one live stream every few months, lasting for roughly an hour. You can expect Nintendo Directs to place a lot of focus on their Switch platform as it continues to grow in popularity since it's been released.

Consumer Electronics Expo

The Consumer Electronics Expo is an annual event taking place between 9 - 12 January at the Las Vegas Convention Centre. Although you won't find information on the latest game releases, gamers, especially those who enjoy playing games on PC, should still consider the biggest event of the year when it comes to tech. Every year, companies from around the world showcase the latest monitors, keyboards, headphones, PC's, laptops and more. So, if you consider yourself a PC gamer of wish to become one, the Consumer Electronics Expo (CES) is certainly the best event to learn about the latest products.

PAX South

Established in 2014, Pax South takes place between 12 - 14 January at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Centre in San Antonio, Texas. Although its January date lessens the likelihood of massive game reveals, it still manages to show off some impressive games, including Gorogoa, Rime, and What Remains of Edith Finch.

Dice Summit

The Dice Summit was established by the Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences and takes place between 20 - 22 February at the Delano and Mandalay Bay Hotel in Las Vegas every year. The annual conference presents achievement awards for the big names in the video gaming industry and places more focus on the art of making video games, instead of the video games themselves. This provides a platform for the brightest minds to discuss current trends in game design as well.

Game Developers Conference

The Game Developers Conference (GDC) takes place between 19 - 23 March at the Moscone Centre in San Francisco every year, allowing game developers to talk about the art of game design. Although many of the keynotes and roundtables place a focus on games that managed to make a huge splash in the industry, or what the future might bring, those discussions always lead to captivating insights on the most popular games. In addition, there's also a steady flow of video game news to look forward to each year.

PAX East

PAX East takes place between 5 - 8 April at the Convention and Exhibition Centre in Boston every year. Like all Penny Arcade Expo events, Pax East focuses on giving the public access to the latest upcoming games instead of breaking video game news. It's the perfect place to build a buzz for most of the smaller, unknown video games. It also provides a vast range of glimpses on soon-to-be-released video game titles to the public.

Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3)

The Electronic Entertainment Expo is an annual event that takes place between 8 - 15 June at the Convention Centre in Los Angeles. With keynote presentations from Ubisoft, Bethesda, Microsoft, and more, this is the one conference that you need to pay close attention to. Every major console manufacturer and publisher is on hand to give updates and reveal new projects on the biggest video games of the year.

San Diego Comic-Con

The San Diego Comic-Con takes place between 19 - 22 July at the Convention Centre in San Diego. In recent years, its become one of the biggest events for mainstream film and TV, especially those based on graphic novels and comic books. Comic-Con also crosses over with video gaming, especially with Marvel franchises. In 2017, the public learned more about Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite and Spider-Man as well as Lost Sphear and Gravel by Enix.

Gamescom

Gamescom is considered one of the biggest trade events in the world and takes place between 21 - 25 August at the Cologne Exhibition Centre in Cologne, Germany. In 2017, the show brought in more than 350,000 attendees with Nintendo, Blizzard, and Microsoft all hosting press conferences. In 2017, Gamescom also featured several smaller video game reveals, such as Jurassic World Evolution and Biomutant, but Gamescom's real draw comes from new looks on games that have been already announced.

Other Gaming Events

There is also a host of other gaming events towards the end of the year, each producing more video game releases for the upcoming year. These include QuakeCon, PAX West, Tokyo Game Show, the Paris Game Week, the Playstation Experience, Blizzcon, and The Game Awards.