(Credit: PCMag)
Summertime video game showcases transitioned to online-only events during the pandemic, which resulted in E3's demise. Last week, IGN proved that in-person gaming celebrations are still viable by switching its previously online-only IGN Live to an in-person, fan-centric event.
IGN Live welcomed gamers to its two-level venue at the Magic Box LA from June 7-9, and featured excellent presentations, gaming stations, and countless giveaways. PCMag staff attended the show, and thoroughly enjoyed the weekend. If you couldn't make it to IGN Live, or perhaps want to go if the show returns next year, check out what we most liked about the new fan event.
The Impressive Gaming Hall
Upon arriving, we made a beeline to the gaming hall on the first floor. Located across from the stage floor (more on that in a bit), it was packed with upcoming console and PC titles, recent releases, and arcade classics. We previewed many games, such as Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo (a 2D Zelda-inspired homage) and Stampede: Racing Royale (a hyper-competitive kart racer).
We also played a few previously announced games, like the PC version of Ghost of Tsushima and the comprehensive Kingdom Hearts Integrum Masterpiece collection. Of course, nothing could sate our hunger for classic games. So, we spent time in the arcade area with retro classics, including Pac-Man, Marvel Vs. Capcom 2, and Time Crisis.
The Relaxing and Informative Theater Room
IGN Live housed a theater room on the second floor for people who were weary of the bustle downstairs. A convenient concession stand just outside the room sold popcorn and snacks, making it a great place to unwind.
All panels took place there, too. We enjoyed a live demo of Phantom Blade Zero in the Theater Room. This wuxia-inspired action game featured flowing animations and tough enemies. In fact, the foes were so fearsome that Qiwei Liang (CEO of developer S-Game), fell to the bosses in battle. We interviewed Qiwei Liang after the presentation to learn more about the promising title.
In addition, we saw a presentation celebrating Tetris’ 40th anniversary. Alexey Pajitnov, the creator of Tetris, Henk Rogers (founder and managing director of The Tetris Company), and his daughter Maya Rogers (President and CEO of the Tetris company) sat down to talk about this iconic game.
The Cool Giveaways and Refreshments
Thanks to the many presentations scheduled over the weekend, we frequently stopped by the main stage on the first floor. There, IGN's crew interviewed developers from across the video game industry, including Microsoft Games CEO Phil Spencer (who talked about upcoming Xbox games, the unfortunate closure of Tango Gameworks and other studios, and a potential Xbox handheld).
The stage area was also a hotbed of crowd activity thanks to IGN’s near-constant giveaways (posters, figures, and other items), photo-ops, and cozy gift shop. Better still, if you needed refreshment, ice-packed drums of Mountain Dew were always within reach, tempting you with sugary libations.
See You Next Year?
Unlike E3, which was largely a business trade show until it opened its doors to the public in 2017, the debut IGN Live in-person event was entirely for gamers. Hype men on either side of the stage riled up the crowd, and there was no shortage of swag tossed to attendees throughout the show. Likewise, the demo-packed game hall was an excellent inclusion that let attendees sample a wide array of titles. Overall, IGN Live was an exhilarating weekend, and we hope that it returns in 2025.
Disclosure: IGN is owned by PCMag's parent company Ziff Davis.