The gaming industry has grown exponentially in recent decades. What started out as simple living room toys has grown into a more than $100 billion a year industry, branching out into all levels of society. As the gaming industry has continued to grow, so have the events surrounding it. While E3 used to be the only event of the year in the 1990s, it’s now just one of many, and with its absence this year, others have stepped up to take its place. Gamers have already enjoyed a stellar Summer Games Fest season so far this year, as well as a handful of exciting Nintendo Directs and Sony State of Plays, and now Gamescom is here to end it all. However, the year is far from over.
In September, gamers can look forward to a host of gaming events, either in person or via online streams. While these events may not have the same level of clout as an E3 or Gamescom, nor the same number of game reveals or announcements, they’re still worth tuning in to, with plenty of developer and publisher panels to watch.
PAX West 2022
One of the longest running gaming events, PAX West returns once again to the Seattle Convention Center. Over the course of four days, from September 2-5, fans will be able to tune in to a variety of panels, featuring big-name guests from across the industry. From Xbox’s Matt Booty to former Nintendo America President Reggie Fils-Amie, PAX West 2022 has plenty of panelists worth tuning in for. For those in person, the show floor is set to have a host of new games available to try, including Splatoon 3, and a variety of limited run games. PAX West 2022 will have three live streams for the main stage panels and one for its eSports coverage.
Festival/Conference Women in Games 2022
From September 6 to 17, the Women In Games Festival returns for its second year, highlighting the importance of gender equality in all aspects of the gaming industry, from developers to journalists. To make the event as inclusive as possible, all panels will be live streamed and available in all regions. The 2022 Women In Games Festival sees all of its original events return, such as the Women In Games Awards and Conference, and also brings two new events to the show: the Career and Networking Expo and the Women In Games Investment and Finance Forum.
Tokyo 2022 Games Program
Another industry staple, Tokyo Game Show 2022 will take place from September 15-18, and while a lucky few will be able to attend in person, most of those who can’t will still be served via online streams. The Tokyo Game Show often has a few reveals up its sleeve, particularly from Japanese developers like Capcom. It has just been confirmed that PSVR2 will have its first playable demo at the Tokyo Game Show, showing Resident Evil Village VR at the same time. Capcom has also confirmed that street fighter 6 will be playable at the event, which means fans are likely to see more gameplay during the show.
EGX London 2022
Rounding out September is EGX London 2022, which runs from September 22-25. Although some panels may be streamed live via the official EGX London Twitch channel, this is primarily an in-person event. For those lucky enough to snag tickets, EGX London 2022 has a host of indie titles to play on the show floor, as well as some classic multiplayer games that are already set up for large-scale LAN matches. EGX London 2022 will also offer UK players their first chance to try sonic frontiers ahead of its November release date.
