Wonacott Communications

Bringing the Games Industry Together in 2022 and Beyond
Bringing the Games Industry Together in 2022 and Beyond
Wonacott Communications
By, Wonacott Communications on March 23, 2023 / Events

Gaming events were changed drastically by the pandemic, and these changes are still felt today. With E3 committing to remaining fully online in 2022, Nintendo finding huge success in their livestreamed Nintendo Directs, and the growing relevance of Geoff Keighley’s Game Awards and Summer Games Fests, the largest unveilings of the gaming industry are online.

Alongside this, we’re totally psyched to see GDC return to hosting an expansive in-person event this month. Other massive events like Gamescom and Tokyo Game Show are also scheduled to return to a venue this year. This makes a lot of sense, as these trade-focused events are where the gaming industry comes together to collaborate, learn, and grow. A stronger human connection and sense of community offered by in-person meetings brings these events to the next level.

What connects these 2022 in-person returns is how they also cater to online audiences. These are all hybrid events that allow attendees around the globe to tune in and participate. Despite their additional complications, we think online elements for in-person events are worth the effort and are here to stay even beyond the pandemic for these reasons:

  • Cost – Hosting and attending events virtually dramatically reduces expenses
  • Sustainability – Hybrid events cut air travel and food waste
  • Efficiency – Attendees can focus on aspects of an event that matter to them
  • Accessibility – Online elements allow global voices to be heard
  • Analytics – Hosts can understand exactly what engaged attendees

From a PR perspective, we love how online events lower the barrier for entry, allowing us to expand our outreach beyond our traditional media targets. Thanks to the efficiency and low cost of hybrid events, we can reach media with broader interests and find specific targets for our clients, rather than the best target who will be in San Francisco on a given weekend. Regardless of how events continue to develop and change, we’re excited to keep showing off the passion our clients have for their awesome projects – online or offline.