Who Needs E3? IGN Live and Summer Game Fest Delivered the Goods

E3 may be dead, but that doesn’t mean this summer didn’t have plenty of huge gaming news and reveals. We live in a new age where multiple annual shows now drop big announcements, collectively filling the E3-shaped hole in our hearts. With this episode of The Pop-Off, PCMag’s video game show, we discuss 2024's exciting summer gaming showcases.

Without a single event to revolve around, the showcases are spread across more days than E3. This year’s season started in May with the tepid PlayStation State of Play, and ended with the most recent Nintendo Direct (which occurred after we filmed this video).

IGN Live: Games, Panels, and Copious Swag

Other showcases were tightly packed into the early June period that E3 used to call home. In this episode, our panel dissects IGN Live, Geoff Keighley’s Summer Game Fest, Xbox’s showcase, Ubisoft’s presentation, and more. 

Does Horizon look better as Lego blocks? Will Doom: The Dark Ages be a 2025 bright spot? How cool is Yasuke in Assassin’s Creed: Shadows? Should you check out IGN Live’s fan event? Is Civilization VII our next obsession? Listen to our takes on all these questions and more.

Civilization VII, Doom: The Dark Ages, and More: We Break Down the Big Summer Game Reveals!

Nothing beats actually playing a video game, but the recent summer video game showcases gave us tantalizing glimpses into the future of our favorite hobby. The events also let us analyze fascinating trends, marvel at mind-blowing surprises, and watch awesome trailers. E3 may be dead, but its spirit lives on.

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Disclosure: IGN is owned by PCMag's parent company Ziff Davis.