Since May 1995 E3 has been where the biggest video game announcements become reality, and the future of virtual game experiences are demonstrated for all to see.
Thousands of games and devices have been revealed at E3 over the years. Some of these moments have been forgotten over time despite their impactful influence, though a few have forever etched themselves into the video game hall of fame, and our memories.
In this feature we will go over 20 of the biggest announcements in E3 history, sharing the points in time where the gaming industry was changed forever. Check out the gallery below.
20 Megaton E3 Announcements We'll Never Forget
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The 20 Biggest E3 Announcements We'll Never Forget
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E3 1995: Sega Saturn Is Available Now
SEGA daringly debuted its Saturn console by saying that it's already available in stores. The air was sucked right out of the room, and nobody could tell until later whether it was a good or bad thing. -
E3 1995: Sony's PlayStation Beats Sega Saturn with $299 Price Tag
Shortly after the SEGA Saturn announcement, Sony took the E3 stage and announced that its multimedia supporting PlayStation has a $299 price tag, $100 less than the Saturn. -
E3 1999: The PlayStation 2 Begins Next-Gen
The E3's of the 90's were underwhelming, but things got a lot better when the PlayStation 2 burst on the scene as the first DVD supporting console on the market with industry leading graphics. -
E3 2000: Halo: Combat Evolved Shows the Future of FPS on Consoles
Halo: Combat Evolved was a significant title in the history of consoles, and everyone could tell by its show-winning debut at E3 2000 that included exciting combat in an open sci-fi world. -
E3 2000: Metal Gear Solid 2 Has a Powerful Showing
Metal Gear Solid 2's E3 2000 reveal was a thing of beauty. While its cinematography and graphics were crowd-pleasers, its first-person gameplay and physics were shocking at the time. -
E3 2001: Super Smash Bros. Melee Gets Wide Applause
Nintendo got smashed by Sony at E3 2001, but did have one momentous victory: the Super Smash Bros. Melee character reveal. Nintendo fans cheered loudly as each character arrived on-screen. -
E3 2003: Half-Life 2 Blows Minds Everywhere
Half-Life 2 made significant strides in video game storytelling and physics, which were put on full display during its E3 2003 reveal that had everyone talking for weeks. -
E3 2003: Sony Enters the Handheld Space with the PSP
Sony's PSP was a technological marvel when it was announced at E3 2003, with its powerful specs, elegant design, and use of mini CD discs. Japanese consumers in particular were interested. -
E3 2004: Halo 2 Gets Release Date and a Tattoo
Halo 2's reveal will be remembered not only for giving Xbox fans something to look forward to, but the tattoo that Peter Moore showed off which indicated the game's release date. -
E3 2004: The Nintendo DS Goes Where No Handheld Went Before
The Nintendo DS was seen as a peculiar device at its E3 2004 reveal where Reggie Fils Aime beautifully detailed the one-of-a-kind device, but even then gamers wanted one badly. -
E3 2004: Zelda: Twilight Princess Makes Gamers
Few crowd reactions are as memorable as The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess' E3 2004 reveal, where thousands of gamers erupted in screams and cheers as Nintendo showed off its hard work. -
E3 2006: Gears of War REvolutionizes Third-Person Shooters
Before Gears of War, third-person shooters were often clunky and unapproachable. Epic Games changed that forever, beginning with its E3 2006 reveal that served as the beginning of a new era. -
E3 2006: PS3 Is $599 U.S. Dollars
Okay, so this one wasn't a megaton for Sony, but rather anyone who was sick of seeing the company on top. Its $599 price point reveal was one of the single most dreadful disasters in gaming history. -
E3 2008: Final Fantasy Goes Multiplatform
While Final Fantasy XIII wouldn't turn out to be a particularly beloved game, its multiplatform reveal that broke a decade of PlayStation exclusivity was the biggest topic in gaming for weeks. -
E3 2008: Gran Turismo 5 Is Confirmed
By 2008 the PlayStation 3 was struggling to move units. However, it had a huge showing at E3 2008, including a tease for Gran Turismo 5. Sadly, the game wouldn't release for several years. -
E3 2010: Gabe Newell Brings Portal 2 to Sony's Conference
Valve CEO Gabe Newell didn't have many nice things to say about the PlayStation 3 over the years, but that didn't matter when he took to Sony's stage and revealed Portal 2. -
E3 2013: PS4 Supports Used Games
While a few dozen gamers are still hopeful that the Xbox One can sell the most consoles this generation, its death knell arrived in 2013 when Sony countered Microsoft's anti-used game policy. -
E3 2015: Shenmue Is Revived
Most gamers were convinced that we'd never see another Shenmue after the Sega Dreamcast died. Thankfully, that's not the case, as indicated by Shenmue 3's E3 2015 reveal. -
E3 2015: Xbox One Supports Backward Compatibility
Microsoft's announcement that the Xbox One will support backward compatibility going forward was one of its biggest moves in history, and certainly the highlight of its E3 2015 showing. -
E3 2015: Final Fantasy VII Remake Is Happening
Although many megatons have been announced, none has been greater than Final Fantasy VII Remake. Nobody really thought it would ever happen, but it did. Thank you, Square Enix.
