The Entertainment Software Association (ESA), the entity behind E3, is back with another event, though this isn't aimed to replace the spectacle of E3 but is aimed more at industry professionals.
The ESA calls this new event Interactive Innovation Conference or "icon" for short.
E3 Organizers Have A New Event For "Changemakers" Set For April
Don't mistake this as another stab at E3, as the ESA is pitching this as an "essential convening for change makers across industries," and is focused more on those with a career in video games rather than bombastic booths, and megaton announcements.
It will be held at the Fontainebleau Resort in Las Vegas from April 27 to April 30, 2026.
ESA president and CEO Stanley Pierre-Louis released a statement about the new event (via Game Developer): "With icon, we are creating a space for visionaries across industries to come together, connect, and reimagine what’s possible through interactive entertainment."
The new event will allow audience members, though via an invite-only basis.
Some of the high-profile companies in the games industry confirmed to be attending include: Sony Interactive Entertainment, Nintendo, Microsoft, Amazon Games, Disney, Electronic Arts, Epic Games, Square Enix, Ubisoft,...
