EGX 2024: A Shadow of its Former Self

EGX has been the UK’s biggest video game show for a number of years. People would flock to the event to encounter the biggest new releases in the gaming world from the biggest studios of the industry. It was a highlight on the gaming calendar, with many people excited to attend to get first-hand experience on some of the most anticipated games of that year. It really was a highlight of the video gaming world. 

Since the lockdowns of 2020, EGX has not been the same; gone were the big studios, and gone were mostly the big games. Left in its place was a showcase for indie games; they came and they filled the hall with amazing titles that entertained the crowds. EGX 2023 seemed to be the best it had been since 2019, with a strong presence from Nintendo, Sega showcasing Sonic Superstars and the latest Yakuza, and that year’s Call of Duty was also present. The usual indie game scene, stalls, and tabletop areas also made for an entertaining time. So it seemed that maybe, just maybe, EGX was going in the right direction and possibly completing a slow return to post lockdown showings. 

But then came 2024 and the announcement that the show was to be combined with October’s MCM Comic Con. For those unaware, MCM showcases artists, voice actors, and guests from the film, TV, and video game worlds. They usually also include a healthy market place where you can buy pretty much anything to do with pop culture from the west to the east. I wasn’t sure how to feel about this news; one half of me welcomed the combination, with it seeming to make sense as MCM does normally contain video game elements. On the other hand, though, I was concerned that MCM would be to big, forcing EGX to be pushed to one side. I went with the benefit of the doubt, hoping the organisers knew what they were doing and we would be treated to a successful celebration of pop culture and video games under one roof. With ReedPop (the company that runs both shows) renting out the entire ExCel centre in London, my hopes were that one side of ExCel would be dedicated to EGX and the other half to MCM. 

Unfortunately, this is not what happened. EGX was squeezed into half of one of the halls, and the rest was dedicated to MCM Comic Con or to the sea of traders that seemed to occupy most of both halls. This meant that there wasn’t the space that is usually available, and the knock-on effect of that was fewer games and more people crowding around the games that did make it. It became quite crazy in moments, with some corridors completely blocked due to the amount of traffic. Frustratingly, there was plenty of unused space that could have easily been used for more games, but maybe the high-priced slots put many developers off from attending the show.

The extra people that merging these shows created were too many in places. By the second hour, the crowds were crazy, and it was near impossible to get a go on a game, with the limited space filled with people that were trying to have some kind of video game experience. I’m not naive; I know that there’s a good chance of having to wait for a go on a game, but it just seemed to much in this instance.

This carried over to the vendors too, and if you did manage to see something that interested you, you couldn’t get to it thanks to the crowds. By mid-afternoon on Sunday, I had had enough. The causeways were full of people; the outside was full of people, and it was all a bit too much. I was missing the EGX of 2023, where it was a total celebration of gaming. A healthy array of indie and AAA games and a show that felt more chill and manageable. But I guess I am highlighting a problem that video game shows are experiencing since the lockdowns, and that is a drop in footfall. It’s no coincidence that other noticeable shows have gone through this drop, losing too much money and not being sustainable to carry on. EGX has found itself in the same boat, and the merger with MCM seems to be a way around this and try to carry the show through these murky times until hopefully it can support itself once more. But this combination did not work, and I hope with all my heart that EGX can return to its stand-alone version very quickly. 

With this all being said, there were still some good moments to grab onto. Samsung was present, showcasing Sonic X Generations with accompanying real-life Shadow motorbike, Lego was showing Lego Horizons; and Little Creatures III was also playable. The indie games that were present brought a good mix of genres; the Leftfeild section was a welcome return, and the healthy amount of cosplay was a joy to see.

The biggest highlight for me were the panels, with many interesting subjects tackled over the course of the weekend. Some of my favourites included the 30th anniversary of Donkey Kong Country panel, with the creators present to share their anecdotes of the creation of the game. The Tomb Raider panel discussing the newly announced remasters of Tomb Raider IV-VI was interesting; 10 years of Playtonic and the 25th Anniversary of the Dreamcast were also welcomed. I’d like to commend the team behind organising these, as they seemed to have put in a great effort to have a wide array of different panels at the show. And yes, I also enjoyed the Gladiator panel and the meet & greet afterwards. 

But these were pockets of excellence that were surrounded by mediocrity. During all the recent EGX shows since 2021, I have always left with positivity towards the show. I had always had a great time, enjoying what was on offer and the vibes the show gave. This year was different; even with the positives, I walked away deflated, wishing it was more than it was and casting envious eyes to Gamescon and PAX shows. The industry seems to be in turmoil right now with layoffs happening in many different sectors of the video gaming sphere, AAA gaming suffering from ballooning budgets, journalists no more thanks to closures of websites and magazines, and now even UK shows that celebrate the hobby we all love are struggling. If ReedPop continues down this route with EGX, then it will not survive. I and many others will just not go; it’s not worth our time, money, and effort to attend. We are heading to a future where we will all be reliant on digital showcases and downloadable demos for our gaming news and celebrations, missing out on those meet-ups with friends, meeting new people, and enjoying spending time with others. It all sounds pretty depressing, but that’s where we are at, and I’m not sure what can be done to change it.

If you have any ideas on how the industry can survive the issues that it’s facing right now, then let us know on the socials!