Live-streaming is starting to kill trade shows like E3

As if it wasn’t bad enough that Activision Blizzard and Electronics Arts, two of the largest game publishers in the world, have decided to skip E3 2016, now Disney Interactive and Wargaming are doing the same, and more publishers may end up following suit before the trade show begins on June 14th. One of the biggest reasons for this is the growing popularity of live-streaming, because not only is it much cheaper than renting a booth at an in-person trade show, it allows companies to launch or tease new products in a way that’s more accessible and more engaging for consumers. With that in mind, it’s no surprise that more and more game companies are choosing to cut out the middle man and interact with their customers directly.