If you’ve already read the first two parts of this series, you’re probably excited to see how the last decade or so stacks up to the olden days, right? Well, now that Summer Game Fest 2025 is officially over, I’m ready to weigh in with the hottest of takes.
Who won E3 2015?
E3 2015 was dominated by the “Summer of Dreams” announcements at Sony’s show. “The Last Guardian,” “Final Fantasy VII Remake,” and “Shenmue III” were among the biggest bombshells dropped in succession on an E3 stage. I candidly remember saying at the time these games came with huge asterisks, but it ended with “Uncharted 4,” they showed “Horizon Zero Dawn,” and grabbed “Street Fighter V” as an exclusive.
I still cannot believe they let a Kickstarter campaign on stage, and it was for “Shenmue III” of all games.
Microsoft had a killer showing, with backwards compatibility being the first real reason Xbox started to turn the ship around post-Don Mattrick. This was also the first time we saw “Cuphead,” “Gears 4,” and “Quantum Break.”
EA dazzled us with “Mass Effect: Andromeda,” “Plants vs. Zombies Garden Warfare 2,” and “Battlefront.” Ubisoft quietly killed it with “South Park: The Fracture But Whole,” “For Honor,” that awesome “The Division” trailer, and “Ghost Recon: Wildlands.”
Square Enix brought “Nier Automata,” “Rise of the Tomb Raider,” “Kingdom Hearts III,” and “Hitman.” Not too shabby.
Nintendo had a bad show, so let’s continue to ignore them like we did the last few years where they made games for the floundering Wii U.
And then Bethesda head Todd Howard might have ended E3 with the very first presser of the week. The first gameplay footage of “Doom” crushed it, “Battlecry” was a new IP that raised eyebrows, “Dishonored 2” looked fantastic (still does), and of course there was the surprise drop of “Fallout Shelter.” And who could forget the hype machine that was “Fallout 4?” I think that ended up being the Game of the Show, and for good reason.
Who won E3 2016?
It would be simple to hand this off to the first real footage of “Breath of the Wild,” and call it a day. But I’m not a simple man, and you’d know that if you’re still reading by this point. Microsoft had “Project Scorpio,” EA had “Titanfall 2” and “Battlefield 1,” but the real winner this year was Sony and the orchestra playing in the “God of War” music to start the show.
Coupled with “Days Gone,” “Detroit: Become Human,” the shocking “RE7” trailer, “Final Fantasy XV,” and ending with Insomniac’s “Spider-Man,” Sony had a hell of a show and a hell of a PS4 line-up those next 12 months.
Who won E3 2017?
Looking at this year, Nintendo won by default! I think I have an inkling as to why, pun intended.
It’s stunning how sweet and simple it all was. And let me be clear: the moment of E3 might have been “Beyond Good and Evil 2,” but Nintendo had two “Metroid” games. TWO. One was 3D and one was 2D! Are you kidding me?
The one-two punch of present and future with “Metroid Prime 4” and Cappy the hat on a dinosaur — that show was just too much to handle. I don’t remember the last time my jaw literally dropped watching a trailer for a game I have already seen! “Super Mario Odyssey” truly is a treasure — my GOTY that year.
Won Won E3 2018?
I had Microsoft written down as my best showing at E3 that year, and apparently, the competition was so lackluster a single “Cuphead” DLC trailer won me over.
But it wasn’t just “Cuphead,” or there being any other real press conferences that were worthwhile — MS had a good show! “Cyberpunk 2077,” “Battletoads,” and “We Happy Few” was hype back before it came out. “Forza Horizon 4,” “Sea of Thieves,” and “Ori and the Will of the Wisps” were all dynamite.
Who Won E3 2019?
I want to say Keanu Reeves won E3. I want to be able to tell you CD Projekt Red won, “Cyberpunk 2077” won, and that Microsoft showing “Halo,” “Gears,” “Elden Ring,” and “Psychonauts 2” was enough. I truly wish I could tell you that.
But I can’t. I can’t tell you that, because looking back at Nintendo’s Direct, they brought the goods. “Animal Crossing: New Horizons,” the only “Breath of the Wild” sequel information we’ve gotten in two whole ass years, two “Smash Bros.” DLC character reveals, “Luigi’s Mansion 3” and Gooigi, “Cadence of Hyrule,” and some other fun surprises were enough to edge out Microsoft.
Who Won E3 2020?
No one. There wasn’t a show. Woof.
Who Won E3 2021?
Microsoft had it in the bag, but it slipped right through their fingers. It was their show to lose, but another company managed to win it fair and square. No, not Miyazaki and “Elden Ring,” although that was the best trailer of the show. No, the winner was…
The fifth official 2D “Metroid” game, a new “Warioware,” “BOTW 2” release year and gameplay, “Tekken” in “Smash Bros.,” and a Super Monkey Ball collection remaster? And that’s all like, this year? Nintendo wins hands down. Sorry, Microsoft, you had a great show too, but, “Metroid Dread?” Come on. That’s an automatic win.
Who Won Summer Game Fest 2022?
E3 blew up, and Geoff Keighley created SGF in its place, which served as an amalgam of shows to display game trailers and other ads. But it doesn’t really capture the same place in any of our hearts as E3 did. The size, quantity, quality, the big names, it all fell apart. Plus, The Game Awards in December always has better reveals.
It’s impossibly hard to really say who “won” from here on out, the best I can do is just highlight the best thing shown off in my humble opinion. With that being said, the best to come from this new showcase was “Marvel Midnight Suns,” “TMNT: Shredders Revenge,” and the big finale being Naughty Dog with its “The Last of Us” updates.
Was this the biggest deal in the world? No, not really. The multiplayer game “Factions” ended up getting canceled, the remake got another remake on top of a remaster, and the show has been out for years. But at the time, it was exciting, plus they teased “Intergalactic” without saying anything, so that’s something.
Who Won Summer Game Fest 2023?
This is where we really start to diverge from “commonly held opinions of the time” to “I liked this thing I’m into.” One could argue that the first gameplay footage of “Final Fantasy VII Rebirth” was the greatest moment for JRPG fans and nostalgic men in their 40s. And if that’s you, then sure, that’s the winner. Congrats. The Xbox showcase was fine, it’s fine every year, and there’s just not enough shown industry-wide to really get into fist fights over which reveal was more shocking. It all leaks, and it’s all expected.
For me, it was this jaw dropping, drop-dead gorgeous gameplay from “Alan Wake II.” It turned out to be my GOTY in 2023. Beautiful, innovative; just a truly special game that I can’t call idiosyncratic because it takes so many elements from film/TV and throws it into a fondue pot. A delicious fondue pot, with a dog mayor. Sam Lake, you just keep winning my dude.
Who Won Summer Game Fest 2024?
I honestly think the two biggest “reveals” of Keighley’s show was Fatal Fury characters coming to “Street Fighter VI” and “Power Rangers: Rita’s Rewind” (which only turned out to be just okay). That’s a pathetic showing.
The Xbox showcase was good, and the combo of “Doom: The Dark Ages,” “Gears of War: E-Day,” and the big gameplay trailer for “Indiana Jones and the Great Circle” won the week. The latter of which was my GOTY runner-up last year. Noticing a trend in these recent years of who I think did the best job?
Who Won Summer Game Fest 2025?
Capcom. Because nobody else bothered to show up with anything worth a damn.
The troll trailer saying they wouldn’t announce anything until “the time is right?” Chef’s kiss. That was pure rage-baiting magic. The new season of “Street Fighter VI” has Sagat and Alex in it? And Ingrid??? Sign me up, baby.
And “Pragmata” had the best ending I’ve ever seen to a trailer. Yes, it’s real, and it’s coming out soon. Masterful work by Capcom knowing what their audience wants, expects, and remembers. They’re the best — crushing it with games people love, doing old and new franchises extremely well, I wish them the best. Success in 2025 is not guaranteed whatsoever.
Also, shout outs to Sony’s surprise ending to their Direct where Arc System Works is making a new “Marvel” fighting game that’s 4v4 tag battles. Jesus Christ, does that melt the brains of anyone who knows the history of why this is gigantic news. When’s mahvel?
Image Credit: Sony
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