- ■ TL;DR — Tokyo Game Show Isn’t Replacing E3. It’s Becoming Something Else Entirely
- ■ Background: The Fall of E3 and the Rise of Decentralized Showcases
- ■ Event Scope: Gamescom Goes Global, TGS Goes Local (on Purpose)
■ TL;DR — Tokyo Game Show Isn’t Replacing E3. It’s Becoming Something Else Entirely
Since the demise of E3, the global gaming community has been watching two major events: Gamescom in Germany and Tokyo Game Show (TGS) in Japan. While Gamescom continues to expand internationally, some have speculated that TGS might be taking E3’s place as the next big showcase.
But that assumption misses a crucial point: TGS 2025 didn’t try to replicate E3. Instead, it doubled down on local engagement, on-site playability, and cultural context — a very different formula from both E3 and Gamescom.
This article breaks down how TGS 2025 actually played out, what experts said, what attendees felt, and how it fits in the new post-E3 landscape — based entirely on verified reports and direct observations.
■ Background: The Fall of E3 and the Rise of Decentralized Showcases
E3 — once the dominant global gaming expo — quietly exited the stage after 2023. Rising costs, declining public trust, and the rise of online presentations led publishers to look elsewhere. Since then, Gamescom, Summer Game Fest, and TGS have all vied for attention.
In 2025, Gamescom featured over 1,500 exhibitors from 70+ countries. Meanwhile, TGS 2025 attracted more local buzz than ever, with hundreds of playable booths and packed halls.
But here’s the twist: while Gamescom stepped up as an “industry hub,” TGS has leaned into becoming a regional cultural experience.
■ Event Scope: Gamescom Goes Global, TGS Goes Local (on Purpose)
🔹 Gamescom 2025 in Numbers:
- Over 1,500 exhibitors
- Attendees from 70+ countries
- A growing presence of Asian publishers
- Less focus on stage shows, more on “content-ready” booths
Gamescom is increasingly a space for industry networking, international press exposure, and trend spotting. According to MIDiA Research, the 2025 edition highlighted three major trends:
- The rise of handheld devices
- Nostalgia-driven IP reboots
- The global influence of Asian studios
🔹 TGS 2025 by Design:
- 772 exhibitors, over 4,000 booths
- Emphasis on on-site demos, physical interactions, and show-floor engagement
- Booths from PlayStation, Square Enix, Capcom, Sega, and more
- Traditional Japanese aesthetics (e.g., taiko drums, lanterns, cosplay)
The PlayStation Blog praised the number of hands-on demos available, including Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake and Onimusha: Way of the Sword. Rather than announcing games, TGS emphasized letting fans actually play them.
Forbes reported that the event might have been “the busiest one yet,” but noted the lack of “bombshell reveals” — reinforcing the idea that TGS isn’t trying to be another E3.
■ How Exhibitors Approach Each Show
🔸 Gamescom: Optimized for Media, Streaming, and Analytics
- Focus on social amplification: TikTok-ready displays, influencer booths
- Analytics-driven success metrics: booth impressions, stream time, etc.
- Expanding space for indie developers
🔸 TGS: Prioritizing Physicality and Fan Connection
- Deep integration with Japan’s domestic fanbase
- Cultural elements (e.g., yukata-clad staff, Japanese-themed sets)
- Live giveaways, fan interaction, and community playtesting
Capcom’s and Square Enix’s booths drew long lines due to elaborate stage experiences and timed demo slots — designed less for online audiences and more for in-person memories.
■ Attendee Impressions: More Than Just a Show
🗞 In The Sixth Axis’s day-one report, the author humorously wrote,
“There are a lot of games here — and one of them electrocuted me.”
It wasn’t a joke — one booth featured a tactile horror experience involving light shocks. This underlines a major takeaway: TGS is prioritizing immersion — even at the cost of comfort or convenience.
💬 Reddit users also echoed this sentiment:
“Tons of Switch titles. If you love Japanese games, this was paradise.”
“But the lines were brutal. Bring snacks.”
In short: TGS is a dense, interactive, sometimes overwhelming experience. But that’s exactly what makes it stand out.
■ Key Insight: TGS Isn’t Replacing E3 — It’s Reinventing Its Own Purpose
If you went into TGS 2025 expecting an E3-style fireworks display of announcements, you might have been underwhelmed. But that’s not a failure — it’s a signal of TGS redefining what a game expo can be.
Where E3 centered on press-only access and dramatic trailers, TGS has leaned into cultural connection, tactile gameplay, and regional storytelling. It’s not trying to replace E3 — because it doesn’t need to.
Instead, TGS is building its own hybrid identity: part expo, part festival, part fan convention.
■ Analysis: Gamescom vs TGS — What Each Does Best
| Feature | TGS 2025 | Gamescom 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | Playability, culture, fandom | Trends, analytics, global networking |
| Location Impact | Japan-focused, strong domestic base | Highly international, EU-centric |
| Booth Design | Immersive, themed, interactive | Media-friendly, streamable, social-first |
| Main Players | Sony, Capcom, Square Enix, Sega | Xbox, indie studios, cross-platforms |
| Future Direction | Cultural export & fan bonding | Industry growth & trendsetting |
This table shows how TGS and Gamescom now serve different strategic purposes. Rather than competing, they coexist — much like how anime conventions and comic-cons live alongside film festivals.
■ What Happens Without E3? A Global Split of Roles
With E3 out of the picture, the game industry hasn’t crowned a single successor. Instead, we’re seeing a decentralized landscape of events, each excelling in different ways:
- Gamescom: The “official” global trade show — analytics-focused, business-ready
- TGS: The “heart” of gaming culture in Asia — nostalgic, immersive, fan-driven
- Summer Game Fest (SGF): Digital-first, designed for trailer hype and YouTube reach
Rather than replacing E3, these shows fractured its DNA — and that’s not necessarily a bad thing. It’s more flexible, accessible, and responsive to regional tastes.
■ For Fans: You Know Where You Belong Now
One side effect of this decentralization? Gamers can now choose events that match their interests.
- If you love breaking news and global trends, Gamescom is for you.
- If you want to play new games and soak in Japanese gaming culture, TGS is your destination.
- If you just want trailers, Summer Game Fest has you covered.
TGS 2025 showed that events don’t need to be everything to everyone. By choosing focus over scope, it gave fans something more tangible, more memorable — even if it meant longer lines and fewer global headlines.
■ Takeaway: Tokyo Game Show Is Becoming a Cultural Flagship, Not a Corporate Showcase
So… is TGS the “next E3”?
No — and that’s exactly the point.
TGS has embraced its role as:
- A physical playground for gaming fans
- A cultural ambassador for Japanese developers
- A testing ground for immersive booth experiences
With 2025 as its pivot year, TGS is doubling down on being a uniquely Japanese, fan-first event. That doesn’t make it smaller — it makes it more intentional.
And in a post-E3 world of fragmented attention and endless trailers, maybe that’s the most valuable role of all.
