Fairs and events 2023: The most important dates for your calendar

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Game shows, reveal events and trade fairs: exciting dates await game fans again in 2023. We collect what you should write in your calendar

2023 starts worldwide with significantly fewer Corona restrictions than previous years. Of course, this also affects the video game world, especially upcoming trade fairs and events. Blizzcon and E3 return, gamescom welcomes visitors to Cologne – these are just some of the events you should keep an eye on.

In this article, we collect important dates throughout the year where exciting reveals are coming up. It’s best to bookmark it so you can quickly check back at any time and see all the events at a glance.

The most important 2023 Games events at a glance

  • Xbox Developer Direct (25 January 2023)
  • The Asylum Direct (31 January 2023)
  • Starfield Event (unknown, probably spring 2023)
  • BlizzCon (unknown, possibly February 2023)
  • GDC (20 to 24 March 2023)
  • PAX East (23 to 26 March 2023)
  • Indie Live Expo (20 to 21 May 2023)
  • Summer Game Fest (8 to 13 June 2023)
  • E3 (11 to 16 June 2023)
  • Future Games Show (June 2023)
  • gamescom (22 to 27 August 2023)
  • EGX (12 to 15 October 2023)

The Asylum Direct

When? 31 January 2023, 18:30

Where to watch? (YouTube), (Twitch)

With a rather humorous trailer, Indie Asylum, a publisher and merger of several small developer studios, announces its own event for January 2023. In the trailer we get a first, short preview of what will be offered here. It’s mainly about lesser-known indie games, such as Biomorph, Forward: Escape the Fold or Struggling.

Starfield Event

When? Unknown, probably spring 2023

Where to look? TBA

Along with the Developer_Direct announcement, there is also news about Starfield. The role-playing game is to get its own show sometime after 25 January, with a Deep Dive promised. So we should see plenty of gameplay again.

In addition, there is hope that a release date will also be announced after Starfield is still scheduled for release in the first half of 2023. It is not yet clear when the show will take place, but it should be in spring at the latest. We might find out the exact date on January 25.

BlizzCon 

When? Unknown, earlier in February

Where to watch? (Twitch), (YouTube)

2022, BlizzCon was cancelled. Just one symptom in a particularly difficult year for Activision Blizzard, as the company continued to chew on multiple sexism scandals . The in-house game show is now set to return in 2023, as President Mike Ybarra confirmed. There is no exact date yet, but new information is to be published at the beginning of the year. The last time BlizzCon took place was in February.

GDC 

When? 20 to 24 March 2023

Where to look? (Website)

The Game Developers Conference is all about – logically – game development. No new titles are announced here, instead there are lots of exciting insights behind the scenes: How was the museum level in Last of Us 2 developed? What do the developers reveal about the fantastic soundtrack of Guardians of the Galaxy? How is The Sims becoming more inclusive? These talks are a small selection of the topics from 2022.

All videos and talks will be archived on the website, but non-visitors will have limited access.

PAX East

When? 23 to 26 March 2023

Where to look? (Twitch)

PAX East is a little earlier this time than 2022, and last time the show featured some exciting games, such as Evil West, Signalis and The Last Oricru. What’s on the programme in 2023 is unknown so far, registrations are still being accepted until mid-January – so there should be an official schedule shortly thereafter.

At PAX East, the focus is on indie games. So if you’re looking for the upcoming insider tips, the show is for you. It will take place in presence and online, with three channels broadcasting simultaneously on Twitch.

Indie Live Expo

When? 20 to 21 May 2023

Where to watch? (YouTube)

The Indie Live Expo 2023 Summer Showcase will be divided into two days. On 20 May, mainly new games from the indie scene will be presented. On 21 May, awards will also be presented. For example, the Trailer of the Year Award, the Short Story Award or the Game of the Year Award. The latter went to Witch Beam’s Unpacking Simulator at the end of 2022. Watch the trailer here:

Summer Game Fest

When? 8 to 13 June 2023

Where to watch? (Twitch), (YouTube)

The digital Summer Game Fest with Geoff Keighley has become one of the most important and biggest gaming events of the year. 2022 featured many big names: Microsoft Xbox, Bethesda, Sony, Epic and more. So we’re expecting a strong line-up again in 2023, but we’re curious to see how the direct competition with E3 in the same month will play out.

E3

When? 11 to 16 June 2023

Where to watch? (Twitch), YouTube

E3 officially returns in 2023! Digital events kick off on 11 June, and the Los Angeles show opens its doors to visitors on 13 June. There is still no exact schedule and no info on which studios will present their games – and which ones might prefer the Summer Game Fest.

Future Games Show

When? June 2023

Where to watch? (Twitch), (YouTube)

Another gaming show in June 2023? Yes, GamesRadar’s Future Games Show is returning this summer. An exact date and line-up are not yet known. Usually there are several editions of the event per year, but so far only the one summer date has been officially confirmed.

2022 there were numerous new trailers and reveals, for example for Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn, Dorfromantik, Sengoku Dynasty and Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga.

gamescom

When? 22 to 27 August 2023

Where to watch? (Twitch), (YouTube)

Germany’s biggest games fair is also back at it in 2023. On 22 August, Geoff Keighley will once again open gamescom with Opening Night Live, which usually features trailers galore and some world premieres. As soon as the line-up has been announced, we’ll let you know!

EGX

When? 12 to 15 October 2023

Where to watch? (Twitch), (YouTube)

Autumn 2023 will also be exciting: after the big summer shows, EGX in London delivers another helping of gaming news. Last year, many upcoming indie games were playable for visitors, the programme for 2023 is yet to be announced. A reminder: since 2021, you need a passport to enter the UK, ID cards are no longer sufficient!

Xbox Developer Direct

When? 25 January 2023, 21:00

Where to watch? (YouTube), (Twitch), (Facebook)

There have been rumours before, but most recently it has now been officially confirmed: In January, Xbox will host its own gaming showcase, which will showcase features, gameplay and release dates for games coming out in the next few months. The following games are to be there:

  • The Elder Scrolls Online: The next big chapter of the online role-playing game to be revealed.
  • Redfall: The co-op shooter from Arcane shows new gameplay, but there is no talk of a release date.
  • Minecraft Legends: The new strategy game from Mojang Studios shows how PvP multiplayer works.
  • Forza Motorsport: More on next generation of Forza Motorsport to be shown.

Starfield, the big role-playing game from Bethesda will not be part of the show though, and is instead to get its own event later on.

When? 17 January 2023, time still unknown

Where to watch? (Twitch)

Ubisoft finally reveals the upcoming current-gen console version for Anno 1800 in a livestream on Twitch. Soon you will be able to build your islands on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S. There is no concrete release date yet, and the details of the new version are still unknown. We expect this information in the stream!

Of course, there will be many, many more showcases, events and trade fairs in 2023. We’ll update this article regularly as dates or games shown become known.