When the Electronic Entertainment Expo—popularly known as E3—wrapped Thursday at the Los Angeles Convention Center, 48,200 video game industry professionals, investor analysts, journalists, and retailers from 102 countries had come for the annual gaming-industry-only pilgrimage to California. Owned by the Entertainment Software Association, the show is a huge boon to Los Angeles—accounting for about 28,000 hotel room nights and $40 million in revenue generated for the city.
Inside the convention hall, about 230 exhibitors hawked their wares among big, buzzy booths—swirling with costumed characters and the controversial so-called booth babes. On and off the show floor, the events and exhibits demonstrated top technology, design, and special effects.
Here’s a look inside some of the biggest events and exhibits related to E3.