Developer and publisher showcases are some of the most important events in gaming, with them providing the perfect opportunity to introduce new games, give updates on upcoming releases, and help make the audience feel as though they're part of the development process. Over the last 20 years, these showcases have taken many different forms, from more closed, in-person events, to showcases that are streamed across the globe, much like Xbox and Bethesda's Developer Direct. But there's always been one element of gaming showcases that's been fairly divisive, and that's its hosts.
Back in the mid-1990s, the very first E3 took place. Unlike today, E3 was first and foremost an investor's meeting, where publishers would essentially pitch their plans for the upcoming financial year, and naturally, a spokesperson leading the event was a must-have. Over time, and with the introduction of public access, E3 turned into an event that's more catered toward pitching to the fans, and the host's role changed from simply guiding investors through the inner workings of the industry to getting fans hyped up for upcoming releases. As the years have gone on, the gaming public has become more resistant toward showcase hosts, and Xbox and Bethesda's recent Developer Direct makes a good case for scrapping them altogether.
A Hostless Presentation Puts the Games and Developers Front and Center
On January 25, 2023, Xbox and Bethesda hosted an online Developer Direct. This succinct presentation featured no central host whatsoever, and chose to instead let each game's developers guide audiences through their upcoming titles. Arkane got its own spot to talk at length about Redfall, Turn 10 Studios highlighted some of Forza Motorsport's new innovative mechanics, Bethesda unveiled a new Elder Scrolls Online expansion, and Tango Softworks shadow-dropped a surprisingly bright adventure game. Every developer got its own chance to shine, and the whole presentation was made much smoother through the lack of any host.
With no central host needlessly recapping what audiences have just seen, Xbox and Bethesda's Developer Direct was tight and straight to the point. After one developer was finished with its presentation, a splash page of release date and platform stats would show, then it was on to the next developer. Developer and publisher presentations are often criticized for their pacing, with many either being much too long and boring their audience, or oddly short and not really showcasing each game in enough depth. Xbox's Developer Direct was one of the few that struck the perfect balance, ensuring that there was something for everyone, and convincing fans to just wait for the next segment.
Having no host also put the games themselves at the very forefront of the presentation, which is ideally what all gaming showcases should be about. It's often the case that gaming presentations like these can get bogged down in awkward exchanges between the host and the game's developers, usually resulting in fans getting to see the game for only a brief duration. Without a host, the Developer Direct honed in on each game it was showcasing, revealing core gameplay and story details for each one and allowing the developers to talk about what makes its game so special.
Obviously, Xbox isn't the first publisher to adopt this hostless format. For years, Sony has been doing something very similar with its own PlayStation State of Play events. It's often the case that these State of Play streams simply show each game back-to-back, with just a brief "loading" screen in between. Occasionally, developers will introduce or give a few more details about their games, but each State of Play is extremely direct and fast-paced, and that approach is seemingly preferred in the current gaming landscape. With the hostless style working for Sony, and now Microsoft thanks to the Developer Direct, using it more could be wise.
