The gaming sector is preparing to embark on a thrilling new phase with the reveal of a fresh event designed to foster collaboration and innovation. As the gaming landscape evolves, there's a distinct opportunity to bring together diverse voices from various sectors. The return of the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) marks the launch of a new conference that aims to capture the spirit of connection and creativity.
The inaugural event, branded as the Interactive Innovation Conference (iicon), is set to take place in Las Vegas from April 27-30, hosted at the Fontainebleau Resort. This gathering is focused on facilitating interactions among leaders and visionaries across multiple fields in order to leverage the potential of interactive entertainment.
iicon is designed to feature a range of events such as keynote speeches, panel discussions, and interactive workshops. It aims to provide networking opportunities that bridge the gaps between the video game industry and other sectors such as film, television, music, sports, healthcare, education, and finance. Rather than replicating the traditional E3 format, this event appears to align more closely with the Game Developers Conference, which also takes place in the spring.
In remarks regarding the launch of iicon, ESA's board chairman Doug Bowser, who leads Nintendo of America, highlighted the association's pivotal role in nurturing cultural and business innovation within the industry. He emphasized that this event provides a platform for meaningful dialogues among industry leaders, ultimately envisioning new pathways for the interactive entertainment sector.
Even though the event is still on the horizon, major names are expected to participate. Confirmed attendees include key players such as Amazon, Disney, Electronic Arts, Epic Games, Microsoft, Nintendo, Sony, Square Enix, Take-Two Interactive, Ubisoft, and Warner Bros. Entertainment.
Notable figures from the industry, such as Xbox president Sarah Bond, Ubisoft chief Laurent Detoc, Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick, and Amazon Games VP Christoph Hartmann, have also expressed their enthusiasm for the conference, indicating a strong support base for iicon and its vision.