The ESA, which runs E3, may be hatching their boldest plan yet for the event in the face of stiffer competition and the dawn of a new console era: Doubling down on gamer culture and going all in on the gaming festival theme that has been brewing behind the scenes for the last two years.

Last week, we told you that the major platform holders – that’s Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo – had made it so that in the future, publishers wouldn’t be able to release games on their hardware that didn’t explicitly disclose loot box odds. Joining them would be a number of publishers aligned to the ESA, who also pledged to disclose loot box odds in the future. Those publishers include Activision Blizzard, Bandai Namco, Bethesda, Bungie, Electronic Arts, Take-Two Interactive, Ubisoft, and Warner Bros. Conspicuous by its absence is Epic Games. Now, in a separate statement, they’ve said they would be implementing a similar policy in future.

Loot boxes are a contentious issue. Some feel that they’re a harmless way to monetise games beyond the initial sale. Others feel that they’re akin to gambling, exploiting the dopamine rushes they incite in people to nickel-and-dime them, extracting blood from a proverbial stone. They’ve been banned in some countries, and it’s forced publishers and developers to change how they implement their loot boxes.

As far as attendees go, it was the busiest E3 since 2005. According to E3 organiser The ESA, this year saw 69,200 people step through the heavily guarded and secure doors of the the Los Angeles Convention Centre. They came to see the 3250 products, games and services demonstrated by 200 exhibitors -- including 85 companies that were exhibiting for the first time.

The conversation around loot boxes and in-game transactions is changing. While many players have always grumbled about their inclusion, people have accepted them as a necessary evil – even defending those that aren’t the most egregious. Consumers are slowly starting to realise they’re being taken for a ride.

Microsoft is shaking their E3 plans up in a large way, moving al of their booth space outside of the main convention centre and rescheduling their conference.

If you’ve ever wanted to attend E3, you’ve most likely noticed that it’s easier said than done. First off you need to organise actually getting to LA, surviving a trip through the US airport passport check that usually makes you feel like utter scum for daring to set foot in that country

Many big industry players are giving E3 a skip this year, leading to questions of the show's relevance.