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Entertainment Software Association Unveils iicon, Game-Changing Thought Leader Summit to Harness the Power of Interactive Entertainment and Shape the Future of Business and Culture

Taking place April 27–30, 2026 in Las Vegas, the Interactive Innovation Conference is set to be an essential convening for changemakers across industries

www.theesa.com

Entertainment Software Association Unveils iicon, Game-Changing Thought Leader Summit to Harness the Power of Interactive Entertainment and Shape the Future of Business and Culture

Taking place April 27–30, 2026 in Las Vegas, the Interactive Innovation Conference is set to be an essential convening for changemakers across industries

WASHINGTON, D.C. (February 6, 2025) – The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) today announced the launch of the Interactive Innovation Conference (iicon), a first-of-its-kind event designed to connect visionaries, thought leaders and innovators from across industries to harness the power of interactive entertainment.

Taking place April 27-30, 2026 at the Fontainebleau Resort in Las Vegas, attendees will gain exclusive access to visionary keynotes, engaging discussions and workshops, and elite networking opportunities with executives shaping the future of entertainment, business and technology. iicon promises to bring together a broad spectrum of sectors that converge with interactive entertainment, including film, television and music, as well as sports, healthcare, education, finance and more.

“For decades, video games have been at the forefront of technological and cultural innovation,” said Stanley Pierre-Louis, president and CEO, ESA. “With iicon, we are creating a space for visionaries across industries to come together, connect and reimagine what’s possible through interactive entertainment.”

“The Entertainment Software Association and its member companies are among the innovators and leaders shaping the future of culture, business and human connection. It’s a natural role for ESA to host and support an event that fosters an open exchange of new ideas with our peer industry leaders,” said Doug Bowser, Chairman of the Board, ESA. “iicon is bringing together changemakers from across industries to envision how the strengths of the interactive entertainment industry can break entirely new ground.”

Attendees will learn from and engage with industry icons, including leaders from Amazon Games, Disney, Electronic Arts, Epic Games, Microsoft, Nintendo of America, Sony Interactive Entertainment, Square Enix, Take-Two Interactive, Ubisoft and Warner Bros. Games. As the global video game industry is set to surpass $300 billion in projected revenue by 2027, iicon will be the premier summit for discovering new opportunities powered by the industry and its technology.

 

[Fake]

Nah. Still not feeling.

This looks like the Back 4 Blood situation. 'From the same creators of L4D'.

Just that quote alone is strange.

 

[nial]

What in the actual fuck, lol.

 

[Three]

Weird name

 

[adamsapple]

What in the actual fuck, lol.

It's an iiconic era .. an icon-era if you will.

 

[bundylove]

Who cares

 

[ChorizoPicozo]

showcase?!

 

[missiles]

Booth babes or not interested.

 

[yogaflame]

I just want E3 back. I miss those gaming surprise announcement and unveiling, booth, beautiful booth girls, impressive displays and decoration and free demo. If its almost the same then that suffice. Is it in LA or Las Vegas? But do we have to be worried if its headed and organize by those based in LA especially California where leftist and twisted woke and dei thrive?

 

[Magic Carpet]

Emojicon Los Angeles or Vegas?

 

[TheThreadsThatBindUs]

Lol-iicon

 

[MMaRsu]

Horrible name.

 

[NuclearDiarrhea]

Nice. I missed those cringe Ubisoft conferences.

 

[Tiago Rodrigues]

iicon...my OCD is loving this for sure. I'm not itchy at all every time i read it.

 

[Heisenberg007]

 

[Woopah]

Sounds more like a GDC thing. Not sure it will have actual announcements.

 

[Sebastian1295]

I don't understand the negativity on this tbh. I'm going to give it a chance and if they produce a good show and announce some cool games then i'll be happy. I also think it's big news that the big three are attending considering nintendo and sony stopped going to E3 when it was around but are now attending this show in support of it.

 

[hemo memo]

Please don't fuck it up this time.

 

[ThisIsMyDog]

 

[Mibu no ookami]

I don't understand the negativity on this tbh. I'm going to give it a chance and if they produce a good show and announce some cool games then i'll be happy. I also think it's big news that the big three are attending considering nintendo and sony stopped going to E3 when it was around but are now attenting this show in support of it.

You don't understand why negative people's first response to anything is negative?

Where have you been?

 

[DR3AM]

I miss EEE

 

[Shubh_C63]

Names pretty cool, just let Year 1 pass before judging multi million events.

 

[yogaflame]

I don't understand the negativity on this tbh. I'm going to give it a chance and if they produce a good show and announce some cool games then i'll be happy. I also think it's big news that the big three are attending considering nintendo and sony stopped going to E3 when it was around but are now attenting this show in support of it.

If its not in LA, there is a possibility that it will be a good show with good booth, demo, surprises and beautiful booth girls.

 

[PJX]

I don't understand the negativity on this tbh. I'm going to give it a chance and if they produce a good show and announce some cool games then i'll be happy. I also think it's big news that the big three are attending considering nintendo and sony stopped going to E3 when it was around but are now attenting this show in support of it.

Mate, you're on NeoGAF. The N stands for Negativity, 99% of the posters on here are negative. Negativity, Offending Gaming Age Forum

 

[Bridges]

The name is atrocious but actually this makes me very happy. The void of E3 has not been filled, we need a return to form. Summer Games Fest sucks compared to what came before. I'm cautiously optimistic but happy they're at least trying

 

[Astray]

This feels like GDC but for pretentious CEO keynotes.

 

[Muffdraul]

iicon? Why not iiiicon?

 

[mitch1971]

You can't spell iicon without con.

 

[Topher]

That's a stupid name

 

[Trogdor1123]

I’m always wondering how the changes happen to these things. What was wrong with e3 that made everyone leave but all come back for this?

 

[Alebrije]

If it has old style showcases I am in

 

[adamsapple]

You can't spell iicon without con.

People signing up for this should be extra careful. ESA put out information for 2000+ people, names, addresses etc in an open document on their website a few years ago.

E3 Accidentally Doxed Over 2,000 Journalists, YouTubers, And Streamers

The phone numbers and addresses were accidentally made public on the E3 Expo's website. The spreadsheet is now being shared across the internet.

www.buzzfeednews.com

 

[Kvally]

Sounds great, just show me the games!

 

[Hookshot]

Geoff wishes he was an iicon

 

[EN250]

Not a minute in and I already hate the name

Let it go, those 2000something shows were legendary and nothing these days can reach them

 

[Hudo]

You know what? If that means we get all the announcements concentrated within a week instead of the fucking drip-feed bullshit throughout the year, I am all for it.

 

[nial]

We don't even know if all these publishers are having their own press conferences. You could very well just get booths of already announced games with playable demos, and that's it.

 

[PropellerEar]

It's an iiconic era .. an icon-era if you will.

 

[Sentenza]

Bring back the booth babes or we riot.

EDIT-

Booth babes or not interested.

Fuck... Didn't even notice someone beat me to it.

 

[SirTerry-T]

Too close to Lolicon for the degenerates out there.

 

[Sebastian1295]

You don't understand why negative people's first response to anything is negative?

Where have you been?

Lmao very true. I mean i can come off quite negative but i don't think everything needs to be looked at in a bad manner.

 

[Calico345]

LMFAO. That name is hilarious. E3 is dead. Let it go. Those days of consumer trade shows are not relevant anymore. I am not mocking or knocking them, mind you. But that time has passed. This is already a joke. Any time anyone in the game industry uses the word innovation, you should know to ignore them,

 

[Sebastian1295]

If its not in LA, there is a possibility that it will be a good show with good booth, demo, surprises and beautiful booth girls.

Good point. I also feel like they gotta do something big for the 1st year of it to get people talking. They have to make a good first impression because if they don't then they're sunk. I expect their to be hiccups and stuff but if they announce even 2 cool games or surprises then i'll be satisfied considering it's a new event. It's definitely a good start that they're getting big publishers involved in this and having them in attendance.

 

[Kokoloko85]

Anything to bring back proper shows for Playstation and not these crap small shows scatters throughout years and no more rumours, with e3, you knew what you were getting

 

[Sebastian1295]

Mate, you're on NeoGAF. The N stands for Negativity, 99% of the posters on here are negative. Negativity, Offending Gaming Age Forum

 

[Omnipunctual Godot]

Why not just call it E3?

 

[baphomet]

Why not just call it E3?

Because the last decade of E3 was complete shit.

 

[graywolf323]

It's an iiconic era .. an icon-era if you will.

 

[mansoor1980]

geoff keighley in shambles

 

[nush]

This feels like GDC but for pretentious CEO keynotes.

You're right, it's not a trade show replacement.