Now a month has passed since E3, Electronic Arts is hosting its own showcase in the form of EA Play Live. On the face of it, that’s not the worst decision in the world. While EA will get less eyes on its own than it would as part of E3, it’s still a big enough publisher to draw a crowd, and with E3 being remote for yet another year, I can understand the decision to avoid the noise and deliver big announcements on its own terms. I wrote as much in the aftermath of E3 about Sony’s decision to skip it, and why that seemed to be the best solution for everyone concerned. In principle, I have no problem with EA striking out on its own, even so soon after the E3 buzz has died down. But in the run up to the event, I just keep asking myself - what’s the point?

Ahead of the event, several different studios have flagged that they will not be participating. It’s an approach I welcome; when Square Enix held an event of its own a few months prior to E3, it released a list of the games that would be present, a tactic it employed once again during E3 itself. Both times, Square Enix left room for surprises while being clear in what it had to offer. It must be tempting for publishers to keep things covered up, to let the hype and suspense build. After all, the more hype, the more games that might be there, the more viewership, right? But when all that’s in store for several of these viewers is disappointment, it can turn the reception to the event sour, so Square Enix was smart to avoid it. EA is going about it in a similar way, but in a far more negative fashion, and I can’t understand why.

Related: After Mass Effect, EA's Best Option For A Remaster Trilogy Is Dead SpaceBioWare was the first studio to blink. A couple of weeks ago, we were told that neither Mass Effect 4 (or is it Mass Effect 5?) or Dragon Age 4 will be at EA Play Live. Both are huge RPGs, neither have shown off any gameplay footage whatsoever yet, Mass Effect: Legendary Edition just launched, and Dragon Age 4 has already given us a behind the scenes reel in recent months. It’s understandable, if a little disappointing, that neither will be there this week.

Mass Effect 3 Legendary Edition Screenshot EDI Talking To Shepard

Next to bow out was Star Wars. I’m not sure any of us expected a Star Wars Jedi 2 release date, but with so many Star Wars games in the works - even with EA’s exclusive license up - it would have been reasonable to assume that something Star Wars related might have appeared at EA Play Live. Alas not. Most recently, Skate 4 also dropped out, taking the strange decision to show some mocap footage and brief developer chats just two days before EA Play Live.

That leaves… well, not much, really. Apex Legends and Battlefield 2042 had their own EA event just last week, as did the indies in the EA Originals program. Meanwhile FIFA 22 and Madden 22, EA’s big sports sim guns, are getting dedicated events in the two days after EA Play Live, which suggests they won’t feature much (or possibly at all) in the event itself. That means, what, a whole event for Knockout City, The Sims, and Need For Speed? Maybe an update for It Takes Two, new info on Lost in Random, or a surprise reveal for a new Unravel or Plants Vs. Zombies? That’s not a terrible showcase if all of the above make the cut, but going the Square Enix route and telling us to prepare for those games - rather than the much more negative ‘no Mass Effect, no Dragon Age, no Star Wars, no Skate, no fun’ route - would have left EA in a much comfier position.

FIFA 22 Mbappé with the ball

Of course, there is a rather large elephant in the room here. EA has long been rumoured to be reviving a classic series, and while I'd love it to be SSX, gaming's worst kept secret right now is that Dead Space is making a comeback. If the reveal looks good, whether it's a remake or a reboot or a reimagining or whatever else, then it saves the show. The presentation’s wider flaws cease to exist if Dead Space 4 (or whatever its name is) looks great, but then it risks becoming a glorified Dead Space Direct.

If EA had promoted the event as a reveal, rather than a showcase where its biggest titles wouldn't be present, perhaps there would be a greater buzz around it right now. As it stands, the hype is muted, because the event has for some reason been splintered into lots of mini events, we have repeated confirmation of who won't be there but no details on who will, and everyone is hanging on a rumour - a heavily hinted at rumour, but a rumour nonetheless - to save the show. EA Play Live could be great, especially if Dead Space turns up, but right now it feels like the whole thing is a little pointless.

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