Upcoming gaming conventions of 2014

When and where? March 17-21 in San Francisco, CA

What’s it like? Game Developers Conference started off as a simple way to bring together the many different creators that live in the Bay Area and Silicon Valley. But as the community of developers grew, people started coming from all over the world to discuss the art of making games, and some major creators even began using GDC as a platform for making gaming news with full-blown announcements. So while the show still has some very informative panels (on top of great networking and job opportunities for industry professionals), it’s starting to become a mini-E3 with regards to news.

What might happen? Last year saw the continued growth of GDC as an industry event, playing host to the reveal of games on the scale of Metal Gear Solid 5, so who knows what will happen at this year’s GDC. And outside of straightforward announcements, any panel has the potential for an interesting tidbit or accidental tease. With developers the world over coming to San Francisco, you can expect at least a few new rumors to surface.

When and where? April 11-13 in Boston, MA

What’s it like? So many American gaming events favor the West Coast, so New England gamers were no doubt happy when Penny Arcade Expo set up shop in Boston. PAX East was a very quick success, and in spite of any controversy Penny Arcade’s creators may suffer, the show is clearly still a hit, given how quickly badges sold out this year. But even if you can’t get into the show, there will likely be much you can appreciate from afar when panels are being increasingly live streamed on Twitch and UStream.

What might happen? PAX East’s April dates are nestled snugly between GDC and E3, so a number of mid-sized reveals tend to happen in Boston. 2013 saw new Borderlands 2 DLC, a Civ V expansion, and some playable exposure to XCOM: Enemy Within, so major DLC and updates could take the spotlight again. However, indie and downloadable games really made an impact last year, as PAX East hosted the reveals of Transistor, DuckTales, and Hearthstone, among many others. Smaller titles could make an even bigger splash in 2014.

When and where? July 24-27 in San Diego, CA (duh)

What’s it like? SDCC is the granddaddy of all comic book conventions, and over the course of decades, it's grown to the point that it basically swallows the city of San Diego whole for five days straight. Though it began as a way for comic industry professionals to meet with fans, it has transformed into a massive media event for film, TV, and (you guessed it) gaming.

What might happen? In the last couple years, Sony, Microsoft, Nintendo, Capcom, Ubisoft, and Namco have all had large booths on the show floor. 2014 will likely be the same, so expect publishers of that size showcasing their recent E3 demos to a more informal audience--but we doubt Comic-Con will be limited to that. Though we don’t expect anything too big, publishers have been known to unveil comic book tie-ins like Deadpool, along with new trailers for SDCC. Lastly, unlike the front-loaded E3, game reveals happen all show long at SDCC, keeping the excitement high for the entire five-day stretch.

When and where? August 13-17 in Cologne, Germany

What’s it like? Gamescom has been the biggest gaming event in Europe for some time, and it continues to grow with each year. Companies from all over the globe converge on Deutschland to show off new titles and demos, and its influence keeps expanding.And it’s open to the public, so no need to sneak in if you can afford it.

What might happen? Gamescom usually gets a flood of new demos from European devs, so we expect to see something new and playable from the likes of Ubisoft and CD Projekt, along with some big guns from North America and Japan. Sony typically makes the most noise at Gamescom, and we predict that'll continue now that the PS4 is finally out. Like in 2013, expect the publisher to tease a large number of PS4 games as well as attempting to boost the Vita in ways it desperately needs. Meanwhile, Microsoft needs to make up for lost ground in the territory, so maybe we'll see some major new info on some key Xbox One games.

When and where? August 30-September 2 in Seattle, WA

What’s it like? PAX Prime is the original Penny Arcade Expo, and it's grown to consume downtown Seattle every Labor Day weekend. Fans come for an atmosphere that’s far less corporate than E3, and game companies recognize the benefits of interacting with excitable fans at each expo. Pretty much all the big publishers make an appearance, but because PAX is so close to the Seattle homes of Nintendo and Microsoft, those two usually have a larger showing than most.

What might happen? We expect at least a few new demos of Nintendo games, plus some Microsoft reveals, including a dusting of hints about the next Halo game (after it gets showcased at E3). PAX is also known for having a fairly strong focus on indie games, so expect to hear about some strange titles that could end up being the next Fez or Super Meat Boy.

When and where? October 31-November 12 in Melbourne, Australia

What’s it like? The Penny Arcade Expo began in 2004 as a small fan-focused convention in Seattle, and the then-inclusive feel of the show saw it quickly grow into two of the biggest conventions for gamers in the US. After spreading to Boston to give East Coast gamers some love, PAX went Down Under, with its second annual show taking over Melbourne again in 2014.

What might happen? Last year's expo probably boosted camaraderie among Australian gamers, but the inaugural show didn’t have much in the way of news. Perhaps the lack of reveals had to do with the remote location, it being an untested event, or PAX AU’s closeness to San Diego Comic-Con. But now that the convention is later in the year and occupies a bigger venue, it’s possible that game developers and publishers will show the island nation a little more love in 2014.

Our list is intentionally missing write-ups on three of the biggest dedicated gaming conventions in the country. But that’s only because there are no concrete details for MineCon, QuakeCon, or BlizzCon in 2014, though some seem more likely to happen than others. MineCon is basically a sure thing, but the location is in question. Last year it was in Orlando, FL; before that, it was in Disneyland Paris. Who knows which hemisphere will host Minecraft diehards next?

BlizzCon took a year off in 2012, then returned strong in 2013 with tickets selling out fast. We doubt Blizzard will another hiatus, but the developer has yet to name a date. QuakeCon seems even less likely because developer id changed so much in 2013. Company veteran John Carmack has exited id, and it’s hard to imagine QuakeCon without a lengthy keynote speech by the bespectacled developer. Then again, id’s corporate master ZeniMax could potentially keep the show going for another year.

Plan on going to any of these? Or at least staying up to date with all the news? Let us know what you’re looking forward to in the comments!

And if you're looking for more to anticipate this year, check out our list of the 100 most anticipated new games of 2014 and the top 7 games we want announced in 2014.