Ahh, the Electronic Entertainment Expo. If the consoles and PC are indeed at war, here is where the gladiatorial combat actually takes place. We’ve come to expect the news on games in our favourite franchises, and to see new games in those franchises get announced.

That’s all well and good, but we all know there’s going to be a next FIFA or a new Assassin’s Creed. Those are foregone conclusions by this point. What’s always been the best thing about E3 is when they tell us something we don’t know. This is why the best thing to see at E3 is new IPs.

New IP often has the potential to steal the spotlight from established franchises. Watching everyone lose their minds over No Man’s Sky after its exposure during the Sony press conference in 2014 is encouraging as it shows that gamers crave something new.

The games industry thrives when it is innovating. Innovation is what keeps the industry and the medium forward, and often the biggest sources of innovation are with new IPs. New games, totally free from the constraints placed on sequels or “spiritual successors” with totally new mechanics and levels are always more exciting than whatever new cosmetic feature EA has trademarked (literally) for their latest FIFA update.