Video game industry shoots for momentum at E3 show

San Francisco: Virtual reality, streaming play and titles tailored for smartphones are expected to generate buzz at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) video game extravaganza kicking off in Los Angeles.

While blockbuster games being readied for console play will once again be stars at the show, the industry and its premier annual trade event are adapting to lifestyles that have evolved beyond lone play on consoles.

"Evolution is going to be one of the big themes at E3 this year," said Scott Steinberg, a trend expert for consulting firm TechSavvy Global ahead of the show, which officially opens Tuesday. "Gaming is really becoming a shared experience; a spectator event."

Amazon-owned Twitch, a popular online platform for watching video game play as spectator sport, will be live streaming E3 happenings again this year as part of a partnership with event organisers at the Entertainment Software Association.  Alphabet-owned video sharing platform YouTube meanwhile will be streaming E3 coverage online at gaming.youtube.com/e3.

"For more than a few gamers, E3 is the must-see gaming event of the year, an annual moment that defines the industry (and our collective wallets) for the coming 12 months," YouTube said in a release.

Facebook, Yahoo, and Xbox have also gotten into the game when it comes to play, or chatter about it, being broadcast online as spectator sport.

Still, industry heavyweights are not giving up consoles which have long ruled the lucrative sector.  "I think you are going to see a number of major players make some surprise announcements, and hardware makers try to sustain momentum," Steinberg said.