Top 10 Embarrassing E3 Moments

Press F to cringe. Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down the Top 10 Embarrassing E3 Moments.



For this list, we’re returning to the seemingly bottomless well of embarrassing E3 moments to list some of the notable occasions in which the prestigious video games trade show had us squirming in our seats.

#10: "We're Out Here Chasing Money"

E3 2018



Video games are a big business, make no mistake. At the end of the day, the companies behind our favorite digital pastimes are just looking to make a buck. But EA in particular has garnered a negative reputation over the years for putting profits way ahead of player satisfaction, “Star Wars Battlefront 2” Anyone? So at their E3 2018 presentation for Madden ’19; Steelers wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster and pro Madden gamer Shay “Young Kiv” Kivlen probably started making a few executives sweat backstage. Kivlen said he’d rather “chase that money” than go to his own graduation and Smith-Schuster agreed with this infamous quip: ("We're Out Here Chasing Money") Yeah … Given EA’s track record; Its hard not to make fun of this moment.

#9: Kinect Presentation Child Actors

E3 2010-11


Comedian W.C Fields famously quipped that you should never work with children or animals. There are many who would contest the sentiment behind this, but Microsoft employees probably aren’t among them. When the tech giant first showed off its Kinect system, touted as the next big thing in digital entertainment, they brought in several child actors to help sell the console as fun for the whole family. The performances that these pint-sized pitchmen gave didn’t do much to build hype for the peripheral, to put it lightly. And to make matters worse, Microsoft did the exact same thing a year later! Learn from your mistakes, guys!

#8: “599 US Dollars”

E3 2006


Gaming can be an expensive habit, especially when the latest console hits the market. While some developers have been able to keep things cost-effective, Sony turned heads when they announced the whopping six-hundred dollar launch day price tag for the 60GB PS3. In today’s money, that’s over seven-hundred and fifty dollars, because apparently inflation really does move that fast! Even without adjusting for inflation, a 600 dollar price is a lot of cheddar, especially given that the PS4 ran for around $400 when it launched. We’re willing to drop some dough on our gaming habit, but we’d rather not have to sell an organ to get a new console.

#7: Wii Music

E3 2008


Oh, Nintendo, you tried so hard to make this game seem exciting. While the motion-controlled console was riding high, the House that Mario Built kept trying to push the limits of what the console’s innovative controls were capable of. Sometimes it worked, other times it left a group of nervous looking Nintendo employees, led by Miyamoto himself, banging out an off-key rendition of the Mario Theme song. It was clear from this moment that Wii Music wasn’t going to change the landscape of gaming or music. The Wii’s motion controls just weren’t up to the task. Good try, Nintendo, but… that’s not quite my tempo.

#6: Mister Caffeine

E3 2011


For their 2011 E3 conference, Ubisoft introduced the world to Aaron Priceman, an over enthusiastic pitchman who took the stage, and the internet, by storm. From the moment he stepped into the spotlight, Priceman was a manic ball of energy, rushing his way through lame jokes with the speed to rival Sega’s spritely blue mascot. Obviously, the internet pounced on this moment like the massive seam of comedy gold it was, spinning the cringey presentation into memes, remixes and more. You can’t fault the guy’s lack of energy, but someone really should have told him to take it down a peg in rehearsals. Assuming there even were rehearsals….

#5: Giant Enemy Crab

E3 2006


Ancient Japan is a great setting for video games, given the numerous larger than life characters and battles that define its history. That being said, you don’t have to be an historian to spot the creative liberties at play here. In a presentation that became instant meme-fuel, a presenter for Sony’s samurai action epic “Genji: Days of the Blade” extolled how the fights within the game were based on “famous battles which actually took place in ancient Japan”. With a complete lack of self awareness, he later remarked “And here’s this giant enemy crab” when the eponymous cranky crustacean entered the battlefield. Yeah, we’ve checked our history books, the only crabs we’re seeing are the ones being served for dinner.

#4: Command and Conquer Goes Mobile

E3 2018


This one isn’t so much embarrassing as just plain disappointing. Since the release of “Command and Conquer 4: Tiberium Twilight” back in 2010, fans of the venerable Real-Time Strategy franchise have been chomping at the bit for a continuation or revival of their favorite series. It looked like those prayers would be answered in 2018 when a new C&C game was announced….only to be revealed as a free-to-play mobile game. Obviously this was a crushing blow to fans, who could only watch on in horror as the once mighty franchise was reduced to a shadow of its former glory. If anyone needs us, we’ll be going to space with Tim Curry.

#3: Jesse Wellens

E3 2017


Public speaking can be downright nerve wracking at the best of times, but YouTuber Jesse Wellens found himself in a worst-case scenario when EA recruited him to help promote their new Need for Speed game. It seemed like a great idea, but the results were less than stellar. Wellens flubbed his lines, stumbled and even began with his back to the camera. He later took to his YouTube channel to explain his side of the story: that he went live unexpectedly when he had “turned his brain off”, and the teleprompter was displaying a different script from what he had rehearsed with. The mishaps definitely made for an awkward moment, but in this case it’s one we can totally understand.

#2: Jamie Kennedy

E3 2007


Publishers and developers will often bring out celebrities at E3 to help build hype and prestige for their upcoming games. It’s led to some decent presentations, but completely and utterly backfired when Activision bought in comedian Jamie Kennedy in 2007. Kennedy, who was reportedly drunk at the time, belittled the audience with a series of cliche jokes about gamers being reclusive virgins before stumbling his was through interviews with Tony Hawk and others. It was a horrendously embarrassing moment for just about everyone involved, and a reminder that a celebrity host isn’t always the best idea. Hopefully, developers and publishers have learned from this mishap and been more careful with their choice of hosts.



Before we unveil our number one pick, have a look at some Dishonorable Mentions.



Sony Intermission

E3 2018



Battlefield 4 Technical Failures

E3 2013



Skyward Sword Bugs

E3 2010



Overhyped forPeggle 2

E3 2013



Joel McHale Laser Tag

E3 2010

#1: Konami’s 2010 Conference

E3 2010


It’s the presentation that will live forever in E3 infamy. Konami’s 2010 press conference has become the stuff of legends, adored and ridiculed in equal measure. After starting off with some awkward technical difficulties, things took a turn for the bizarre when a trio of luchadores took the stage to promote “Lucha Libre AAA: Héroes del Ring.” After the wrestlers got a little rowdy, Konami’s Tak Fujiji took the stage to talk about “Ninety-Nine Nights II”, and his presentation certainly felt Ninety-Nine Nights long! Add in a painful musical number for “Karaoke Revolution: Glee” and a one-sided staredown during the “Silent Hill Downpour”, and you’ve got one long WTF.