E3 will be open to the public this year

One of gaming’s biggest events is opening its doors to the public. As Gamespot reports, today E3’s organizer, the Entertainment Software Association, announced that a limited number of fans will be able to attend the convention this year.

Tickets will go on sale on February 13th for $250 (early-bird discounted tickets will be available for $150), and will be limited to 15,000. Last year the ESA tested the waters with a public event located outside of the Los Angeles convention center — publisher EA did something similar as well — and the ESA’s Rich Taylor told Gamespot that “the feedback we heard was clear — [fans] wanted to play the games inside the convention center.”

While E3 has historically been a media-focused event, other major gaming trade shows have long allowed fans to attend. Germany’s Gamescom — the largest video game trade show in terms of attendees — offers days open to anyone, while the many versions of the Penny Arcade Expo are all focused on the public. E3’s shift, then, shouldn’t be too surprising, especially considering the increasingly spectacle-like nature of the show.

E3 will run from June 13th to the 15th in LA. You can grab tickets on February 13th on E3’s website.