After more than twenty years, the Electronic Entertainment Expo, also known as E3, is coming to an end.
Stanley Pierre-Louis, president of the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) has announced the trade association's intention to end the event (via the Washington Post).
“We know it is difficult to say goodbye to such a beloved event, but it is the right thing to do given the new opportunities our industry has to reach fans and partners,” said Pierre-Louis.
E3 started in 1995 as a trade event for the video games industry, but quickly grew into the most important event on the gaming calendar for many. However, the 2020 pandemic put the expo on hold and returned in 2021 as an online-only event before being postponed again in 2022.
Although many expected a return in 2023, the event was canceled, hampered by a lack of interest from major publishers. At the time, Pierre-Louis blamed an “altered” development timeline due to COVID, an “economic headwind” that caused companies to reassess their investments in large-scale events, and a new “balance between in-person events and digital marketing capabilities.”
Despite not happening in a formal capacity, 2023 did give us an 'E3 period' with plenty of showcases and reveals. However, the majority of this took place in the form of mainly online events, in the form of streams.
This news won't come as a surprise to some, as it was announced back in September that E3 would not return to Los Angeles, its traditional venue. The divorce between the ESA and event organizer ReedPop was perhaps the final nail in the expo's coffin.
While the challenge of summer game previews remains as strong as ever, it seems like an era has come to an end with the passing of E3. While the online “instant” format has done great things to make summer shows more accessible, having one less place to connect with like-minded professionals in an atmosphere of excitement and camaraderie is also a loss for the industry. Rest well, E3, and thanks for everything.
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