The Electronic Entertainment Expo, aka the E3, is officially dead.
The Entertainment Software Association announced the news on Twitter.
“After more than two decades of E3, each one bigger than the last, the time has come to say goodbye,” says the tweet.
— E3 (@E3) December 12, 2023
E3 served as the pinnacle event for gamers, developers, and industry giants to converge and celebrate the future of gaming. It was a platform where groundbreaking announcements, jaw-dropping trailers, and exclusive peeks into the industry’s upcoming projects took center stage.
Stanley Pierre-Louis, president and CEO of Entertainment Software Association also spoke with The Washington Post about shuttering the E3.
“We know the entire industry, players and creators alike have a lot of passion for E3. We share that passion. We know it’s difficult to say goodbye to such a beloved event, but it’s the right thing to do given the new opportunities our industry has to reach fans and partners,” he said.
Pierre-Louis added, “There were fans who were invited to attend in the later years, but it really was about a marketing and business model for the industry and being able to provide the world with information about new products. Companies now have access to consumers and to business relations through a variety of means, including their own individual showcases.”
Pierre-Louis continued, “Any one of these major companies can create an individual showcase … [and]also partner with other industry events to showcase the breadth of games. That’s exciting for our industry, and it means it’s an opportunity for them to explore how to engage new audiences in different ways.”
The E3 debuted debuted May 11, 1995, 28 years ago, with the most recent convention held June 12, 2021. A live event was announced for 2022 but scrapped with plans for another live event in 2023. However, due to a variety of factors including the lack of interest and attendance of major companies and studios, the Entertainment Software Association has decided to cancel E3 altogether. Gaming companies now regularly attend the San Diego Comic-Con and trailers and announcements are often revealed at Summer Game Fest and The Game Awards. Sony also holds their own event with Playstation Showcase, Nintendo with Nintendo Live, and Microsoft with Xbox Games Showcase.
