E3 or the Electronic Entertainment Expo, once the biggest convention and media platform organized for the massive global gaming industry, is officially dead, according to new information uncovered by The Washington Post reporter, Gene Park.
In a latest tweet, Park confirmed that the event will no longer be organized, citing his exclusive conversation with the CEO of ESA, or the Entertainment Software Association, Stanley Pierre-Louis. Shortly after Park’s article was published in the Washington Post, the ESA confirmed the news of its premier gaming showcase event ending. In its tweet, ESA has claimed that E3 will not be taking place again, and the organization will instead focus on advocating for ESA member companies and the industry workforce.
E3 has been a landmark event in the gaming industry for almost twenty years. It was started in 1995 and commended respect and massive viewership right until recent years.
According to the exclusive in the Washington Post, the decision to end the E3 convention is a result of new competitors (such as The Game Awards, along with many platform or developer-specific showcases) entering the gaming showcase and convention landscape and shifting habits of audiences.
Withdrawals by Partners and The Pandemic Brought About E3 Shutdown
Withdrawals by many major partners for the event also acted as a major issue in the closing down of E3. After Sony decided to leave the event in 2018 to focus on its own PlayStation Showcase, many other vendors and partner organizations followed suit. The COVID-19 pandemic was an especially tough time for the celebrated event, which ultimately put an end to years of efforts by ESA to bring the event back.
E3 in 2019 was the last-ever in-person convention organized by ESA. The 2020 event was canceled due to the pandemic, with ESA planning to host an online event in 2021. E3 2021 ultimately became the last event, however, the ESA was still planning the event for 2022.
Even in 2023, ESA was in the middle of planning a live event. However, the 2023 event was canceled by the organization in March, citing a lack of ‘sustained interest necessary to execute it’. Gamers wondered for a while whether the event will ever be back but the announcement made today officially confirms that it won’t, marking the end of an era.
