The annual Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3), once a pivotal event for video game companies to showcase upcoming titles, announced it is closing down permanently after over 25 years.
E3 struggled in recent years to adapt to shifts in the gaming industry and culture, ultimately deciding to cease operations. The nonprofit Entertainment Software Association (ESA), which organized the major gaming convention in Los Angeles since 1995, shared the news on its website Tuesday.
“After more than two decades of E3, each one bigger than the last, the time has come to say goodbye,” the ESA statement read. “Thanks for the memories. GGWP.”
Industry Gathering No Longer Central
Originally aimed primarily at gaming journalists and industry insiders, E3 rapidly evolved into a cultural phenomenon drawing tens of thousands of fans each June. Game makers often saved major announcements, dazzling trailers, and special celebrity appearances for their E3 showcases.
For over two decades, E3 served as the central hub for gaming news and reveals every summer before sales kicked off during the holidays.
However, in more recent years, E3 struggled to maintain relevance as both gamer culture and the gaming industry shifted. Several factors contributed to its decline:
Competition From Other Gaming Events
As gaming conventions like Comic-Con, PAX, and MineCon grew, they syphoned away attention once concentrated around E3 in June. Some competitors proved more accessible for fans seeking hands-on gameplay.
Loss of Major Exhibitors
Industry leaders including Nintendo and Sony reduced their E3 presence dramatically, instead opting to announce new titles through Nintendo Direct or Sony State of Play livestreams. Their absence dealt a huge blow.
Rise of Digital Distribution
As disc-based game sales declined, mobile gaming and digital storefronts rose. The whole sector moved away from depending on seasonal spikes around physical releases tied to events like E3.
Pandemic Disruptions
After initially going digital-only in 2021, the 2022 event was ultimately canceled due to the pandemic’s lingering impacts. E3 never recovered momentum post-lockdowns.
For hardcore gamers, the loss of E3 feels like the end of an era. The summer convention represented the apex of gaming for decades. But the writing was on the wall that the industry had outgrown its relevance.
Rather than clinging to outdated traditions, perhaps it is best for all that E3 passes the controller permanently. As the ESA put it: good game, well played.
The nonprofit insists it remains committed to advocating for member gaming companies and workers moving forward. But the days of E3 serving as the tentpole for major gaming news appear long gone.
Fans Remember the Glory Days
Reactions poured in from gamers nostalgic for E3’s glory days of flashy press conferences and exciting announcements. Some mourned the loss of communal gatherings to geek out over upcoming titles.
Others felt E3 stubbornly failed to get with the times. In a rapidly evolving, digital-first era, was there still a place for such conventions? The ESA’s call acknowledged that after 27 installments, the marathon had finished.
Of course, several successor events seem poised to carry the torch. But for many gamers, the E3 brand still represents something uniquely special tied to cherished summer memories.
It is the end of the E3 era, but the broader gaming community continues evolving at light speed. Perhaps this changing of the guard will give rise to fresh opportunities better suited for current times.
