The Electronic Entertainment Expo was once the largest event of its kind. Now, it’s concluded.
Farewell to E3: Reflecting on Two Decades of Gaming Memories
E3 has come to an end.
According to a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, the official E3 account declared, “After more than two decades of E3, each one bigger than the last, the time has come to say goodbye. Thanks for the memories.
E3’s post garnered over 100,000 likes and 38,000 reposts on the platform within three hours.
The Entertainment Software Association, the nonprofit video game trade organization that organized E3, shared its statement on its X account as well.
Farewell to E3: ESA’s Decision and Commitment to Industry Advocacy
The Entertainment Software Association announced the decision to end E3 after more than two decades of being a central showcase for the video game industry. The statement was made on its official account on X, formerly known as Twitter.
The ESA also posted a link to the Washington Post story that broke the news, featuring quotes from the organization’s president and CEO, Stanley Pierre-Louis.
The statement emphasized ESA’s ongoing focus on advocating for member companies and the industry workforce, who contribute to positive cultural and economic impact daily.
E3, or the Electronic Entertainment Expo, held its inaugural event in 1995 and quickly became the largest video game expo of its kind. Recognized as the primary industry gathering, it was the platform for major announcements and game debuts. The expo ran annually until 2019, marking its last in-person event. The cancellation of E3 2020 in June of that year was attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic.
E3’s Rollercoaster: From Online Revival to Partnership and Industry Evolution
In 2021, E3 made a comeback as an online-only event, responding to ongoing concerns about COVID-19. While E3 initially aimed to host an in-person event in 2022, it was later canceled due to the pandemic, and unfortunately, no online event was scheduled as a replacement that year.
E3 revealed its return in 2023 and announced a partnership with ReedPop, the event planning group responsible for other successful conventions like New York Comic Con and PAX. Despite initial plans for the June 2023 event, E3 later announced its cancellation, attributing it not to COVID-19 but to a lack of interest from the industry.
Major video game companies such as Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft had decided to skip E3 2023 in favor of hosting their individual events. It seems that during the years when E3 couldn’t hold its regular showcase, these companies discovered that organizing their own online events, highlighting their specific lineups, proved to be more successful endeavors.
Pierre-Louis from the ESA, in his statement to the Washington Post, explained that the industry has evolved to the point where E3 was simply no longer a necessity.
He mentioned, “We understand it’s tough to bid farewell 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.
