E3 Officially Shuts Down

Is E3 Dead for Good?

For the longest time, the gaming industry looked forward to E3, which often had exciting gameplay demos for upcoming games and industry-shattering announcements. But E3 has had a rough past few years. Despite a 20-year history, the event was dwindling. During the pandemic, the 2020 event was canceled. Then the 2021 version was virtual. By 2022, it looked like E3 would never be the same, with many big publishers realizing they could just do online presentations.

The 2022 event was eventually canceled, with organizers explaining that there was just a lack of interest. But fans still wondered if E3 would make a comeback now that conventions are returning.

What Happened to E3?

This time around, it looks like E3 won’t be coming back.

The Entertainment Software Association, or ESA, has announced that E3 is officially done. President and CEO Stanley Pierre-Louis stated that there has been passion for E3 from “the entire industry, players and creators alike,” but it’s now the “right thing to do” now that there are new ways to reach fans and partners.

This is largely due to publishers like Sony and Nintendo deciding to livestream their announcements on Twitch and beyond. It has proven quite successful to have showcases online, reducing the need for E3 and other similar conventions. Sony even pulled from E3 back in 2018 for this reason. Still, gamers are sad at the news since E3 has been around since 1995.

“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,” Pierre-Louis said to the Washington Post. “Companies now have access to consumers and to business relations through a variety of means, including their own individual showcases.”

E3 has been the source of many big video game memories for many in the industry, including immersive gameplay experiences, exciting announcements, and other fun game-related content. Many are sad to see E3 ending but that doesn’t mean there won’t be more memories to come.

The video game industry is moving in a different direction, largely virtual. Even Pierre-Louis admitted he’s excited about the possibilities, noting that publishers have new ways to interact with audiences. It’s unclear what this means for E3 specifically, but the video game industry will continue to innovate its announcements and presentations.