E3 is deader than ever
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The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) announced today to The Washington Post that it is bringing the industry event E3 (Electronic Entertainment Expo) to a close.
For over two decades, E3 was the biggest gaming event of the year. Other shows would sometimes boast bigger foot traffic, but nothing could match the excitement and reveals happening around E3.
The first E3 took place in 1995, giving gaming its own convention after previously depending on the broader CES (Consumer Electronics Show). For most of its run, E3 took place at the Los Angeles Convention Center. Along with giant booths filling up the complex, major gaming companies (like Nintendo, Sony and Microsoft) would also host their own shows around E3 where they would make major hardware and software announcements.
<p lang=«zxx» dir=«ltr» xml:lang=«zxx»> pic.twitter.com/y6dtVkBvNIThe last in-person E3 took place in 2019. Already, the show was starting to weaken with some of the major gaming companies, like Sony, backing out of the event. It became easier for game publishers to host their own shows without relying on E3 (or having to pay for expensive booth space).
After 2019, the pandemic happened. There was no show in 2020, and then the ESA ran a smaller online event in 2021. There was once again no E3 in 2022, but the ESA was working with PAX organizer ReedPop for a revival in 2023. Lack of interest killed that event.
Now the ESA is calling it quits. Still, I hesitate to say that E3 is dead forever. It’s still a recognizable brand. Maybe someday, someone will see the value in making it relevant again.
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