E3 Is Finally Dead
It's official: E3 is dead. After several failed attempts to bring the industry event back, organisers admit that it's ending for good, making 2019 the last time E3 was held in person.
This is being reported by the Washington Post, quoting ESA president, Stanley Pierre-Louis. In a statement, Pierre-Louis says it's "difficult to say goodbye", but adds that ending E3 is the "right thing to do".
"We know the entire industry, players and creators alike have a lot of passion for E3. We share that passion," says Pierre-Louis. "We know it’s difficult to say goodbye 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."
The ESA has since confirmed that Pierre-Louis' statement means that E3 is ending for good, sharing another statement on social media, thanking attendees for the memories.
E3 2023 had already been cancelled both in-person and virtually, but this is the first confirmation that E3 is gone for good. It's not surprising news for many, but its impact is wide-reaching all the same, ending one of the most iconic trade shows in the industry.
It leaves Geoff Keighley's Summer Game Fest and The Game Awards as the defacto industry leaders. While they hadn't had competition from E3 for some time, they are now the largest events to host announcements from all corners of the industry, not just specific companies.
Despite this, companies continue to move towards hosting their own industry events, often not open to the public or press. Instead, they are often held through controlled live streams or pre-recorded shows, ranging from Nintendo Directs, PlayStation State of Plays, or Xbox Games Showcases. This was seen as a contributing factor to the decline
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