E3 is officially dead, the Entertainment Software Association confirmed. In an interview with Washington Post, CEO of the ESA Stanley Pierre-Louis confirmed that the event was coming to a close after attempts to revive the convention. [Thanks, Washington Post!]
E3 had been the premiere gaming news event of the year. This annual trade event covered the latest announcements from companies across the industry and marked one of the most important dates on the gaming calendar. However, following E3’s cancelation during COVID-19 lockdowns, the show has struggled to return. Most recently, a 2023 event in collaboration with PAX and EGX organizers ReedPop was announced then canceled. A 2024 event was also looking unlikely, according to the LA Convention Center.
E3 had been in trouble before this, however. The event had been seeing dwindling numbers prior to the pandemic. In 2018, Sony declined to attend the event, which led to other attendees gradually following suit. The final in-person E3 was held in 2019, although a virtual event was held in 2021.
Pierre-Louis acknowledged that a changing market and more direct routes for publishers to speak to customers made the show harder to justify. This is in reference to individual publishers now frequently holding their own showcases throughout the year. These include Nintendo Directs, Sony’s State of Play presentations and Microsoft’s Xbox Showcases. These presentations have given publishers more freedom to make announcements throughout the year at a lower cost than attending E3.
With E3 officially dead, it is replaced by a trio of events hosted by Geoff Keighley. These are Summer Game Fest, Gamescom Opening Night and The Game Awards, held in June, August and December respectively.
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