End of an era: E3 officially says goodbye after more than 20 years

After more than two decades of being the biggest video game trade show in the world, the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) is officially dead, according to the Entertainment Software Association (ESA).

The ESA CEO, Stanley Pierre-Louis, confirmed that E3 is gone and will never come back. The decision to end E3 was due to a shift in how the industry operates and markets products, with individual showcases like the Nintendo Direct becoming more popular.

An era comes to an end

E3 was once the top dog, pulling eyes with the biggest announcements, but four straight years of cancelations and failed retooling for the current space have showcased that its time has passed.

While the ESA acknowledges that there is still a shared passion for the event brand, that doesn’t justify trying for a fifth time. Inviting fans to the event or trying to rework the E3 experience with its failed ReedPop partnership wouldn’t have saved E3, and the ESA understands that.

News on #E32023 from the source. pic.twitter.com/BK7TUlb8mZ

— E3 (@E3) March 30, 2023

Pierre-Louis described how E3 lost its core marketing and business model for the industry once companies started branching out and sharing information through individual showcases or other business relations. It is a bittersweet realization, but one that is ultimately reflective of the growth within the games industry when it comes to no longer needing one centralized marketing hub every year.

The ESA recognizes that any one of these major companies can create an individual showcase and partner with other industry events to showcase the breadth of games. That’s exciting for the industry, and it means it’s an opportunity for them to explore how to engage new audiences in different ways.

With the official farewell of the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3), a chapter of over 20 years comes to a close that was characterized by ups and downs, but above all by groundbreaking moments in the games industry. Stanley Pierre-Louis’ words not only mark the end of an era, but also the beginning of a new phase in which the games industry can operate in a more flexible, creative and diverse way. May the future of the gaming world be as exciting as past E3 shows and may the diversity of games reach fans in innovative ways.

In conclusion, the end of E3 is a reflection of the changing landscape of the gaming industry. While it is sad to say goodbye to such a beloved event, it is the right thing to do given the new opportunities that the industry has to reach fans and partners.