The Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3), once hailed as the pinnacle of video game trade shows, has officially met its end. Read on to know more.

E3 Says GGWP as Industry Evolves

Stanley Pierre-Louis, the President and CEO of the Entertainment Software Association (ESA), confirmed the demise of E3 to The Washington Post. ESA's CEO attributed the end of E3 to a combination of factors, such as the emergence of new competitors, withdrawals from key partners, evolving audience preferences, and disruptions caused by the ongoing pandemic.

The ESA, as the trade association of the video game industry in the United States, acknowledged the significance and impact of E3 but emphasized the necessity of bidding farewell to the beloved event. Pierre-Louis stated, "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."

Declining Trend of E3

E3, where major gaming companies historically unveiled their flagship titles and teasers, had been in a state of decline for several years as these same companies increasingly opted for independent streaming events for major announcements. Pierre-Louis acknowledged the growing popularity of online video news conferences like the Nintendo Direct to be another factor in E3's collapse.

Recent attempts to revive E3 were unable to counteract its declining trend. The COVID-19 pandemic further accelerated the challenges faced by E3, as quarantine measures prompted many game publishers to adopt online news conferences.

While the closure of E3 marks the end of an era, the ESA is actively exploring alternatives. Pierre-Louis stated in the interview with The Washington Post that he sees E3's closure as the business of video games blossoming in different ways. "Any one of these major companies can create an individual showcase … [and]also partner with other industry events to showcase the breadth of games," he said. "That’s exciting for our industry, and it means it’s an opportunity for them to explore how to engage new audiences in different ways."

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E3, once gaming’s biggest expo, is officially dead
E3 is officially dead