E3 officially dead, will not return
The Electronic Entertainment Expo, which has been a staple of the gaming industry for over twenty years, is officially dead. The Entertainment Software Association announced today that it’s pulling the plug on the event permanently.
E3 has been home to some of the biggest gaming announcements, news, presentations, and hands-on opportunities of the year. However, 2019 was the last time it was fully operational. The coronavirus pandemic impacted E3, and the event was never able to recover.
E3 2020 was cancelled entirely due to the pandemic. The show made a slight comeback in 2021, but only as a digital event. 2022 was another year that E3 was scrapped entirely. The expo was looking for big comeback this year, but once again, it was cancelled.
Summer Game Fest has looked to replace some of the excitement of E3. It’s comprised of both an event presentation for fans along with a hands-on component for the media.
Stanley Pierre-Louis, president and CEO of the ESA, said in a statement: “After more than two decades of hosting an event that has served as a central showcase for the U.S. and global video game industry, the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) has decided to bring E3 to a close. We know the entire industry, players and creators alike have a lot of passion for E3. We share that passion. 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.”
