The Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) is officially coming to an end after over two decades of being the gaming industry’s biggest convention and media platform. The collapse of E3 can be attributed to a combination of factors including new competitors, partner withdrawals, changing audience habits, and the disruptions caused by the pandemic. The Entertainment Software Association (ESA), which represents the games industry’s interests in the United States, recognizes the passion that many have for E3 but believes that it is the right decision to close it due to the new opportunities available for reaching fans and partners through online video news conferences. This format allows for direct communication with audiences without the associated costs and restrictions of attending a trade show. The decline of E3 started when Nintendo introduced the “Direct” format in 2011, followed by Sony PlayStation’s decision to leave the event in 2018. Other vendors and companies soon followed suit. Geoff Keighley, a former E3 collaborator and journalist, quit helping the ESA with the show and has since created his own successful events like the Summer Game Fest. Recent E3 shows allowed general public attendance in an effort to generate buzz, but the pandemic further worsened the event’s situation as many publishers moved to online conferences. Despite the
https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/video-games/2023/12/12/e3-permanently-canceled/