Electronic Entertainment Expo, E3, shutting down - News and Updates

E3, the Electronic Entertainment Expo is coming to a close after over two decades of showcasing the video game industry.

The Electronic Entertainment Expo, or E3, is officially coming to an end. The Entertainment Software Association (ESA), the organization behind the convention, made the announcement that after over two decades, E3 will be winding down.

The decision to bring E3 to a close comes after the cancellation of the event in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The in-person version of the show struggled to recover, and even the virtual E3 held in 2021 failed to attract exhibitors. The trade conference was subsequently canceled for 2022 and 2023.

Even before the pandemic, E3 was facing challenges. Geoff Keighley, founder of the Game Awards, launched the Summer Game Fest in 2020, expressing his belief that in-person events do not serve the gaming community as well as online events. This sentiment was echoed by others in the industry.

The last in-person E3 in 2019 drew 66,100 attendees, according to the ESA. Despite efforts to revive the convention, including a partnership with event-production company ReedPop to produce E3 2023, the decision was made to bring the event to a close.

On social media, E3 posted a farewell message, acknowledging the end of an era and thanking everyone for the memories. The ESA remains committed to advocating for its member companies and the industry workforce. While E3 may be coming to a close, the impact of the convention on the video game industry will be remembered.