The ESA has announced the final cancellation of E3, despite several attempts to revive it in recent years. This is intended to give the industry new opportunities to connect with partners and players.
The end of E3 has essentially been looming for years, as more and more major manufacturers have turned away from the event. For them, the format is no longer relevant enough and has been replaced by primarily streaming events, as can be seen in the... Washington Post explained.
“After more than two decades of hosting an event that served as the central showcase for the US and global video game industry, the ESA has decided to end E3,” President Stanley Pierre-Louis said in a statement today. “We know that the entire industry, players and developers alike, has a deep passion for E3. We share that passion and know it’s difficult to say goodbye to such a beloved event. But given the new opportunities our industry has to reach fans and partners, it’s the right decision.”
E3 alternatives have long been available.
This decision is not really surprising, as E3 has long since been replaced by the Summer Game Fest, which holds a variety of events in a less concentrated way and over several weeks.
Originally launched in 1995, E3 primarily served as a platform for retailers, publishers, and game developers to connect. However, it was never as public as Gamescom in Cologne, which regular gamers could follow more through online shows and reports. This approach was only loosened later, perhaps too late.
"In later years, fans were invited to attend, but it was really about a marketing and business model for the industry and about being able to provide the world with information about new products. Companies now have access to consumers and business relationships in a variety of ways, including through their own individual presentations."
