E3 is Officially Dead

The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) has officially announced the end of E3. The news comes from a very brief statement posted on social media, saying: “After more than two decades of E3, each one bigger than the last, the time has come to say goodbye. Thanks for the memories.” Though COVID-19 significantly impacted E3, the gaming industry had already been transitioning towards online, digital events before 2020.

Earlier this year, there was an attempt to revive E3, initially scheduled for June 13-16 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. However, this event was ultimately canceled in late March. The last physical E3 event took place in 2019, with the 2020 event being skipped due to the pandemic. A digital version of E3 occurred in 2021, but the ESA canceled the 2022 event to focus on developing a new showcase. Sadly, it appears that will never happen.

In E3’s absence, Summer Game Fest and other livestreaming events have emerged to fill the gap. Some view The Game Awards as a spiritual successor to E3, especially now that the show is filled with premieres and announcements, much like the E3 of old.