The E3 gaming expo, a once pivotal event in the gaming industry, has been permanently cancelled. The organizers announced, “After more than two decades of E3, each one bigger than the last, the time has come to say goodbye,” thanking everyone for the memories and signing off with “GGWP [good game well played].”
The 2023 expo edition was previously cancelled due to its dwindling relevance, as noted by analysts. The Entertainment Software Association (ESA), overseeing E3, confirmed to the BBC that there are no plans to continue the event.
E3, short for Electronic Entertainment Expo, last took place virtually in 2021, with its most recent in-person event in 2019. Game developer Hollie Bennett expressed disappointment over E3’s decline, reminiscing on X (formerly Twitter) about the significant buzz and industry impact E3 once commanded.
Initially established in 1995 in Los Angeles, E3 coincided with major gaming milestones like the launch of the PlayStation and the Nintendo 64. It peaked in 2005, featuring significant reveals like the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and a Nintendo Wii prototype, drawing 70,000 attendees, according to IGN.
However, as significant gaming companies like Nintendo, Ubisoft, and Sony started hosting their events, E3’s significance waned. The expo also suffered a hiatus due to the pandemic, leading to the eventual cancellation of the 2023 event due to a lack of industry interest.
ESA President and CEO Stanley Pierre-Louis emphasized its continued dedication to advocating for its members and the gaming industry workforce. Piers Harding-Rolls, research director for games at Ampere Analysis, described E3’s cancellation as a “significant moment” for the gaming sector, highlighting the shift towards companies running their own, more cost-effective events. Despite the practical reasons for its closure, there remains a sense of nostalgia for the iconic event that once played a crucial role in the gaming industry.
