There is only one major news trending online right now- the cancellation of E3 and everyone going bonkers over it.
But it might confuse the uninitiated who is just coming across this news right now. After all, what the hell is this E3?
Electronic Entertainment Expo, or E3, began in 1995 and has since been a platform for publishers, accessory makers, developers, and hardware manufacturers to showcase their upcoming games. But after not being held in person entirely since 2020, it has finally been canceled forever in 2023. The reason is also that the game developers now control their own low-cost expo for the fans.
What Is E3?
For nearly three decades, the Electronic Entertainment Expo, better known as E3, was the holy grail for developers, video game enthusiasts, and industry insiders.
Held annually in Los Angeles, it served as a pivotal event where the world got its first glimpse of the future of gaming. But as times changed, so did E3, undergoing a transformation that mirrored the evolution of the gaming industry itself.
E3 was born in 1995, organized and presented by the Entertainment Software Association (ESA).
Its primary purpose was to provide a platform for publishers, accessory makers, developers, and hardware manufacturers to showcase their upcoming games and game-related merchandise.
For years, it was the place where groundbreaking consoles like the Nintendo Wii made their debut and where titles like Half-Life wowed audiences with live demos.
However, in 2020, E3 faced an unprecedented challenge when it was canceled for the first time due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2021, it returned as a virtual event, receiving mixed reviews. The following year, E3 was once again canceled, and no virtual alternative was offered.
Despite the challenges, the ESA aimed to revive E3 in 2023 with the help of ReedPop, planning a new format that included a fan convention component at a separate venue.
However, the gaming landscape has shifted.
Developers no longer felt bound by E3’s annual schedule, and concerns over the high costs of exhibiting at the event had grown.
So, E3 went from being a sacred pilgrimage for gamers and industry leaders to a time of adaptation and innovation.
Why Has E3 Been Cancelled in 2023?
For years, the Electronic Entertainment Expo, or E3, was the epicenter of the gaming universe.
However, after several years of cancellations and uncertainty, the CEO of the Entertainment Software Association, Stanley Pierre-Louis, has officially confirmed that E3 is now permanently canceled.
In an interview with The Washington Post, he said:
“We know it’s difficult to say goodbye to such a beloved event, but it’s the right thing to do given the new opportunities our industry has to reach fans and partners.”
The demise of E3 marks the end of an era for the video game industry.
Once hailed as the largest video game trade show and the most significant gaming showcase event of the year, E3 has been losing its luster recently.
The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated its decline, leading to its cancellation in 2020, a decision echoed by other major gaming events like GDC and Gamescom.
One of the key factors contributing to E3’s downfall was the changing landscape of the gaming industry.
Game developers and publishers had increasingly moved away from E3 in favor of hosting their own cost-effective showcases directly targeting fans.
This shift in strategy allowed them to reach a wider audience without the constraints of E3’s traditional format, which primarily catered to industry insiders and journalists.
Geoff Keighley’s Summer Game Fest, launched in 2020, was a prime example of this trend. It offered publishers and developers an online platform to reveal their games over several months instead of the concentrated week of keynotes associated with E3.
This approach proved highly successful, inspiring numerous other online events that provided a cost-effective and stress-free alternative for large and small developers to market their games.
After news of E3’s death broke, gamers took to social media to mourn its passing. On the gaming subreddit, user WutDaFunkBro wrote:
“I’ll definitely miss taking work off to see the big reveals and then just going over everything we got in fine detail.”
Another user, ErrorCode51, wrote:
“I understand why but still sad to see, end of an era. I can remember the way the whole internet buzzed before E3 waiting to see the new announcements. Lately it’s been just a husk of its former self.”
As E3 bids farewell, it leaves behind a legacy of unforgettable moments and announcements that have shaped the gaming industry.
While the show may be gone, the spirit of innovation and adaptation fostered within the gaming world lives on.
What are your fondest memories of E3? Which game reveal will you never forget? Do you think E3 could make a comeback?
Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Source: The Washington Post
