E3, the Electronic Entertainment Expo, has taken to Twitter to announce that it will not be returning in the future.
The event, which has served as a platform for game companies to show off their latest and upcoming games and hardware since 1995, has had a tumultuous few years. The event was canceled in 2020 as result of Covid-19. It returned as a digital event in 2021 but was again canceled entirely for 2022, promising that the show would return online and in-person in 2023 with a “reinvigorated showcase.”
This year’s event was officially canceled in March following Microsoft and Nintendo dropping out. An email to employees of the Entertainment Software Association, who sponsored the event, said that the event “simply did not garner the sustained interest necessary to execute it in a way that would showcase the size, strength, and impact of our industry.”
Now, the ESA has announced that the event is being permanently shut down. “After more than two decades of E3, each one bigger than the last, the time has come to say goodbye,” the statement reads. “Thanks for the memories.”
The ESA’s Twitter account also provided statement, stating that they are “focused on advocating for ESA member companies and the industry workforce who fuel positive cultural and economic impact every day.”
In a statement to The Washington Post, ESA president Stanley Pierre-Louis said, “we know the entire industry, players and creators alike have a lot of passion for E3. We share that passion.” He continued, “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.”
June will not be completely free of gaming events going forward, however. After this year’s cancellation, Geoff Keighley reaffirmed his commitment to Summer Game Fest, an event that serves a similar function for developers, on Twitter. E3 will be missed, but it will not be the end for game showcases.