The Entertainment Software Association has announced that The Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) has permanently been canceled after more than two decades. The company states that “it’s the right thing to do given the new opportunities our industry has to reach fans and partners.” The event’s website now only features a goodbye message which states: “after more than two decades of E3, each one bigger than the last, the time has come to say goodbye. Thanks for the memories.” This announcement comes after a series of cancellations, along with multiple publishers opting out of the event over the years. The event was last held in-person in 2019 and digitally in 2021. While it was meant to take place the following years, it was canceled each time due to several reasons.
— E3 (@E3) December 12, 2023
Entertainment Software Association president Stanley Pierre-Louis told The Washington Post:
“We know the entire industry, players and creators alike, have a lot of passion for E3. We share that passion. 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.”
ReedPop global vice president of gaming Kyle Marsden-Kish commented on the previous 2023 event cancellation, saying:
“This was a difficult decision because of all the effort we and our partners put toward making this event happen, but we had to do what’s right for the industry and what’s right for E3,” “We appreciate and understand that interested companies wouldn’t have playable demos ready and that resourcing challenges made being at E3 this summer an obstacle they couldn’t overcome. For those who did commit to E3 2023, we’re sorry we can’t put on the showcase you deserve and that you’ve come to expect from ReedPop’s event experiences.”
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