The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) has announced that E3 has officially come to a close.
The news first struck on The Washington Post, with the closure decision being attributed to new competitors, partner withdrawals, and more.
“After more than two decades of hosting an event that has served as a central showcase for the U.S. and global video game industry,” the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) has decided to bring E3 to a close,” the official statement reads.
Earlier this year, Reedpop officially parted ways with the ESA after a 14-month partnership.
It was said, “While the reach of E3 remains unmatched in our industry, we are continuing to explore how we can evolve it to best serve the video game industry and are evaluating every aspect of the event, from format to location. We are committed to our role as a convenor for the industry and look forward to sharing news about E3 in the coming months.”
Cracks began to show for E3 following the COVID-19 pandemic, of which the event never saw its return following the close of in-person events. E3 2023 was set to go ahead but was canceled due to the high amount of publishers pulling out of the event.
In recent years, publishers have found huge success in digital-only events, where publishers can show off their games in the way they want and at the time that’s right for them.
What do you think of E3 officially closing? Let us know in the comments below.
For more Insider Gaming coverage, check out what The Day Before’s developer has to say about abandoning the game
