The End of an Era: E3, the Legendary Gaming Expo, Bids Farewell

The Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3), a major video game trade show, is shutting down after more than two decades. The Entertainment Software Association (ESA), the organization behind E3, announced the decision, citing the need to focus on advocating for its member companies and the industry workforce. E3 was canceled in 2020 due to COVID-19 and struggled to recover with virtual events in subsequent years. The trade show had been losing steam even before the pandemic, with the launch of alternative events like the Summer Game Fest. E3's last in-person event in 2019 drew 66,100 attendees. The ESA had attempted to revive E3 through a partnership with event-production company ReedPop for E3 2023, but ultimately decided to bring the convention to a close.