Overview
#E3 dominated June gaming discourse from 1995-2021 as the industry’s biggest trade show. The Los Angeles Convention Center event showcased game announcements, hardware reveals, and cringe-worthy press conferences until COVID, publisher withdrawals, and changing media landscape killed it. ESA canceled E3 permanently in December 2023.
Legendary Moments
Shigeru Miyamoto Zelda orchestra (E3 2011), Sony’s $399 PS4 mic drop destroying Xbox One (E3 2013), Nintendo Treehouse streams, Keanu Reeves “You’re breathtaking!” (E3 2019 Cyberpunk), Microsoft buying Bethesda reveal, and Reggie Fils-Aimé “My body is ready” meme origin.
The Decline
Publishers pulled out: Sony (2019), EA (moved to EA Play), Nintendo (shifted to Directs), Activision. COVID forced virtual E3 2021 (disaster). E3 2022 canceled. E3 2023 canceled. The decentralized Summer Game Fest, State of Plays, and Directs replaced the centralized hype week. RIP E3 1995-2021.
Sources:
- ESA announcement: https://www.e3expo.com/
- IGN retrospective: https://www.ign.com/