E3, the Electronic Entertainment Expo, has been a staple of the gaming industry for over two decades. Every year, the world’s biggest video game companies gathered in Los Angeles to showcase their latest games, hardware, and announcements. However, in recent years, E3 has struggled to maintain its relevance, and its demise was inevitable.
E3’s problems were not all its own doing. The show’s location in downtown LA, limited dining options, and industry-only focus made it an uncomfortable experience for attendees. However, the show’s biggest issue was the fact that major companies like Nintendo and Sony began reducing their presence, or pulling out entirely.
At its peak, E3 was a gladiatorial event where companies would compete for attention and publicity. However, this model became less appealing to major companies, who didn’t want to risk their billion-dollar enterprises being overshadowed by their competitors.
Major video game companies now prefer to control the entire process of making a sale, from announcement to pre-order. They no longer need to pay for big E3 press conferences, as they can film their own presentations and show them on a day when there’s no competing news. They can also get influencers to hype their games live on Twitch and YouTube, avoiding the need to answer uncomfortable questions from games journalists.
The demise of E3 is not all bad news, however. The gaming industry is evolving, and new opportunities for showcasing games are emerging. For example, the Summer Game Fest, which launched in 2020, is a four-month-long event that features game announcements, live-streamed events, and demos from various publishers. Additionally, events like Gamescom and Tokyo Game Show are becoming more important for showcasing games to an international audience.
E3’s demise was not unexpected. Major video game companies prefer to control the entire process of making a sale, and E3’s gladiatorial model no longer appealed to them. However, new opportunities are emerging for showcasing games, and the gaming industry will continue to evolve and adapt to changing circumstances.
This shift away from E3 has also resulted in the rise of other events, such as Gamescom and the Game Awards, which have grown in popularity and importance. These events have adapted to the changing landscape of the industry, offering a mix of press conferences, live streams, and opportunities for fans to try out upcoming games.
However, the demise of E3 is not just a loss for the companies that used to participate in it. It’s also a loss for the industry as a whole. E3 was a place where the biggest names in gaming came together to showcase their latest creations, and it was a unique opportunity for fans to see and try out upcoming games before they were released. It was a place where developers and publishers could network and make deals, and where industry professionals could come together to discuss the latest trends and innovations in gaming.
Without E3, the gaming industry may become more fragmented, with companies hosting their own events and making it harder for fans to keep track of all the latest news and announcements. It could also make it harder for smaller developers to get their games noticed, as they may not have the resources to host their own events or create the same level of buzz as the big players in the industry.
That being said, it’s important to remember that the gaming industry is constantly evolving, and while E3 may be gone, something else will take its place. Perhaps we’ll see the rise of new industry events, or maybe companies will continue to host their own showcases throughout the year. Whatever happens, the gaming industry will continue to grow and innovate, and fans will always have new and exciting games to look forward to.
