E3, the Electronics Entertainment Expo, once the crown jewel of the gaming industry’s annual calendar, now finds itself at a crossroads. With its 2024 iteration in doubt, the event’s future hangs in the balance, and the gaming community is left wondering: Is this the end of an era?
E3’s traditional home, the Los Angeles Convention Center, will not host the event in 2024, as confirmed by the Entertainment Software Association (ESA). This revelation has left many wondering if the event will take place at all.
While the ESA has not officially pulled the plug on E3 2024, the absence of a confirmed venue has raised eyebrows. The organization, however, remains optimistic about a “complete reinvention” of E3 by 2025, as reported by GamesIndustry.biz.
To make matters worse, the partnership between the ESA and ReedPop, known for organizing events like PAX and EGX, was seen as a beacon of hope for E3’s revival. Yet, this collaboration, which began with high hopes, ended in a “mutual decision” to part ways, an outcome that has further fueled doubts about the popular gaming event.
ESA president and CEO, Stanley Pierre-Louis, has been vocal about the organization’s commitment to evolving E3. He emphasized the need to adapt to the changing landscape, suggesting that the event’s format and location are under evaluation.
The gaming industry has evolved and live conventions like E3, which once drew massive crowds, now seem like relics of a bygone era. In their place, digital showcases have emerged as the preferred medium for game publishers. The Summer Game Fest, for instance, has successfully transitioned into a hybrid event, emphasizing livestreaming over in-person activities.
Geoff Keighley, the executive producer and host of The Game Awards and the mastermind behind the Summer Game Fest, has recently found himself in the eye of the storm. Some critics argue that the success of the Summer Game Fest contributed to E3’s decline.
Keighley, however, refutes this narrative. In his words, “E3 sort of killed itself”. He believes that the Summer Game Fest emerged in response to the evident cracks in E3’s foundation – and to be fair, publishers have been abandoning E3 for a while now.
Keighley’s vision was for the Summer Game Fest to complement E3, not compete with it. He even considered a model where games announced at the Summer Game Fest would be playable at E3. Nevertheless, his concerns regarding the sustainability of E3 prompted him to position the Summer Game Fest as a solution to the shortcomings in E3’s offerings.
Whether E3 can adapt and reclaim its former glory remains to be seen. However, one thing is certain: the gaming community will always crave a platform to celebrate its passion. The question is, who will provide it?
