E3 2023's Demise: Gaming Community Reacts As Iconic Event Struggles To Adapt In Modern Landscape

On March 30, the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) officially announced the cancellation of E3 2023, one of the most highly anticipated video game conferences in the world.

The E3, which stands for Electronic Entertainment Expo, was supposed to have an epic comeback this year after the pandemic, and offer a live event for the first time since 2019.

However, one of the largest video game conferences and trade shows in the world was called off because it had not amassed the “sustained interest necessary to execute it in a way that would showcase the size, strength, and impact of our industry,” according to a statement from ESA.

News on #E32023 from the source. pic.twitter.com/BK7TUlb8mZ
— E3 (@E3) March 30, 2023

Moreover, in an interview with GameIndustry.biz, ESA president and CEO, Stanley Pierre-Louis, explained that despite early interest from exhibitors, industry players, media, and fans, the challenges facing the event proved too great to overcome.

Pierre-Louis listed the reasons behind the cancellation: “First, several companies have reported that the timeline for game development has been altered since the start of the Covid pandemic.”

“Second, economic headwinds have caused several companies to reassess how they invest in large marketing events. And third, companies are starting to experiment with how to find the right balance between in-person events and digital marketing opportunities,” he added.

The End Of An Era: E3 2023 Cancellation And Its Impact On The Gaming Industry

With the E3 acting as a platform for announcements, product reveals, and industry networking, its cancellation has left many wondering about the future of gaming conferences and the industry as a whole.

So, what does the cancellation of such a prominent event mean for the industry? “Unfortunately for E3, not much, and that's kind of the point,” gaming journalist and consultant Rod Breslau told Benzinga.

“The video game industry has evolved where all the major console makers, publishers, and developers have their own conferences or events, from Microsoft MSFT to Nintendo NTDOY to Blizzard ATVI to Riot Games,” he explained.

In addition, Breslau pointed to the rise of virtuality as one of the reasons behind E3’s decline: “E3 began in the mid '90s as THE place for the entire industry to get together on one special weekend a year. In an all-online world that's no longer necessary or the best way to reach gamers.”

Simultaneously, E3 encountered formidable competition to bring the industry together and draw attendees to live events. The Summer Games Fest, along with The Game Awards, have rapidly emerged as the preferred experience. Plus, events like the Penny Arcade Expo and DreamHack are flourishing, and a plethora of esports championships are “much more appealing to go to,” Breslau said.

The specializing reporter concluded: “E3 and G4, who shut down last year after trying to come back themselves, are both doomed to the same fate: past their prime in a world where gamers have largely moved on.”

E3’s Cancellation: Prominent Figures Weigh In

The announcement of E3's cancellation has sparked widespread reactions from personalities within the video game industry.

Geoff Keighley, a Canadian video game journalist, television presenter, and host of the Summer Games Fest, tweeted a picture of the first E3 and said: “Here's 15-year-old me at the first-ever E3 in 1995. E3 meant so much to me and to so many of you too.”

“Four years ago, I realized that E3 wasn't evolving as it needed to compete in a global, digital world. So we started building what’s next. See you at Summer Game Fest on June 8,” he added.

Here's 15-year old me at the first-ever E3 in 1995.

E3 meant so much to me and to so many of you too.

Four years ago, I realized that E3 wasn't evolving as it needed to compete in a global, digital world. So we started building what’s next. See at @summergamefest June 8. pic.twitter.com/wSZqpz3wjY
— Geoff Keighley (@geoffkeighley) March 30, 2023

Meanwhile, gaming journalist and Head of PR at the video game developer MyDearest, Imran Khan, wrote, “E3 is very key to my entire career but also it increasingly had no place in the modern game industry and the thing people loved about it are memories that don't fit with the way game marketing works now.”

E3 is very key to my entire career but also it increasingly had no place in the modern game industry and the thing people loved about it are memories that don't fit with the way game marketing works now.
— Imran Khan (@imranzomg) March 30, 2023

Also, Rebekah Valentine, a multi-award-winning reporter at IGN tweeted,"Genuinely quite sad about this, especially given the tone of the statement does not have me optimistic that it returns. E3 2017 was what made me want to do this for a career. I am sad I never got to do an E3 with IGN. I think media access will get worse as a result. Stinks."

genuinely quite sad about this, especially given the tone of the statement does not have me optimistic that it returns. E3 2017 was what made me want to do this for a career. I am sad I never got to do an E3 with IGN. I think media access will get worse as a result. Stinks.
— Rebekah Valentine (@duckvalentine) March 30, 2023

Finally, Alex Navarro, journalist and co-host of the podcast Nextlander, posted some memes about the news and observed, “I'm mean to current E3 because the show never figured out how to justify itself past a certain point, but I have a lot of fond memories of shows past. There was a time when it was a fun, exciting thing. That time had long past even before COVID blew it over.”

I'm mean to current E3 because the show never figured out how to justify itself past a certain point, but I have a lot of fond memories of shows past. there was a time when it was a fun, exciting thing. that time had long past even before COVID blew it over.
— Alex Navarro (@alex_navarro) March 30, 2023

Image credits: Miguel Lagoa on Shutterstock

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