While we were able to learn yesterday that the E3 show was dead for the year 2023/2024, this does not seem to be quite accurate in the end. Explanations from the principal concerned.
Like what you should not always trust all the information and rumors. And it is always better to take the tweezers of circumstance. Yesterday a post on ResetEra shared an update from the Los Angeles Board of Tourism Commissioners projecting future sales results based on the cancellations of the next two iterations of E3. In other words, relying on this information, we could very clearly understand that the video game fair would be canceled both for the year 2024 and also for the year 2025. Except that…
A correction from the E3 organizer
In the meantime, the American media, which is always very informed, gamesindustry has contacted the Entertainment Software Association (ESA), which organizes E3, to get to the bottom of it and get an explanation. The result is clear, the ESA has put an end to speculation. Indeed a spokesperson explained that the trade body “currently had conversations about E3 2024 (and beyond)“making it clear”that no final decision regarding the event has been made at this time“. For the record, the E3 2023, which was organized by the ESA, was canceled last March. At the time, the President and CEO of the ESA, Stanley Pierre-Louis, attributed this to a set of factors, including the impact of COVID-19 on game development and an economic situation making companies more cautious about investing in this type of event. It is true that between pubs and stands, and travel , it is a rather colossal budget.
E3, the story of a beautiful show
The history of E3 dates back to 1995. Back then, the video game industry was booming and there was a growing need for a centralized event where companies could showcase their products to a large audience, in joy and good humor. The idea for E3 was conceived by the ESA (formerly IDSA), a trade association representing the video game industry. For the record, the first E3 was held in Los Angeles in May 1995 and attracted over 40,000 attendees. The event was a great success, providing an opportunity for game developers and publishers to showcase their latest creations. Over the years, E3 has become the go-to place for big announcements and major game reveals. Many consoles were unveiled at E3, including PlayStation 2, Xbox, Wii and PlayStation 4. So it’s a major part of the history of our favorite hobby.
Of course, the event also became famous for its press conferences, where the big video game companies had the ambition to captivate the audience at all costs. These presentations are often watched by millions of people around the world, whether on-site at E3 or online via live streams. If for the moment nothing is said about the end of E3, we can in any case remember with nostalgia all the editions.