A Reflection on Two Decades of Gaming's Premier Expo E3

E3 — the Electronic Entertainment Expo — officially shut down in December 2023, ending a nearly 30-year run as the gaming industry's most prominent annual showcase. Launched in 1995, E3 became the event where console makers, publishers, and developers unveiled their biggest titles and hardware announcements each summer in Los Angeles.

The expo's decline accelerated after the COVID-19 pandemic, as major players including Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo opted out in favor of their own direct-to-consumer digital streams. The planned 2023 edition was canceled after key exhibitors withdrew, and the Entertainment Software Association subsequently announced the permanent closure of the show — marking a broader shift toward studio-controlled online announcements.

E3's closure ended one gathering, not the appetite for gathering. Gamescom attracted 368,000 visitors from 131 countries in August 2026, up 11,000 from the previous year, according to WDR. Organizers counted 1,743 exhibiting companies, while fans still faced crowded halls and long waits despite booking systems intended to shorten lines. The tradeoff for players is clear: direct publisher streams make announcements easy to watch, but trying a game still requires access to a demonstration. Watch the next exhibitor bookings for whether publishers keep paying for that physical meeting place.