The Electronic Entertainment Expo, E3, is Officially Over

1995 was the first year E3 opened its doors to the public, showcasing the growing gaming industry. 28 years later the event has now been officially ended. It wasn't the first trade event of gaming, and it will certainly not be the last; some would argue the Game Awards have slowly shifted to fill the gap that appeared soon after the COVID-19 pandemic that left E3 without any options other than to delay, delay, delay.

After running for 26 years, the giant that once was has said goodbye for the last time. At its peak, the event gathered thousands of gamers in the halls of some of the largest expo centers in the US. Canceled in 2020 amid the pandemic and held online in 2021, only to a lukewarm reception, the 2022 and the 23 editions of the expo were canceled as well.

Although E3 was the largest trade conference for gaming in North America, there is no denying other events have slowly risen in other regions to take their place. Brazil's CCXP recently brought Ed Boon to the stage to talk about Mortal Kombat 1. Germany's Gamescom continues to be a leading event in Europe, with over 300.000 attendees in 2023. The Tokyo Game Show also plays a significant role for many developers in Japan, and PAX expansion across multiple cities like Seattle, Boston, and Philadelphia has allowed it to continue without too many hiccups in the post-pandemic years.