E3 is dead, but…what killed it?

According to information from IGN, sources close to ESA told him that the company confirmed that E3 2023 will not take place. After weeks of uncertainty, the organization decided to clarify the situation and put an end to the next edition of the video game event.

In an email it sent to its members, the ESA reported that there will be no E3 2023 for one simple reason: “the event did not generate the necessary sustainable interest to run in a way that would show its size, strength and impact” for the industry. of gaming.

It was something that many could see from miles away, but what caused it? And more importantly, does E3 take place in the future of gaming?

Let’s go in parts: the cancellation of E3 2023 will hurt many, but in reality it was something predictable for several weeks. It is enough to use memory a bit to remember that the last few years have been stumbling blocks for the event and the 2023 edition was headed in the same direction.

It is something unfortunate. After all, the next E3 was shaping up to have what it takes to return it to glory. With an in-person event that had been unfeasible in recent years and with a competent new organizer at ReedPop, it seemed that fortune was smiling on him. Sadly, nothing could be further from the truth, because although everything looked perfect on the facade, E3 was missing a key ingredient.

When you think of E3, what are you excited about? Are they the influencers who go every year? Is it the huge crowds of people? Or are they the video game companies that go and surprise with games and other news? It’s the latter, right? Well… that’s where the ESA failed.

Since the beginning of this year it was reported that Nintendo and Xbox, 2 of the largest companies in the industry, made the decision to get off E3 to be solely responsible for their summer announcements. These sensitive casualties were added to that of PlayStation, which since 2019 has completely moved away from the event.

Things got a bit uglier thanks to Ubisoft, which is perhaps not a surprise. First, the company raised doubts about whether the event would take place and shortly after confirmed that it would. Weeks later, he stabbed him in the back by saying that he always doesn’t and that instead of going to E3 he would have his own digital event.

With this, about 3 months from E3, the only company that had confirmed for the event had completely walked away from it. This served as a ripple effect in which SEGA and Tencent claimed they would be missing E3, while giants like Bandai Namco, Activision Blizzard, EA, Square Enix, Take-Two and Warner refused to confirm or deny their presence.

E3 was on a tightrope and it was no longer about whether it would be canceled, but when it would receive the lethal injection. Today we finally have the announcement that 2023 will end without an E3. Now, what we’re wondering is was this the final nail in the coffin for E3? The ESA will work on new E3 events with ReedPop, but perhaps this is an empty promise with no real commitment.

So we think the real question must be, is E3 taking place today? Honestly, it’s hard to say. We will always carry Miyamoto in our hearts proudly carrying the Master Sword or the screams that caused the first look at Final Fantasy VII Remakebut as much as we love the event, the reality is that it stopped making sense for the big companies.

The industry changed. Giants like Nintendo, PlayStation and Xbox stopped needing an E3 because they found a much more effective and cheaper way to connect with their audience. A controlled Nintendo Direct or viral reactions from a handful of streamers are cheaper and more effective than an executive standing on stage at the risk of making a fool of himself.

E3 was another one of the survivors of the old world… one slower, patient and less connected. A world of which only ashes remain.

Related video: E3 is dead. Long live the new E3