Since 2019, the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) has not taken place in a physical format. Now, it appears that the event may not make a return in 2024 or 2025, particularly not at the Los Angeles Convention Center. A planning document shared on ResetEra by the LA City Tourism Commission reveals that the live event of this prominent video game trade show has been canceled for the next two years. The document’s Convention Sales data specifically states that it includes the cancellation of E3 for both 2024 and 2025.
While the city document implies that E3 2024 will not be hosted at the LA Convention Center, the Electronic Software Association (ESA) itself seems reluctant to confirm the complete cancellation of the event. In response to inquiries from Engadget, the ESA stated that they are presently engaging in discussions with ESA members and other stakeholders regarding E3 2024 and future iterations. They emphasized that no final decisions have been made regarding the events at this time.
The implications for the future of E3 itself remain uncertain. Although the ESA has not organized a live trade show since the COVID-19 pandemic led to the cancellation of E3 2020, they did arrange a digital-only event in 2021. However, neither the physical nor digital versions of the show made a comeback in 2022.
When the show was canceled once again in 2023, ESA President and CEO Stanley Pierre-Louis acknowledged the need for E3 to adapt in order to survive. In an interview with GamesIndustry, Pierre-Louis stated that E3 would undergo changes to better cater to the requirements of companies seeking to market on this global platform. He emphasized the importance of evolving how people engage with E3, aiming to meet the evolving needs of players who perceive this event as a significant platform for the gaming industry.
