E3: Difference between revisions

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Latest revision as of 05:35, 25 August 2025

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{{Short description|Defunct American video game industry event (1995–2021)}}

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{{other uses}}

[[Image:Electronic Entertainment Expo.png|thumb|E³ logo]]

{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2019}}

The '''Electronic Entertainment Expo''' (or '''Exposition'''), commonly known as '''E³''' or '''E3''' , is the world's largest annual [[trade show]] and the third largest [[gaming convention]] for the [[video game|computer and video game]]s industry. The expo is only open to industry professionals and [[journalist]]s who are over 18.

{{Infobox recurring event

| name = Electronic Entertainment Expo

| logo = E3 Logo.svg

| logo_size = 151px

| logo_caption = Final logo used from 2017 to 2023

| image = Los Angeles Convention Center ~ West Wing (7535547820).jpg

| caption = The [[Los Angeles Convention Center]] (west wing view) where the event took place each year

| status = Defunct

| genre = {{ubl|[[Video game]]s|[[Interactive entertainment]]}}

| frequency = Annually

| venue = [[Los Angeles Convention Center]]

| ___location = [[Los Angeles]], [[California]]

| coordinates = {{Coord|34|02|23|N|118|16|13|W|display=inline,title}}

| country = [[United States]]

| years_active = 1995–2019, 2021

| first = [[E3 1995|{{Start date and age|1995|5|11}}]]

| last = [[E3 2021|{{Start date and age|2021|6|12}}]]

| attendance = {{decrease}} 66,100 (2019)<ref name="e3 2019 attd"/>

| organizer = [[Entertainment Software Association]]

| website = {{URL|https://e3expo.com}}

}}

'''E3''' (short for '''Electronic Entertainment Expo'''){{efn|Because it was held entirely online, [[E3 2021]] was known as the '''Electronic Entertainment Experience'''.}} was an annual [[Trade fair|trade event]] for the [[video game industry]] organized and presented by the [[Entertainment Software Association]] (ESA).<ref name="Show Info">{{Cite web |url=https://www.e3expo.com/show-info/2895/about-e3/ |title=E3 Show Info |access-date=June 14, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170604071909/https://www.e3expo.com/show-info/2895/about-e3/ |archive-date=June 4, 2017 |url-status=dead}}</ref> It was held principally in [[Los Angeles]] from 1995 to 2019,{{efn|E3 1997 and 1998 were held in Atlanta, and E3 2007 was held in Santa Monica.}} with its final iteration held virtually in 2021. The event hosted [[video game developer|developers]], [[video game publisher|publishers]], hardware manufacturers, and other industry professionals who used the occasion to introduce and advertise upcoming games, hardware, and merchandise to the press. During its existence, E3 was the world's largest and most prestigious annual gaming expo.<ref>{{cite web |last=Watts |first=Steve |date=June 11, 2019 |title=E3 2019: Video game industry readies for major annual showcase |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/e3-2019-video-game-industry-readies-for-major-annual-showcase/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190621141059/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/e3-2019-video-game-industry-readies-for-major-annual-showcase/ |archive-date=June 21, 2019 |access-date=June 21, 2019 |website=[[CBS]] |quote=The Electronic Entertainment Expo, more commonly known as E3, is the biggest showcase for video game software, hardware and new game tech innovations.}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Yeo |first=Amanda |date=November 17, 2018 |title=Sony Is Skipping Out On The Biggest Gaming Event Of The Year |url=https://junkee.com/sony-playstation-e3-2019/182739 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190621141102/https://junkee.com/sony-playstation-e3-2019/182739 |archive-date=June 21, 2019 |access-date=June 21, 2019 |website=[[Junkee]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=June 6, 2019 |title=E3 2019 schedule: From Nintendo and Xbox to Pokémon, here's what to look out for at the gaming conference |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/tech/e3-2019-schedule-date-nintendo-xbox-pokemon-uk-times-a4160916.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190607155631/https://www.standard.co.uk/tech/e3-2019-schedule-date-nintendo-xbox-pokemon-uk-times-a4160916.html |archive-date=June 7, 2019 |access-date=June 21, 2019 |website=[[Evening Standard]] |quote=The annual Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) is the largest gaming expo of the year and a chance for the biggest names in gaming to show off their new consoles, titles and to set the bar for the rest of the industry.}}</ref><ref name="gameproe3" />

E3 included an exhibition floor for developers, publishers, and manufacturers to showcase their titles and products for sale in the upcoming year. Before and during the event, publishers and hardware manufacturers usually held press conferences to announce new games and products. Before 2017, E3 was an industry-only event;<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Thier |first=Dave |date=June 8, 2012 |title=E3 is Obsolete, But it Doesn't Matter |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidthier/2012/06/08/e3-is-obsolete-but-it-doesnt-matter/ |magazine=[[Forbes]] |access-date=October 18, 2012}}</ref> the ESA required individuals wishing to attend to verify a [[professional]] relationship with the video game industry. With the rise of [[streaming media]], several press conferences were broadcast to the public to increase their visibility.<ref>{{cite web |last=Miller |first=Ross |date=June 11, 2019 |title=E3 2017 schedule: your guide to the biggest live streams |url=https://www.theverge.com/2017/6/9/15767972/e3-schedule-2017-live-stream-events-xbox-sony-nintendo |access-date=June 21, 2019 |website=[[The Verge]] |archive-date=July 6, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190706213348/https://www.theverge.com/2017/6/9/15767972/e3-schedule-2017-live-stream-events-xbox-sony-nintendo |url-status=live }}</ref> [[E3 2017]] became open to the public for the first time, with 15,000 general-admittance passes for those who wanted to attend.<ref>{{cite web |last=Makuch |first=Eddie |date=May 16, 2017 |title=E3 Opens To The Public For The First Time Ever |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/e3-opens-to-the-public-for-the-first-time-ever/1100-6447663/ |access-date=July 3, 2018 |website=[[GameSpot]] |archive-date=June 20, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180620182456/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/e3-opens-to-the-public-for-the-first-time-ever/1100-6447663/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

E3 is usually held in the third week of [[May]] of each year at the [[Los Angeles Convention Center]] in [[Los Angeles, California|Los Angeles]]. The Expo was held in Atlanta for two years during the late 90s, in which attendance plummeted. The [[Entertainment Software Association|ESA]] said that over 70,000 people attended the show in 2005.

When hosted in Los Angeles, E3 was held in the [[Los Angeles Convention Center]]. The event was canceled for the first time in 2020 due to the [[Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the video game industry|COVID-19 pandemic]], and the event in 2021 was held as a [[virtual event]] to mixed reception. The 2022 event was canceled also due to the pandemic, and with no virtual event held. The ESA had planned to return to a full in-person convention in 2023 with a new format, including a [[fan convention]] component at a separate venue in collaboration with [[ReedPop]].

Many [[video game developer]]s show off their upcoming games and game-related hardware at the event, over a fifth of which have never been unveiled prior to the expo. The independent "[[Game Critics Awards]]" have been given to "Best of E3" games in various categories since [[1998]].

The pandemic further accelerated the use of standalone presentations by individual publishers and media outlets to promote upcoming games directly to consumers; disrupted development timelines usually aligned around the convention; and made publishers increasingly concerned over the costs of exhibiting at the convention. E3 2023 was canceled after all major publishers pulled out of the event. E3 2024 was also canceled in September 2023 in order to evaluate plans for 2025. However, on December 12, 2023, the ESA announced that it had discontinued E3 and that it would no longer be held.<ref name=":4"/>

The first E3 was put on by the Interactive Digital Software Association (now the [[Entertainment Software Association]]) in [[1995]]. Previously, most game developers went to other trade shows to display new products, including the [[Consumer Electronics Show]] and the [[European Computer Trade Show]].

==History==

The [[Game Developers Conference]] is another yearly milestone for developers held in the spring each year in [[California]], but it focuses on talks and discussions about the development of games. Other shows exist for the gaming industry (not just video games), including [[Origins International Game Expo|Origins]] and [[Gen Con]].

===Origins===

Before E3, game publishers went to other trade shows like the [[Consumer Electronics Show]] and the [[European Computer Trade Show]] to display new or upcoming products as well as to pre-sell shipments to retailers for the rest of the year including the late-year holiday season as well as to vie for press coverage of upcoming games. As the game industry grew rapidly during the early 1990s, industry professionals felt that it had outgrown the older trade shows. According to [[Tom Kalinske]], CEO of Sega of America, "The CES organizers used to put the video game industry way, way in the back. In 1991, they put us in a tent, and you had to walk past all the porn vendors to find us. That particular year it was pouring rain, and the rain leaked right over our new [[Sega Genesis|Genesis]] system. I was just furious with the way CES treated the video game industry, and I felt we were a more important industry than they were giving us credit for." Sega did not return to CES the following year, and several other companies exited from further CES shows.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Dring |first=Christoffer |date=July 11, 2013 |title=A Tale of Two E3s – Xbox vs Sony vs Sega |url=http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/tale-of-two-e3s-xbox-vs-sony-vs-sega/0118482 |magazine=[[MCV (magazine)|MCV]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304041515/http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/tale-of-two-e3s-xbox-vs-sony-vs-sega/0118482 |archive-date=March 4, 2016}}</ref>

Separately, in 1994, the video game industry had formed the [[Interactive Digital Software Association]] (IDSA, later becoming the Entertainment Software Association, ESA, in 2003) in response to attention the industry had drawn from the United States Congress over a lack of a ratings system in late 1993. The IDSA was formed to unify the video game industry and establish a commission, the [[Entertainment Software Ratings Board]] (ESRB) to create a voluntary standard rating system that was approved by Congress.<ref name="engadget history">{{Cite web |url=https://www.engadget.com/2013/06/06/sony-microsoft-nintendo-and-the-evolution-of-the-electronic-entertainment-expo/ |title=Then there were three: Sony, Microsoft, Nintendo and the evolution of the Electronic Entertainment Expo |first=Sean |last=Buckley |date=June 6, 2013 |access-date=May 9, 2017 |work=[[Engadget]] |archive-date=September 9, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170909004840/https://www.engadget.com/2013/06/06/sony-microsoft-nintendo-and-the-evolution-of-the-electronic-entertainment-expo/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.wired.com/2009/07/dayintech_0729/ |title=July 29, 1994: Videogame Makers Propose Ratings Board to Congress |first=Chris |last=Kohler |date=July 29, 2009 |access-date=May 9, 2017 |magazine=[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]]}}</ref>

==Week==

[[File:Electronic Entertainment Expo.svg|thumb|left|200px|E3's longest used logo (1998–2017)]]

The industry recognized that it needed some type of trade show for retailers. According to Eliot Minsker, chairman and CEO of Knowledge Industry Publications (which produced and promoted the show with Infotainment World), "Retailers have pointed to the need for an interpretive event that will help them make smarter buying decisions by interacting with a wide range of publishers, vendors, industry influentials, and opinion leaders in a focused show setting."<ref>{{cite magazine |date=March 1994 |title=Atlanta Chosen as Site for New Trade Show |url=https://archive.org/details/GamePro_Issue_056_March_1994/page/n179/mode/2up |magazine=GamePro |publisher=IDG |issue=56 |page=186}}</ref> Attempts were made between the video game companies and the [[Consumer Electronics Association]] (CEA) which ran CES, to improve how video games were treated at CES, but these negotiations failed to produce a result.<ref name="engadget history"/> Pat Ferrell, creator of ''[[GamePro]]'' which was owned by [[International Data Group]] (IDG), conceived of an idea for starting a dedicated trade show for video games, building off IDG's established experience in running the [[Macworld/iWorld|Macworld convention]]. Ferrell contacted the IDSA who saw the appeal of using their position in the industry to create a video game-specific tradeshow, and offered to co-found the Electronic Entertainment Expo with IDG.<ref name="engadget history"/>

E3 happens on a week-long fixed schedule from year to year, making it easier for visitors. This also allows some regularity for journalists and those who work at E3.

Though several companies agreed to present at this E3 event, Ferrell discovered that CEA had offered video game companies a dedicated space at the next CES, which would have conflicted with the planned E3 event, requiring the companies to pick one or the other. Most of the IDSA members supported E3, while Nintendo and Microsoft were still supportive of the CES approach. After about three to four months, Ferrell was told by CEA's CEO [[Gary J. Shapiro]] that he had "won" and that they had canceled the CES video game event, effectively making E3 the premier trade show for the video game industry.<ref name="engadget history"/>

Many of the big players (Currently [[Sony]], [[Microsoft]] and [[Nintendo]]) have their [[press conferences]] on the [[Monday]] and [[Tuesday]] of the week of E3. Generally large-scale events at a rented-out hotel or amphitheater around greater [[Los Angeles]] and usually invite-only, the big console makers will generally make the biggest splashes in the industry during these events and unveil which products attendees are to expect on the show floor. [[Tuesday]], [[Wednesday]], and [[Thursday]] are reserved for the conference program which is aimed at game publishers and developers to discuss the development of the industry. Conferences generally happen behind closed doors on the second floor of the [[Los Angeles Convention Center|LACC]], away from the eyes of the public.

===1995–2006: Growth and success through first decade===

[[Wednesday]] starts the three days of the exposition (designated Day 1, Day 2, and Day 3 respectively). This is where the attendees get to move around the floors. [[Ziff Davis]] provides fresh-off-the-press [[newspapers]] called [[ShowDaily]] each morning of the Expo detailing special celebrities featured at different [[booths]], news from the [[press conferences]] the nights before, maps of booth layouts of the different halls, and articles on the line-ups of some of the larger publishers in the industry.

[[File:LA Conference Centre E3 2005.jpg|250px|thumb|right|[[Los Angeles Convention Center]] during E3 2005, with an [[Atari]] banner hanging over the South Hall lobby]]

The [[E3 1995|first event]] was held from May 11–13, 1995 at the [[Los Angeles Convention Center]], which would generally be the convention's ___location in future years.<ref>{{cite magazine |date=January 1995 |title=E3 Replaces Summer CES |url=https://retrocdn.net/images/5/5d/GamePro_US_066.pdf |magazine=[[GamePro]] |publisher=IDG |issue=76 |page=211 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191116230507/https://retrocdn.net/images/5/5d/GamePro_US_066.pdf |archive-date=November 16, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> The organizers were unsure of how successful this would be, but by the end of the convention, they had booked most of the space at the Convention Center, and saw more than 40,000 attendees.<ref name="engadget history"/> In the aftermath of its first year, E3 was already regarded as the biggest event in the video game industry.<ref name="gameproe3">{{cite magazine |date=June 1996 |title=Sneak Previews |url=https://archive.org/details/GamePro_Issue_093_Volume_08_Number_06_1996-06_IDG_Publishing_US/page/n29/mode/2up |magazine=[[GamePro]] |publisher=IDG |issue=93 |page=28}}</ref> The IDSA realized the strength of a debut trade show, and subsequently renegotiated with IDG to allow the IDSA to take full ownership of the show and the intellectual property associated with the name, while hiring IDG to help with execution of the event.<ref name="engadget history"/> During this E3, Sega had introduced the [[Sega Saturn]], priced at $399. Sony also introduced the first [[PlayStation (console)|PlayStation console]], during which Sony Computer Entertainment North America's president Steve Race came on stage in their press event to simply say "$299" before leaving the stage to applause. The surprise undercutting price had a significant impact on Sega and the current [[console war]] between Sega, Sony, and Nintendo. From then on, E3 was seen to play a major part in other console wars, with journalists reporting on which manufacturer "won" E3 based on their product offerings. <ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/the-life-and-death-of-e3 | title=The life and death of E3 | date=June 5, 2024 }}</ref>

In 1996, IDG and the IDSA tried a Japanese version of E3, in preparation for a worldwide series of events, at the [[Makuhari Messe]] in Tokyo (as E3 Tokyo '96) in association with [[TV Asahi]]. Although [[Sony Computer Entertainment]] was the show's original sponsor, the company withdrew its support in favor of its PlayStation Expo. [[Sega]] then pulled out at the last minute, leaving [[Nintendo]] the only big-three company to appear. Held November 1–4, 1996, the presence of several other gaming expos and lack of support from Japanese game manufacturers led to reportedly poor turnout<ref>{{cite magazine |date=January 1997 |title=PlayStation Expo: Sony Shows Off in Japan |url=https://archive.org/details/NEXT_Generation_25/page/n15/mode/2up |magazine=[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]] |publisher=[[Imagine Media]] |issue=25 |page=16 |quote=And as for next-door's E3 Tokyo? Sad and tiny. ''Assault Suit Lynos 2'' was the biggest stand-out in a sea of mediocre edutainment and ''Myst'' clones.}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |date=February 1997 |title=Sony PlayStation Expo '96 |url=https://archive.org/details/GamePro_Issue_101_Volume_09_Number_02_1997-02_IDG_Publishing_US/page/n45/mode/2up |magazine=[[GamePro]] |publisher=IDG |issue=101 |pages=44–45 |quote=E3 Tokyo attracted just 30,000 visitors with its mostly edutainment-oriented mix of software. PS Expo, on the other hand, played host to 54,000 PlayStation faithful!}}</ref> and rumored E3 events in Singapore and Canada did not take place.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://pc.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/article/961105/rumor1.htm |title=任天堂もSEGAもSONYもいないE3/Tokyo'96 |publisher=PC Watch |date=November 1, 1996 |access-date=April 12, 2011 |archive-date=June 5, 2003 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030605075751/http://pc.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/article/961105/rumor1.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[Friday]] ends the exposition and is also the shortest day for attendees to traverse the expo so that booths may be taken down.

Due to failed negotiations for the convention space in Los Angeles, the E3 conventions in 1997 and 1998 were held at the [[Georgia World Congress Center]] in Atlanta, Georgia.<ref name="gamespot e3">{{cite web |last1=Varanini |first1=Giancarlo |title=E3: Past, Present, and Future |url=http://www.gamespot.com/articles/e3-past-present-and-future/1100-6210423/ |publisher=Gamespot |access-date=June 16, 2016 |archive-date=May 10, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160510051024/http://www.gamespot.com/articles/e3-past-present-and-future/1100-6210423/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://blog.eu.playstation.com/2010/06/03/playstation-at-e3-1997/ |title=PlayStation at E3: 1997 |first=James |last=Gallager |date=June 3, 2010 |access-date=May 9, 2017 |work=[[PlayStation Blog]] |archive-date=November 12, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171112022435/https://blog.eu.playstation.com/2010/06/03/playstation-at-e3-1997/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Turnout at these shows was dramatically lower than at the first two E3s, which has been attributed to a declining number of game developers and the fact that many video game companies were based on the West Coast, making the cost of sending staff and equipment to Atlanta prohibitive.<ref name="GPro108">{{cite magazine |date=September 1997 |title=E3 Attendance Drops |url=https://archive.org/details/GamePro_Issue_108_Volume_09_Number_09_1997-09_IDG_Publishing_US/page/n23/mode/2up |magazine=[[GamePro]] |publisher=[[International Data Group|IDG]] |issue=108 |page=22}}</ref> The show returned to the Los Angeles Convention Center in 1999, and continued to grow in attendance, ranging from 60,000 to 70,000 attendees.<ref name="engadget history"/>

==Layout==

In addition to the event, E3 started to support (or became associated with) several websites. One was E365, introduced in 2006,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://e3expo.leveragesoftware.com/ |title=E365 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071013142032/http://e3expo.leveragesoftware.com/ |archive-date=October 13, 2007}}</ref> an online community which attendees used to network and schedule meetings.

Using the [[LACC]], over 540,000 square feet (50,000 m&sup2;) are available for exhibition space across the five halls. The [[LACC]] is located over two blocks in [[downtown]] [[Los Angeles]] and shares a block with the [[Staples Center]]. Parking is available under the [[E3#West Hall|West Hall]] for $10 a day (as of E3 2005).

===2007–2008: ''Media and Business Summit''===

===Show floor===

Following the 2006 convention, the IDSA—now ESA—found that many exhibitors were worried about the high costs of presenting at the event, spending between {{nowrap|$5–$10 million}} for their booths.<ref name="engadget history"/> They had also found that a larger proportion of attendees were bloggers and attendees who were not perceived to be industry professionals by vendors, managing to secure access to the conference. These additional attendees diluted the vendors' ability to reach out to their target audience, retailers and journalists.<ref name="arstech 2006">{{cite web |url=https://arstechnica.com/uncategorized/2006/07/7382/ |first=Ken |last=Fisher |date=July 30, 2006 |title=E3 game trade show not canceled, but will be downsized |access-date=June 2, 2007 |archive-date=July 25, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120725104657/http://arstechnica.com/uncategorized/2006/07/7382/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Both of these reasons had previously caused the [[COMDEX]] trade show to shut down.<ref name="arstech 2006"/> Several large vendors told the ESA that they were going to pull out of the next E3, which would have had a domino effect on other vendors.<ref name="engadget history"/>

To avoid this, the ESA announced in July 2006 that E3 would be downsized and restructured due to the overwhelming demand from the exhibitors, and would limit attendees to those from the media and retail sectors.<ref name="Gamespot">{{cite web |date=July 31, 2006 |title=ESA confirms much smaller E3 in '07 |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/esa-confirms-much-smaller-e3-in-07/1100-6154935/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090413205056/http://www.gamespot.com/pages/news/story.php?sid=6154935 |archive-date=April 13, 2009 |access-date=June 2, 2007 |website=Gamespot}}</ref> For 2007 and 2008, E3 was renamed to the E3 Media and Business Summit, and moved into the July timeframe, about two months later in the year than previous shows. The 2007 show was held at the Barker Hangar at the [[Santa Monica Airport]] and other nearby hotels in [[Santa Monica, California]] with attendance limited to about 10,000, and was the last time the show was not physically held at the Los Angeles Convention Center.<ref name="gamespot e3"/> The 2008 event returned to the Los Angeles Convention Center, but also capped attendance at about 5,000.<ref name="gibiz 2007-2008">{{cite web |url=http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2016-08-01-that-time-the-industry-almost-killed-e3 |title=That time the industry almost killed E3 |first=Brendan |last=Sinclar |date=August 1, 2016 |access-date=May 9, 2017 |work=[[GamesIndustry.biz]] |archive-date=June 22, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170622212351/http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2016-08-01-that-time-the-industry-almost-killed-e3 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The show is exhibited over five halls: [[E3#Kentia and Petree Halls|Kentia]], [[E3#Kentia and Petree Halls|Petree]], [[E3#South Hall|South Hall]], [[E3#Concourse Hall and Lobbies|Concourse Hall]], and the [[E3#West Hall|West Hall]]. Booth space is purchased ahead of time by publishers. The publishers, in turn, spend millions of dollars creating elaborate displays and structures to accommodate the promotion of their bigger titles. E3 is loud and busy, and it's similar to being at a massive rock concert and every booth wants your attention in different ways. [[Booth babe]]s are deployed specifically to thematically promote various games.

ESA was harshly criticized for these smaller events.<ref name="engadget history"/><ref name="gibiz 2007-2008"/> Industry analyst Michael Pachter said that because consumers had been eliminated from attending the events, there was little external media coverage of these E3s, reducing the visibility and commercialization opportunities for publishers, and suggested that without a change, E3 would become extinct.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/e3-is-headed-for-extinction-pachter |title=E3 is headed for extinction – Pachter |first=Matt |last=Martin |date=July 21, 2008 |access-date=May 9, 2017 |work=GamesIndustry.biz |archive-date=November 12, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171112074045/http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/e3-is-headed-for-extinction-pachter |url-status=live }}</ref> Pachter also found that retailers were less interested in E3 due to the later calendar date.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=14701 |title=Pachter: E3 Was A 'Terrible Disappointment' |first=Brandon |last=Boyer |date=July 16, 2007 |access-date=May 9, 2017 |work=[[Gamasutra]] |archive-date=November 12, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171112132236/https://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=14701 |url-status=dead }}</ref> [[Activision]], which had been a member of the ESA since its start, opted to leave the ESA in 2008 and to no longer participate in the E3 event, with their CEO [[Robert Kotick]] stating the company was too big for the E3 and ESA at that point, riding on revenue from ''[[World of Warcraft]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://kotaku.com/why-we-love-to-hate-activision-and-might-be-wrong-5371156 |title=Why We Love To Hate Activision — And Might Be Wrong |first=Leigh |last=Alexander |date=August 30, 2009 |access-date=January 19, 2020 |work=[[Kotaku]] |archive-date=October 14, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191014055345/https://kotaku.com/why-we-love-to-hate-activision-and-might-be-wrong-5371156 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Different booths will also invite celebrities over for signings for their specific games. For 2004, Activision brought in [[Stan Lee]] and [[Tony Hawk]] to promote [[X-Men Legends]] and [[Tony Hawk Underground 2]] respectively while [[Vivendi Universal]] brought in [[Vin Diesel]] to promote his new game [[The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay]] based slightly on the summer 2004 blockbuster of the same name. Celebrities are generally only available for a few hours, so line-waiting is a general practice at E3.

===Concourse2009–2015: HallReturn andto lobbieslarger format===

Responding to the complaints from the previous two years, the ESA announced that [[E3 2009]] would be more open, but capping attendance at about 45,000 and closed to the public, as to achieve a balance between the two extremes.<ref name="engadget history"/> All subsequent E3s took place in June of the calendar year at the Los Angeles Convention Center.<ref name="engadget history"/>

[[File:E3 2015.jpg|thumb|260px|E3 2015 with ''[[Uncharted 4: A Thief's End]]'' banner]]

The external apparatus that connects the bigger halls is the Concourse Hall and subsequently, the West Hall and South Hall lobbies. The lobbies are used for registration, picking up badges and badge holders, and other general information. Bag stands and the [[ShowDaily]] paper are available in the lobbies. The lobbies are also the signature glass structures of the [[LACC]] and are massive awe-inspiring structures.

Starting in 2013, some of the major video game companies, particularly [[Nintendo]] and [[Electronic Arts]], have opted not to showcase at E3. In Nintendo's case, they have foregone a large keynote presentation and instead have used pre-recorded [[Nintendo Direct]] and live video events during the E3 week since 2013 to showcase their new products, though they still run floor booths for hands-on demonstrations. Since 2014, there also have been Nintendo Treehouse Live streams that focused on several different games as well as tournaments for different titles.<ref name="engadget history"/> Electronic Arts, since 2016, have set up a separate [[EA Play]] event in a nearby locale to announce and exhibit their titles, citing the move as a result of the lack of public access to the main E3 show.<ref name="wired public"/> Other vendors, like [[Microsoft]] and [[Sony]] have used pre-E3 events to showcase hardware reveals, leaving the E3 event to cover new games for these systems.<ref name="engadget history"/>

By 2015, traditional video game marketing had been augmented by the use of publicity through word-of-mouth by average gamers, persons not normally part of the "professional" development community. The ESA began to seek ways to allow these people to attend E3 in limited numbers without overwhelming the normal attendees.<ref name="wired public">{{cite magazine |url=https://www.wired.com/2016/03/end-e3-know/ |title=It's the End of E3 As We Know It |first=Chris |last=Kohler |date=March 8, 2016 |access-date=February 8, 2017 |magazine=[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2017-02-09-this-move-is-long-overdue-the-industry-responds-to-e3-going-public |title="This move is long overdue" – Industry responds to E3 going public |author=Staff |date=February 9, 2017 |access-date=February 9, 2017 |work=[[GamesIndustry.biz]] |archive-date=February 25, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210225205848/https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2017-02-09-this-move-is-long-overdue-the-industry-responds-to-e3-going-public |url-status=live }}</ref> For [[E3 2015]], 5,000 tickets were distributed to vendors to be given to fans to be able to attend the event.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-e3-fans-20150617-story.html |title=E3 gains publicity by letting in video game fans for the first time |first1=David |last1=Pierson |first2=Whip |last2=Villarreal |date=June 16, 2015 |access-date=February 7, 2017 |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |archive-date=February 11, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170211080650/http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-e3-fans-20150617-story.html |url-status=live }}</ref> That same year also marked the introduction of the "PC Gaming Show", featuring games for personal computers across a range of developers and publishers.

The Concourse Hall generally features four booths and a few media outlets as well as the recent [[Enter the Pixel]] game art exhibition started at E3 [[2004]]. The Concourse Hall is generally used as a link between both lobbies and features a window display looking out on downtown LA.

===2016–2019: Opening to the public===

===South Hall===

[[E3 2016]] featured a separate but free "E3 Live" event at the nearby [[L.A. Live]] space that was to help provide a small-scale version of the E3 experience. While it drew about 20,000 people, it was found to be underwhelming.<ref name="gibiz e3live">{{cite web |url=http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2016-06-17-e3-live-completely-disappoints-fans |title=E3 Live completely disappoints fans |first=James |last=Brightman |date=June 17, 2016 |access-date=February 8, 2017 |work=[[GamesIndustry.biz]] |archive-date=February 11, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170211075828/http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2016-06-17-e3-live-completely-disappoints-fans |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.polygon.com/2017/2/8/14547766/how-to-buy-tickets-to-e3 |title=E3 2017 will open up 15,000 tickets for purchase by the public |first=Brian |last=Crecente |date=February 8, 2017 |access-date=February 8, 2017 |work=[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]] |archive-date=February 8, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170208164419/http://www.polygon.com/2017/2/8/14547766/how-to-buy-tickets-to-e3 |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2017, the ESA reserved 15,000 tickets to the convention for members of the public to buy;<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.destructoid.com/e3-is-open-to-the-public-this-year-15-000-tickets-go-on-sale-monday-417552.phtml |title=E3 is open to the public this year, 15,000 tickets go on sale Monday |first=Chris |last=Carter |date=February 8, 2017 |access-date=February 8, 2017 |work=[[Destructoid]] |archive-date=November 11, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201111210135/https://www.destructoid.com/e3-is-open-to-the-public-this-year-15-000-tickets-go-on-sale-monday-417552.phtml |url-status=live }}</ref> these were all sold, leading to more than 68,000 attendees during [[E3 2017]], which led to noticeable crowding and floor management issues.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2017/06/e3-is-too-crowded-now-and-that-sucks.html |title=E3 Is Too Crowded Now (And That Sucks) |first=Holly |last=Green |date=June 14, 2017 |access-date=June 15, 2017 |work=[[Paste (magazine)|Paste]] |archive-date=July 2, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190702111713/https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2017/06/e3-is-too-crowded-now-and-that-sucks.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2017-06-14-fan-reaction-to-e3-mixed |title=Fan reaction to E3 mixed |first=Brendan |last=Sinclair |date=June 14, 2017 |access-date=June 15, 2017 |work=[[GamesIndustry.biz]] |archive-date=February 24, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210224210652/https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2017-06-14-fan-reaction-to-e3-mixed |url-status=live }}</ref> ESA confirmed that [[E3 2018]] would include public passes, but that for two of the days, the event would be open only to industry attendees for three hours prior to admitting the public.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/though-still-open-to-the-public-e3-2018-has-dedicated-industry-only-hours |title=Though still open to the public, E3 2018 has dedicated 'industry only' hours |first=Alissa |last=McAloon |date=February 6, 2018 |access-date=February 6, 2018 |work=[[Gamasutra]] |archive-date=October 1, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201001162301/https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/314395/Though_still_open_to_the_public_E3_2018_has_dedicated_industry_only_hours.php |url-status=live }}</ref>

The ESA unveiled the new logo for E3, replacing its previous one using three-dimensional block letters with a flatter, stylized graphic, in October 2017.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.destructoid.com/e3-has-a-new-logo-and-it-s-automatically-better-than-the-old-one-467309.phtml |title=E3 has a new logo and it's automatically better than the old one |first=Brett |last=Makedonski |date=October 16, 2017 |access-date=October 16, 2017 |work=[[Destructoid]] |archive-date=February 5, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180205141002/https://www.destructoid.com/e3-has-a-new-logo-and-it-s-automatically-better-than-the-old-one-467309.phtml |url-status=live }}</ref>

The largest hall of the [[LACC]] and the largest exhibition space by default. [[Microsoft]] and many of the largest Western developers from [[North America]] and Europe generally find their homes here.

While the ESA has the Convention Center space reserved through 2019, ESA's CEO Mike Gallagher said, following the 2017 event, that they were considering other options due to lack of modernization and upgrades that the center has had to make the space more appropriate for their needs.<ref name="gamespot 2017">{{cite web |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/e3-2017-attendance-revealed-future-in-la-uncertain/1100-6450995/ |title=E3 2017 Attendance Revealed, Future In LA Uncertain |first=Eddie |last=Makuch |date=June 15, 2017 |access-date=June 15, 2017 |work=[[GameSpot]] |archive-date=March 8, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308093631/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/e3-2017-attendance-revealed-future-in-la-uncertain/1100-6450995/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Gallagher said that the ESA was working with the City and [[Anschutz Entertainment Group]] (AEG) which owns the Los Angeles Convention Center and the space around it, with plans to have nearly {{cvt|500,000|sqft|m2}} of additional exhibition space added by 2020, but that they would judge this in the 2018 show.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2017-06-22-esa-ponders-e3s-future |title=ESA ponders E3's future |first=Christopher |last=Dring |date=June 21, 2017 |access-date=June 22, 2017 |work=[[GamesIndustry.biz]] |archive-date=June 22, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170622105447/http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2017-06-22-esa-ponders-e3s-future |url-status=live }}</ref> During 2018, the event drew 69,200 attendees, the largest since 2005.<ref name=e32018>{{cite web |url=https://www.vg247.com/2018/06/15/e3-2018-attendance-highest-since-2005/ |title=E3 2018 attendance was highest since 2005 |first=Marshall |last=Lemon |date=June 15, 2018 |access-date=June 15, 2018 |work=[[VG247]] |archive-date=November 9, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109020739/https://www.vg247.com/2018/06/15/e3-2018-attendance-highest-since-2005/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Kentia and Petree Halls===

With announcements of the dates for [[E3 2019]], the ESA declined to state where they had planned to hold the 2020 event.<ref name="gamespot e3 2019">{{cite web |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/e3-2019-dates-announced-and-its-the-final-show-con/1100-6459848/ |title=E3 2019 Dates Announced, And It's The Final Show Confirmed For Current Venue |first=Eddie |last=Makuch |date=June 14, 2018 |access-date=June 14, 2018 |website=[[GameSpot]] |archive-date=June 15, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180615032339/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/e3-2019-dates-announced-and-its-the-final-show-con/1100-6459848/ |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Sony Interactive Entertainment]] had announced that it would not be participating in E3 2019, having had participated in every E3 since its launch. Sony stated that they "are exploring new and familiar ways to engage our community in 2019".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Minotti |first=Mike |date=November 15, 2018 |title=Sony is skipping E3 2019 |url=https://venturebeat.com/2018/11/15/sony-is-skipping-e3-2019/ |access-date=November 15, 2018 |website=[[Venture Beat]] |archive-date=November 16, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181116043335/https://venturebeat.com/2018/11/15/sony-is-skipping-e3-2019/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Sony's CEO [[Shawn Layden]] stated in a February 2019 interview that with changes in retailer procurement, their own switch to fewer but more quality titles, and the rapid spread of news via the Internet that having a trade show as late as June is no longer helpful, and that Sony had to create its own Destination PlayStation experience in February as to secure retailer sales.<ref name="cnet sony 2019">{{cite web |url=https://www.cnet.com/news/sonys-shawn-layden-wants-fewer-bigger-playstation-games/ |title=Sony's Shawn Layden wants fewer, bigger PlayStation games |first=Ian |last=Shirr |date=February 11, 2019 |access-date=February 11, 2019 |work=[[CNet]] |archive-date=February 12, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190212015618/https://www.cnet.com/news/sonys-shawn-layden-wants-fewer-bigger-playstation-games/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Industry Analyst Michael Pachter, speaking to GamingBolt, said, "I think it's a mistake to skip the show, they will probably be there without a big booth. It was a surprise to me".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://comicbook.com/gaming/2018/11/17/playstation-ps4-e3-2019/ |title=PlayStation Skipping E3 2019 Is "A Mistake" Says Analyst |website=WWG |date=November 17, 2018 |access-date=November 17, 2018 |archive-date=November 18, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181118012213/https://comicbook.com/gaming/2018/11/17/playstation-ps4-e3-2019/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

The second smallest and smallest halls respectively. The Kentia Hall is generally used by hardware companies to show off their latest wares while the Petree hall was generally home to Atari and Midway's massive booths in years past.

As of 2016, revenues from running E3 accounted for about 48% of the organization's annual budget, with another 37% coming from membership dues.<ref name="variety">{{Cite web |last=Crecente |first=Brian |date=2019-05-10 |title=Inside the Disarray Facing the Video Game Organization Behind E3 |url=https://variety.com/2019/gaming/features/entertainment-software-association-mike-gallagher-e3-1203211280/ |access-date=2022-03-05 |website=Variety |archive-date=March 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220305053413/https://variety.com/2019/gaming/features/entertainment-software-association-mike-gallagher-e3-1203211280/ |url-status=live }}</ref> With Sony's withdrawal from the conference and the [[Entertainment Software Association#History|controversies]] surrounding outgoing ESA president Mike Gallagher, some member companies criticized the ESA for splitting its focus between producing E3 and acting as a legislative advocacy group, with neither focus receiving adequate attention. This led to calls advocating for the business of running E3 to be split out into a separate company.<ref name="variety"/> Developers and publishers complained of the increasing cost to have a booth presence at E3 compared to simply holding a digital event streamed online, saying the exposure afforded by E3 was not always worth the price.<ref name=LABJ>{{Cite web |last=Amore |first=Samson |date=2019-06-13 |title=E3 Show Goes on Despite Static Exhibitor Growth |url=https://labusinessjournal.com/news/weekly-news/e3-show-goes-despite-static-exhibitor-growth/ |access-date=2022-03-05 |website=Los Angeles Business Journal |archive-date=March 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220305081941/https://labusinessjournal.com/news/weekly-news/e3-show-goes-despite-static-exhibitor-growth/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Sony and Electronic Arts' departure and Nintendo's move to a digital-only keynote diminished E3's status as the premier game announcement event, which further eroded its ability to attract exhibitors.<ref name="WashPoHist">{{Cite news |last=Liao |first=Shannon |date=2021-06-11 |title=The origin and evolution of E3 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/video-games/2021/06/11/e3-history/ |access-date=2022-03-05 |newspaper=The Washington Post |archive-date=January 19, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230119070449/https://www.washingtonpost.com/video-games/2021/06/11/e3-history/ |url-status=live }}</ref> E3 lost nearly 1/3 of its exhibitors between 2017 and 2019, going from 293 to 209.<ref name=LABJ/>

===West Hall===

====Data leak====

By coincidence or otherwise, the West Hall is used by the biggest publishers from [[Asia]]. [[Nintendo]] and [[Sony]]'s booths are normally located here. The West Hall is also where one will find the various gaming [[media]] outlets such as [[IGN]]-[[GameSpy]] and [[GameSpot]] doing interviews with various gaming celebrities.

On August 3, 2019, it was found that an unsecured list of personal attendee data was publicly accessible from the ESA's site. The list contained the information of over 2,000 people, most of them being the press and social media influencers that had attended E3 2019. ESA removed the list after it was found, and apologized for allowing the information to become public.<ref>{{cite web |last=Dring |first=Christopher |date=August 3, 2019 |title=E3 accidentally leaks personal details of journalists, YouTubers and analysts |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2019-08-03-e3-accidentally-leaks-personal-details-of-journalists-youtubers-and-analysts |access-date=August 5, 2019 |work=[[GamesIndustry.biz]] |archive-date=August 5, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190805040253/https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2019-08-03-e3-accidentally-leaks-personal-details-of-journalists-youtubers-and-analysts |url-status=live }}</ref> However, using similar techniques to access the 2019 data, users found similar data for over 6,000 attendees of past E3 events still available on user-authenticated portions of their website; these too were subsequently pulled by the ESA once notified.<ref>{{cite web |last=Gera |first=Emily |date=August 5, 2019 |title=E3 organisers previously leaked over 6000 more names |url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2019/08/06/e3-organisers-previously-leaked-over-6000-more-names/ |access-date=August 5, 2019 |work=[[Rock Paper Shotgun]] |archive-date=August 6, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190806004753/https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2019/08/06/e3-organisers-previously-leaked-over-6000-more-names/ |url-status=live }}</ref> A number of journalists on the lists reported that they were subsequently harassed and had received death threats due to their private information being released as part of the leak.<ref>{{cite web |last=Robinson |first=Andy |date=August 5, 2019 |title=E3 organiser 'sorry' for media leak ahead of potential legal action |url=https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/e3-organiser-sorry-for-media-leak-ahead-of-potential-legal-action/ |access-date=January 13, 2020 |work=[[Video Games Chronicle]] |archive-date=December 23, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191223000712/https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/e3-organiser-sorry-for-media-leak-ahead-of-potential-legal-action/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Ahead of E3 2020, the ESA stated they were taking stricter security measures to protect the privacy of those registering for E3 as a result of the leak.<ref>{{cite web |last=Alexander |first=Julia |date=January 30, 2020 |title=E3 organizer says it's tightened security after accidentally doxxing thousands of attendees |url=https://www.theverge.com/2020/1/30/21115499/e3-2020-journalist-information-leak-youtube-twitch-security-doxx-vulnerability |access-date=January 30, 2020 |work=[[The Verge]] |archive-date=January 31, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200131072530/https://www.theverge.com/2020/1/30/21115499/e3-2020-journalist-information-leak-youtube-twitch-security-doxx-vulnerability |url-status=live }}</ref> ESA president Stanley Pierre-Louis stated they plan to collect less data from attendees and take measures such as securing the data on separate servers to avoid this type of leak from occurring again.<ref>{{cite web |last=McCarthy |first=Caty |date=February 13, 2020 |title=The President of The ESA On The Waning of Big Names at E3, Winning Back Media's Trust, and More |url=https://www.usgamer.net/articles/the-president-of-the-esa-on-the-waning-of-big-names-at-e3-winning-back-medias-trust-and-more |access-date=February 13, 2020 |work=[[USGamer]] |archive-date=March 8, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308131948/https://www.usgamer.net/articles/the-president-of-the-esa-on-the-waning-of-big-names-at-e3-winning-back-medias-trust-and-more |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===2020–2023: Impact of COVID-19 and discontinuation===

During the last day of the event in 2019, it was confirmed that E3 would be held at the LACC for at least another year, with the 2020 edition.<ref name=pushsquare2020e3>{{cite web |website=[[Push Square]] |title=During the last day of the fair in 2019, it was confirmed that E3 would be held at the LACC for at least another year, with the 2020 edition |date=June 13, 2019 |access-date=June 13, 2019 |url=https://www.pushsquare.com/news/2019/06/e3_will_return_for_at_least_another_year_2020_dates_confirmed |archive-date=July 7, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190707143643/https://www.pushsquare.com/news/2019/06/e3_will_return_for_at_least_another_year_2020_dates_confirmed |url-status=live }}</ref> The ESA affirmed they had renegotiated use of the LACC through 2023, but retained the rights to break that contract if desired.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/2019/gaming/news/activision-ea-both-forgo-e3-show-floor-1203219164/ |title=Activision, EA Both Forgo E3 Show Floor Presence For 2019 |first=Liz |last=Lanier |date=May 17, 2019 |access-date=May 23, 2019 |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |archive-date=March 2, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210302154625/https://variety.com/2019/gaming/news/activision-ea-both-forgo-e3-show-floor-1203219164/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

The ESA's membership approved an increase in the number of public passes from 15,000 to 25,000 for the 2020 show. Alongside this, the ESA had presented proposed, but not finalized, plans to make the 2020 event a "fan, media, and influencer festival". To mitigate the longer lines caused by increased public attendance, they aimed to use "queuetainment" to advertise to attendees while they wait, as well as a [[FastPass]]-like system of reserving game demos in advance similar to the one employed by [[Disney Experiences|Disney Parks]]. They planned to give priority to "[[influencer]]s" by providing them appointment-only presentations on new games. Additionally, with these changes, the ESA were considering adding an extra day on the Tuesday of the convention week that would be an industry-only day before the floor of the convention was opened to public passes.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://gamedaily.biz/article/1215/e3-2020-planning-document-proposes-overhaul-with-queuetainment-new-floor-plan-industry-only-day |title=E3 2020 planning document proposes overhaul with 'queuetainment,' new floor plan, industry-only day |first=Mike |last=Futter |date=September 16, 2019 |access-date=September 16, 2019 |work=[[GameDaily.biz]] |archive-date=September 17, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190917200003/https://gamedaily.biz/article/1215/e3-2020-planning-document-proposes-overhaul-with-queuetainment-new-floor-plan-industry-only-day |url-status=live }}</ref> Sony affirmed it would not attend the 2020 show, stating that the vision for [[E3 2020]] did not meet their goals, and instead would showcase their games at other events throughout the year.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2020-01-11-playstation-will-not-participate-in-e3-2020 |title=PlayStation will not participate in E3 2020 |first=Christopher |last=Dring |date=January 13, 2020 |access-date=January 13, 2020 |work=[[GamesIndustry.biz]] |archive-date=January 13, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200113231716/https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2020-01-11-playstation-will-not-participate-in-e3-2020 |url-status=live }}</ref> In the wake of Sony's announcement, ESA affirmed that the 2020 show "will be an exciting, high-energy show featuring new experiences, partners, exhibitor spaces, activations, and programming that will entertain new and veteran attendees alike".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.destructoid.com/esa-statement-promises-new-experiences-and-activations-in-response-to-sony-no-show-577821.phtml |title=ESA statement promises 'new experiences and activations' in response to Sony no-show |first=Chris |last=Moyse |date=January 14, 2020 |access-date=January 14, 2020 |work=[[Destructoid]] |archive-date=September 26, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200926161047/https://www.destructoid.com/esa-statement-promises-new-experiences-and-activations-in-response-to-sony-no-show-577821.phtml |url-status=live }}</ref> On February 12, 2020, [[Geoff Keighley]], host of E3 Coliseum and [[The Game Awards]], released a statement announcing that he would also be forgoing his attendance of E3 for the first time in the expo's 25-year history, citing his discomfort with the direction planned for the event in 2020.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2020-02-12-geoff-keighley-will-not-participate-in-e3-2020 |title=Geoff Keighley will not participate in E3 2020 |first=Christopher |last=Dring |date=January 12, 2020 |access-date=January 14, 2020 |work=[[GamesIndustry.biz]] |archive-date=February 12, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200212194557/https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2020-02-12-geoff-keighley-will-not-participate-in-e3-2020 |url-status=live }}</ref>

However, in the months leading to the 2020 event, the [[Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the video game industry|COVID-19 pandemic]] created concerns related to large gatherings such as E3. As late as March 4, 2020, the ESA had still intended to hold E3 2020, though said they were monitoring the situation around the outbreak.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/2020/digital/news/e3-2020-coronavirus-actively-assessing-1203524365/ |title=E3 Organizers 'Actively Assessing' Coronavirus Outbreak, Still Planning to Hold June Event in L.A. |first=Todd |last=Spangler |date=March 4, 2020 |access-date=March 4, 2020 |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |archive-date=April 8, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200408220700/https://variety.com/2020/digital/news/e3-2020-coronavirus-actively-assessing-1203524365/ |url-status=live }}</ref> On March 11, 2020, the ESA announced that E3 2020 had been canceled due to the pandemic. The ESA also claimed that they would both fully refund prospective attendees and exhibitors and devise a [[virtual event]] that would enable exhibitors to hold digital presentations during the same week in lieu of a physical meeting.<ref name="e3 2020 canceled">{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/2020/digital/news/e3-2020-canceled-coronavirus-1203529992/ |title=E3 2020 Canceled After 'Overwhelming Concerns' About Coronavirus |first=Todd |last=Spangler |date=March 11, 2020 |access-date=March 11, 2020 |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |archive-date=April 8, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200408220701/https://variety.com/2020/digital/news/e3-2020-canceled-coronavirus-1203529992/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |url=https://e3expo.com |title=News: E3 2020 Canceled Due To Growing Concerns Over COVID-19 Virus |date=March 11, 2020 |publisher=[[Entertainment Software Association]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200311172635/https://e3expo.com/ |archive-date=March 11, 2020 |access-date=March 11, 2020}}</ref> However, by April 7, 2020, the ESA stated that the disruption caused by the pandemic made it impossible to host an online equivalent, fully cancelling the event, though the ESA would help its partners to present individual announcements via E3's website.<ref name="pcgamer e32020 fully canceled">{{cite web |last=Chalk |first=Andy |date=April 7, 2020 |title=E3 2021 dates revealed, but the 2020 'online experience' isn't going to happen |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/e3-2021-dates-announced-but-theres-still-no-word-about-the-2020-online-experience/ |access-date=April 7, 2020 |work=[[PC Gamer]] |archive-date=April 8, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200408220703/https://www.pcgamer.com/e3-2021-dates-announced-but-theres-still-no-word-about-the-2020-online-experience/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Keighley would organize ''[[Summer Game Fest]]''—an event series encompassing various publisher-led digital presentations and [[Game demo|demo]] offerings from May to August 2020.<ref>{{cite web |last=Spangler |first=Todd |date=May 1, 2020 |title=Summer Game Fest 2020 Steps in to Fill E3 Void for Video-Game Biz |url=https://variety.com/2020/digital/news/summer-game-fest-2020-schedule-1234595351/ |access-date=May 1, 2020 |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |archive-date=September 30, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200930221040/https://variety.com/2020/digital/news/summer-game-fest-2020-schedule-1234595351/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Despite cancelling the 2020 event, the ESA stated it still planned to hold the 2021 event, announcing its normal June dates to partners in April 2020.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/e3-2021-is-still-happening-next-year/1100-6474662/ |title=E3 2021 Is Still Happening Next Year |first=Gabe |last=Gurwin |date=March 11, 2020 |access-date=March 11, 2020 |work=[[GameSpot]] |archive-date=March 12, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200312210537/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/e3-2021-is-still-happening-next-year/1100-6474662/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="2021 dates"/> While the ESA had planned for a combined in-person and virtual event, the organization notified its partners in February 2021 that it was dropping the in-person event but maintaining the virtual event plans.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/e3-pushes-forward-with-plans-for-a-digital-2021-event/ |title=E3 pushes forward with plans for a digital 2021 event |first=Andy |last=Robinson |date=February 8, 2021 |access-date=February 8, 2021 |work=[[Video Games Chronicle]] |archive-date=July 7, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210707190014/https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/e3-pushes-forward-with-plans-for-a-digital-2021-event/ |url-status=live }}</ref> According to ''[[Video Games Chronicle]]'', the ESA still planned to use the LACC to broadcast some of these virtual events during [[E3 2021]], as well as planning on further use of the space in 2022 and 2023.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/e3s-2021-live-event-has-been-cancelled-la-city-documents-claim/ |title=E3's 2021 live event has been cancelled, LA city documents claim |first=Andy |last=Robinson |date=February 27, 2021 |access-date=February 27, 2021 |work=[[Video Games Chronicle]] |archive-date=February 27, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210227211528/https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/e3s-2021-live-event-has-been-cancelled-la-city-documents-claim/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The virtual event faced a mixed reception among users and the industry, including issues with the event's official mobile app, and assessments that E3 as a virtual event was redundant to streaming presentations that could be held as standalone events by publishers.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Franzese |first=Tomas |title=E3 2021 online portal is an insult to us all and the worst game of the year |url=https://www.inverse.com/gaming/e3-2021-online-portal-is-the-worst-game |access-date=2022-02-25 |website=Inverse |date=June 9, 2021 |language=en |archive-date=August 11, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230811071558/https://www.inverse.com/gaming/e3-2021-online-portal-is-the-worst-game |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="WashPoHist"/>

While Mayor [[Eric Garcetti]] stated that the ESA had planned E3 2022 to be an in-person event,<ref>{{Cite web |last=June 2021 |first=Ali Jones 16 |title=E3 2022 will be an in-person event according to Los Angeles mayor |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/e3-2022-will-be-an-in-person-event-according-to-los-angeles-mayor/ |access-date=2021-06-21 |website=gamesradar |date=June 16, 2021 |language=en |archive-date=June 19, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210619160852/https://www.gamesradar.com/e3-2022-will-be-an-in-person-event-according-to-los-angeles-mayor/ |url-status=live }}</ref> on January 7, 2022, the ESA announced that the in-person version of E3 2022 had been canceled due to COVID-19, with no immediate confirmation of a virtual event. Although this announcement came amid spread of the [[SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant|Omicron variant]], ''[[IGN]]'' reported that unlike past years, E3 2022 had no dates publicized by either the ESA or the LACC—which had cast doubt (especially amid the internal issues surrounding the 2020 event, and the aforementioned reception to E3 2021) over whether the event was even being planned at all. Furthermore, ''IGN'' reported via anonymous sources that the ESA had made a decision to cancel the event as early as late-2021.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Valentine |first=Rebekah |date=2022-01-06 |title=E3 2022 Cancels In-Person Event, While Digital Show Remains Uncertain |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/e3-2022-cancels-in-person-event-digital-show-uncertain |access-date=2022-01-07 |website=IGN |language=en |archive-date=January 7, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220107000738/https://www.ign.com/articles/e3-2022-cancels-in-person-event-digital-show-uncertain |url-status=live }}</ref> The ESA formally announced on March 31, 2022, that they had fully canceled E3 2022.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Valentine |first=Rebekah |date=2022-03-31 |title=E3 2022 – Digital and Physical – Has Officially Been Canceled |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/e3-2022-officially-canceled |access-date=2022-03-31 |website=IGN |archive-date=July 10, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220710201744/https://www.ign.com/articles/e3-2022-officially-canceled |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":3">{{cite web |last1=Parrish |first1=Ash |title=E3 2022 is canceled |url=https://www.theverge.com/2022/3/31/23005138/e3-2022-online-virtual-event-canceled-covid-19 |website=The Verge |access-date=3 June 2022 |language=en |date=31 March 2022 |archive-date=June 3, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220603050719/https://www.theverge.com/2022/3/31/23005138/e3-2022-online-virtual-event-canceled-covid-19 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In June 2022, the ESA stated that they still planned to return with a physical and virtual show in 2023.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Grayson |first1=Nathan |title=E3 video game convention will return in 2023, says parent company |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/video-games/2022/06/07/esa-e3-2023-summer-game-fest-nintendo-direct/ |access-date=14 June 2022 |newspaper=Washington Post |date=7 June 2022 |archive-date=June 8, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220608020537/https://www.washingtonpost.com/video-games/2022/06/07/esa-e3-2023-summer-game-fest-nintendo-direct/ |url-status=live }}</ref> One month later, the ESA confirmed that [[E3 2023]] would occur at the Los Angeles Convention Center during the second week of June 2023, and that they have partnered with [[ReedPop]], who operate conventions such as [[PAX (event)|PAX events]], [[New York Comic Con]], and the [[Star Wars Celebration|''Star Wars'' Celebration]], to help manage the event.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/2022/digital/news/e3-2023-expo-dates-1235310436/ |title=E3 Sets Return to L.A. in 2023 After Three-Year Hiatus |first=Todd |last=Spangler |date=July 7, 2022 |accessdate=July 7, 2022 |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |archive-date=October 8, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221008003940/https://variety.com/2022/digital/news/e3-2023-expo-dates-1235310436/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In September 2022, the ESA announced that the event would also include three "Business Days" where the floor would be limited to developers, publishers, retailers, and recognized journalists, while two days at a separate ___location would be held as "Fan Days" for all members of the public.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/e3-is-returning-in-june-2023-with-separate-business-days-and-gamer-days |title=E3 is returning in June 2023 with separate 'Business Days' and 'Gamer Days' |website=PC Gamer |date=September 26, 2022 |access-date=September 26, 2022 |archive-date=September 26, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220926195210/https://www.pcgamer.com/e3-is-returning-in-june-2023-with-separate-business-days-and-gamer-days/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In January 2023, ''IGN'' reported that none of Microsoft, Nintendo, or Sony would exhibit at E3 2023, with Nintendo confirming their absence the following month, citing that "this year's E3 show didn't fit into our plans."<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.ign.com/articles/xbox-nintendo-sony-skipping-e3-2023 | title = Exclusive: Xbox, Nintendo, and Sony Won't Be Part of E3 2023 | first = Kat | last = Bailey | date = January 30, 2023 | accessdate = January 30, 2023 | work = [[IGN]] | archive-date = January 30, 2023 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230130235750/https://www.ign.com/articles/xbox-nintendo-sony-skipping-e3-2023 | url-status = live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.theverge.com/2023/2/24/23613605/nintendo-e3-not-attending-show-2023 | title = Nintendo confirms it won't be part of E3 2023 | first = Jay | last = Peters | date = February 24, 2023 | accessdate = February 24, 2023 | work = [[The Verge]] | archive-date = February 24, 2023 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230224173034/https://www.theverge.com/2023/2/24/23613605/nintendo-e3-not-attending-show-2023 | url-status = live }}</ref> Microsoft confirmed in March 2023 they would not be on the E3 showfloor, but would be holding the digital events.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.ign.com/articles/xbox-confirms-it-wont-be-on-e3-showfloor-will-co-stream-digital-week | title = Xbox Confirms It Won't be on E3 2023 Showfloor | first = Kat | last = Bailey | date = March 11, 2023 | accessdate = March 11, 2023 | work = [[IGN]] | archive-date = March 11, 2023 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230311000905/https://www.ign.com/articles/xbox-confirms-it-wont-be-on-e3-showfloor-will-co-stream-digital-week | url-status = live }}</ref> In the same month, [[Ubisoft]] also announced that they would not be attending E3 2023, and would be hosting their own presentation event in June instead.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Zwiezen |first1=Zack |title=Ubisoft Is Skipping E3 2023 As The Show Continues To Fall Apart |url=https://kotaku.com/e3-2023-canceled-ubisoft-backs-out-skipping-xbox-sony-1850269997 |access-date=28 March 2023 |agency=Kotaku |date=28 March 2023 |archive-date=March 28, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230328010112/https://kotaku.com/e3-2023-canceled-ubisoft-backs-out-skipping-xbox-sony-1850269997 |url-status=live }}</ref> On March 29, ''IGN'' reported that both [[Sega]] and [[Tencent]] would be skipping E3 2023.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bailey |first1=Kate |title=Rumors Swirl Around E3's Future as Sega, Even More Publishers Back Out |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/rumors-swirl-around-e3s-future-as-sega-even-more-publishers-back-out |access-date=29 March 2023 |agency=IGN |date=29 March 2023 |archive-date=March 29, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230329041044/https://www.ign.com/articles/rumors-swirl-around-e3s-future-as-sega-even-more-publishers-back-out |url-status=live }}</ref>

On March 30, 2023, the 2023 event was canceled because of a lack of "sustained interest".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Valentine |first=Rebekah |date=March 30, 2023 |title=E3 Has Been Canceled |work=[[IGN]] |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/e3-has-been-canceled |access-date=March 30, 2023 |archive-date=April 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230402214217/https://www.ign.com/articles/e3-has-been-canceled |url-status=live }}</ref> According to ESA's president, Stanley Pierre-Louis, the choice to cancel the 2023 show was a result of three factors: that the COVID-19 pandemic had impacted the typical development cycle for most companies; that the current economy had publishers and developers re-evaluate the need for attending E3; and that, as a result, there has been more exploration of the mix of in-person and digital marketing events that individual companies have run. While Pierre-Louis stated that ESA was intending to hold E3 in 2024, they were looking themselves to find a balance that works for the industry.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.gamesindustry.biz/e3-2023-is-cancelled-esa-tells-us-why | title = E3 2023 is cancelled. ESA tells us why | first = Christopher | last = Dring | date = March 30, 2023 | accessdate = March 30, 2023 | work = [[GamesIndustry.biz]] | archive-date = March 30, 2023 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230330213029/https://www.gamesindustry.biz/e3-2023-is-cancelled-esa-tells-us-why | url-status = live }}</ref>

The ESA affirmed in September 2023 that there would be no E3 2024, that they would not be using the LACC in the immediate future, and that ReedPop was no longer working to help organize future events.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-06-22 |title=E3 2024 and 2025 cancelled according to Los Angeles tourism department |language=en-gb |work=Eurogamer.net |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/e3-2024-and-2025-cancelled-according-to-los-angeles-tourism-department |access-date=2023-06-25 |archive-date=June 22, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230622215626/https://www.eurogamer.net/e3-2024-and-2025-cancelled-according-to-los-angeles-tourism-department |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="ReinventEuro">{{Cite news |date=2023-09-07 |title=E3 2024 in doubt, as organiser exits and ___location abandoned |language=en |work=Eurogamer.net |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/e3-2024-in-doubt-as-organiser-exits-and-___location-abandoned |access-date=2023-09-11}}</ref><ref name="ReinventVGC">{{Cite web |date=2023-09-07 |title=E3 confirms no 2024 LA event, with 'complete reinvention' reportedly planned for 2025 |url=https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/e3-confirms-no-2024-la-event-with-complete-reinvention-reportedly-planned-for-2025/ |access-date=2023-09-09 |website=VGC |language=en-GB}}</ref> The ESA stated they were still in discussions with their partners on E3 2025 and future shows, with the former reportedly planned to have a "complete reinvention".<ref>{{Cite web |title=E3 2024 and 2025 aren't canceled (yet) |url=https://www.engadget.com/e3-2024-and-2025-arent-canceled-yet-222141813.html |access-date=2023-06-23 |website=Engadget |date=June 22, 2023 |language=en-US |archive-date=June 22, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230622224342/https://www.engadget.com/e3-2024-and-2025-arent-canceled-yet-222141813.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="ReinventEuro" /><ref name="ReinventVGC" /> On December 12, 2023, the ESA announced that E3 had been discontinued, citing "the new opportunities our industry has to reach fans and partners".<ref name=":4">{{Cite news |last=Park |first=Gene |date=December 12, 2023 |title=E3, once gaming's biggest expo, is officially dead |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/video-games/2023/12/12/e3-permanently-canceled/ |access-date=December 12, 2023 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]}}</ref> Pierre-Louis said that other live events were not responsible for the decision to end E3, while the increasing number of publisher-specific showcases was a reason. He further stated that ReedPop's departure was not solely responsible for their decision to end E3 but helped to inform their choice.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.gamesindustry.biz/esa-ceo-says-ending-e3s-closure-was-based-on-shifting-industry-needs | title = ESA CEO says ending E3 was based on shifting industry needs | first = Jeffery | last = Rousseau | date = December 14, 2023 | accessdate = December 14, 2023 | work = [[GamesIndustry.biz]] }}</ref>

==Events==

{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"

|+Overview of E3 events

! scope="col"| Event name

! scope="col"|Dates

! scope="col"|Venue(s)

! scope="col"|Location

! scope="col"|Attendance

! scope="col"|Presenters

! scope="col"|Notes

|-

|scope="row"| [[E3 1995]]

| {{nowrap|May 11–13, 1995}}

| rowspan="2" |[[Los Angeles Convention Center]]

| rowspan="2" |[[Los Angeles, California]]

| 50,000<ref name=syfy>{{cite web |url=http://www.syfygames.com/news/article/this-week-in-gaming-history-how-e3-1995-changed-gaming-forever |title=This Week in Gaming History: How E3 1995 changed gaming forever |first=Patrick |last=Patterson |date=May 12, 2012 |access-date=June 18, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151225204734/https://syfygames.com/news/article/this-week-in-gaming-history-how-e3-1995-changed-gaming-forever |archive-date=December 25, 2015 |website=[[Syfy#SyfyGames|syfygames.com]]}}</ref>

| [[The 3DO Company|3DO]], [[Atari Corporation|Atari]], [[Microsoft]], [[Nintendo]], [[Sega]], [[Sony Computer Entertainment|Sony]], [[SNK]]

| Debut show.

|-

|scope="row"| E3 1996

| {{nowrap|May 16–18, 1996}}

| 57,795<ref>{{cite magazine |date=August 1996 |title=Data Stream |url=https://archive.org/details/nextgen-issue-020/page/n27/mode/2up |magazine=[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]] |publisher=[[Imagine Media]] |issue=20 |page=26}}</ref>

| [[Nintendo]], [[Sega]], [[Scavenger, Inc.]], [[Sony Computer Entertainment|Sony]]<ref>{{cite magazine |date=August 1996 |title=E3: Nintendo Rekindles Mario's Magic |url=https://archive.org/details/nextgen-issue-020/page/n25/mode/2up |magazine=[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]] |publisher=[[Imagine Media]] |issue=20 |pages=25–26}}</ref>

|

|-

|scope="row"| E3 1997

| {{nowrap|June 19–21, 1997}}

| rowspan="2" | [[Georgia World Congress Center]], [[Georgia Dome]]

| rowspan="2" | [[Atlanta, Georgia]]

| 37,000<ref name=GPro108/>

| rowspan="3" | [[Nintendo]], [[Sega]], [[Sony Computer Entertainment|Sony]]

| Moved to Atlanta due to inability to secure LA Convention Center.

|-

|scope="row"| E3 1998

| {{nowrap|May 28–30, 1998}}

| 41,300<ref>{{cite web|url=http://headline.gamespot.com/news/98_06/02_idsavgc/index.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20001012043223/http://headline.gamespot.com/news/98_06/02_idsavgc/index.html|title=E3 Attracts Over 41,000|website=[[GameSpot]]|archivedate=October 12, 2000|date=June 2, 1998|accessdate=December 10, 2022}}</ref>

|

|-

|scope="row"| E3 1999

| {{nowrap|May 13–15, 1999}}

| rowspan="8" | [[Los Angeles Convention Center]]

| rowspan="8" | [[Los Angeles, California]]

| 55,000<ref>{{cite web|first=Marc|last=Saltzman|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-toronto-star/140228407/|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20240204140306/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-toronto-star/140228407/|title=Untitled|newspaper=[[The Toronto Star]]|page=117|archivedate=February 4, 2024|date=May 27, 1999|accessdate=February 4, 2024|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>

|

|-

|scope="row"| E3 2000

| {{nowrap|May 11–13, 2000}}

| 45,000{{cn|date=November 2022}}

| rowspan="2" | [[Microsoft]], [[Nintendo]], [[Sega]], [[Sony Computer Entertainment|Sony]]

|

|-

|scope="row"| E3 2001

| {{nowrap|May 17–19, 2001}}

| 62,000{{cn|date=November 2022}}

|

|-

|scope="row"| E3 2002

| {{nowrap|May 22–24, 2002}}

| {{n/a}}

| rowspan="8" | [[Microsoft]], [[Nintendo]], [[Sony Computer Entertainment|Sony]], [[Ubisoft]]

|

|-

|scope="row"| E3 2003

| {{nowrap|May 14–16, 2003}}

| 60,000{{cn|date=November 2022}}

|

|-

|scope="row"| E3 2004

| {{nowrap|May 11–14, 2004}}

| 65,000{{cn|date=November 2022}}

|

|-

|scope="row"| E3 2005

| {{nowrap|May 18–20, 2005}}

| 70,000<ref name=e32018/>

| Highest E3 attendance record.

|-

| E3 2006

|scope="row"| {{nowrap|May 10–12, 2006}}

| 60,000<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/pc/e3-2006-gets-60-000-attendees |title=E3 2006 Gets 60,000 Attendees |last=Jenkins |first=David |date=May 15, 2006 |website=Game Developer |publisher= |access-date=April 4, 2023 |archive-date=April 4, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230404122750/https://www.gamedeveloper.com/pc/e3-2006-gets-60-000-attendees |url-status=live }}</ref>

|

|-

|scope="row"| E3 2007

| {{nowrap|July 11–13, 2007}}

| [[Santa Monica Airport]]

| [[Santa Monica, California]]

| 10,000<ref name="gamespot e3"/>

| Branded as the E3 Media and Business Summit. More limited space to reduce public participation focused more on media and retailer attendees.

|-

|scope="row"| E3 2008

| {{nowrap|July 15–17, 2008}}

| rowspan="12" | [[Los Angeles Convention Center]]

| rowspan="12" | [[Los Angeles, California]]

| 5,000<ref name="gibiz 2007-2008"/>

| Lowest E3 attendance record.

|-

|scope="row"| [[E3 2009]]

| {{nowrap|June 2–4, 2009}}

| 35,000{{r|E3A}}

| Return to original format and E3 branding, allowing additional game development professions access in addition to media and retailers.

|-

|scope="row"| [[E3 2010]]

| {{nowrap|June 14–17, 2010}}

| 45,600{{r|E3A}}

| rowspan="4" | [[Electronic Arts]], [[Konami]], [[Microsoft]], [[Nintendo]], [[Sony Computer Entertainment|Sony]], [[Ubisoft]]

|

|-

|scope="row"| [[E3 2011]]

| {{nowrap|June 7–9, 2011}}

| 46,000{{r|E3A}}

|

|-

|scope="row"| [[E3 2012]]

| {{nowrap|June 5–7, 2012}}

| 45,700{{r|E3A}}

|

|-

|scope="row"| [[E3 2013]]

| {{nowrap|June 11–13, 2013}}

| 48,200{{r|E3A}}

| From this year until the discontinuation of E3, Nintendo used pre-recorded video presentations instead of a press conference, though maintained exhibitor presence on the show floor.

|-

|scope="row"| [[E3 2014]]

| {{nowrap|June 10–12, 2014}}

| 48,900{{r|E3A}}

| [[Electronic Arts]], [[Microsoft]], [[Nintendo]], [[Sony Computer Entertainment|Sony]], [[Ubisoft]]

| First show open to children 12 and under, along with a guardian. Nintendo had the Nintendo Kids Corner E3 2014 panel, which was mostly open to YouTubers.

|-

|scope="row"| [[E3 2015]]

| {{nowrap|June 16–18, 2015}}

| 52,200{{r|E3A}}

| [[Bethesda Softworks]], [[Electronic Arts]], [[Microsoft]], [[Nintendo]], [[Oculus VR]], [[Sony Computer Entertainment|Sony]], [[Square Enix]], [[Ubisoft]]

| Introduction of the "PC Gaming Show", featuring games for personal computers across a range of developers and publishers. From this year until 2019, [[Bethesda Softworks]] held its own annual conference.

|-

|scope="row"| [[E3 2016]]

| {{nowrap|June 14–16, 2016}}

| 50,300{{r|E3A}}

| [[Bethesda Softworks]], [[Kadokawa Games]], [[Microsoft]], [[Nintendo]], [[Sony Interactive Entertainment|Sony]], [[Square Enix]], [[Ubisoft]]

| From this year until the discontinuation of E3, Electronic Arts did not present at the convention center but at a separate "EA Play" event in Los Angeles prior to the start of E3.

|-

|scope="row"| [[E3 2017]]

| {{nowrap|June 13–15, 2017}}

| 68,400<ref>{{cite web |date=July 15, 2017 |title=E3 2017 Closes After Welcoming 68,400 Attendees |url=https://www.e3expo.com/news/uncategorized/principes-evertitur-nam-cu-clita-consetetur-consectetuer-et-est |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190803031230/https://www.e3expo.com/news/uncategorized/principes-evertitur-nam-cu-clita-consetetur-consectetuer-et-est |archive-date=August 3, 2019 |access-date=January 13, 2020 |website=E3}}</ref>

| [[Bethesda Softworks]], [[Devolver Digital]], [[Intel]], [[Microsoft]], [[Nintendo]], [[Sony Interactive Entertainment|Sony]], [[Ubisoft]]

| First show open to public, with 15,000 public passes sold.

|-

|scope="row"| [[E3 2018]]

| {{nowrap|June 12–14, 2018}}

| 69,200<ref name=e32018/>

| [[Atlus]], [[Bethesda Softworks]], [[Devolver Digital]], [[Electronic Arts]], [[Microsoft]], [[Nintendo]], [[Sega]], [[Sony Interactive Entertainment|Sony]], [[Square Enix]], [[Ubisoft]]

| The event drew 69,200 attendees, the largest since 2005.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.vg247.com/2018/06/15/e3-2018-attendance-highest-since-2005/ | title = E3 2018 attendance was highest since 2005 | first = Marshall | last = Lemon | date = June 15, 2018 | access-date = June 15, 2018 | work = [[VG247]] | archive-date = November 9, 2020 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20201109020739/https://www.vg247.com/2018/06/15/e3-2018-attendance-highest-since-2005/ | url-status = live }}</ref>

|-

|scope="row"| [[E3 2019]]

| {{nowrap|June 11–13, 2019}}

| 66,100<ref name="e3 2019 attd">{{cite web |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/e3-2019-attendance-falls-compared-to-last-year/1100-6467795/ |title=E3 2019 Attendance Falls Compared To Last Year |first=Eddie |last=Makuch |date=June 13, 2019 |access-date=June 13, 2019 |work=[[GameSpot]] |archive-date=April 10, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210410234137/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/e3-2019-attendance-falls-compared-to-last-year/1100-6467795/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

| [[Bethesda Softworks]], [[Devolver Digital]], [[Microsoft]], [[Nintendo]], [[Square Enix]], [[Ubisoft]]

| From this year until the discontinuation of E3, Sony opted not to participate in E3, the first time since the launch of E3; Sony opted to use other video game expos and recorded videos throughout the year to promote their products.<ref>{{cite magazine |date=November 15, 2018 |title=Sony Interactive Entertainment Is Not Attending E3 In 2019 |url=https://www.gameinformer.com/2018/11/15/sony-interactive-entertainment-is-not-attending-e3-in-2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181115214005/https://www.gameinformer.com/2018/11/15/sony-interactive-entertainment-is-not-attending-e3-in-2019 |url-status=live |archive-date=November 15, 2018 |access-date=November 16, 2018 |magazine=[[Game Informer]]}}</ref> Final in-person event held before discontinuation.

|-

|scope="row"| [[E3 2020]]

| colspan="4" {{n/a|Cancelled}}

| Planned: [[Bandai Namco Entertainment]], [[Bethesda Softworks]], [[Capcom]], [[Devolver Digital]], [[Microsoft]], [[Nintendo]], [[Sega]], [[Square Enix]], [[Take-Two Interactive]], [[Ubisoft]], [[Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-02-19 |title=Devolver Digital confirms it is heading to E3 2020 |url=https://www.vg247.com/2020/02/19/devolver-digital-e3-2020-confirmed/ |access-date=2020-07-13 |website=[[VG247]] |archive-date=February 20, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200220165318/https://www.vg247.com/2020/02/19/devolver-digital-e3-2020-confirmed/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Phil Spencer Confirms Xbox Will Be at E3 2020 |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/phil-spencer-confirms-xbox-will-be-at-e3-2020-sony-playstation |access-date=January 13, 2020 |work=[[IGN]] |archive-date=January 14, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200114061559/https://www.ign.com/articles/phil-spencer-confirms-xbox-will-be-at-e3-2020-sony-playstation |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2020/02/nintendo_xbox_and_multiple_third-party_publishers_commit_to_e3_2020 |title=Nintendo, Xbox And Multiple Third-Party Publishers Commit To E3 2020 |work=Nintendo Life |access-date=February 12, 2020 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200213020341/http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2020/02/nintendo_xbox_and_multiple_third-party_publishers_commit_to_e3_2020 |url-status=live }}</ref>

| Planned to take place from {{nowrap|June 9–11, 2020}} at the Los Angeles Convention Center. Cancelled due to concerns regarding the [[Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the video game industry|COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref name="e3 2020 canceled" /><ref name="pcgamer e32020 fully canceled" /> Public passes were planned to be increased to 25,000.

|-

|scope="row"| [[E3 2021]]

| {{nowrap|June 12–15, 2021}}<ref name="2021 dates">{{cite web |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2020-04-04-the-esa-sets-dates-for-e3-2021 |title=The ESA sets dates for E3 2021 |first=Rebekah |last=Valentine |date=April 3, 2020 |access-date=April 3, 2020 |work=[[GamesIndustry.biz]] |archive-date=June 6, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200606172132/https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2020-04-04-the-esa-sets-dates-for-e3-2021 |url-status=live }}</ref>

| colspan="2" | Online<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/e3-pushes-forward-with-plans-for-a-digital-2021-event/ |title=E3 pushes forward with plans for a digital 2021 event |first=Andy |last=Robinson |date=February 8, 2021 |access-date=February 8, 2021 |work=[[Video Games Chronicle]] |archive-date=July 7, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210707190014/https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/e3-pushes-forward-with-plans-for-a-digital-2021-event/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

| {{n/a}}

| [[Bandai Namco Entertainment]], [[Capcom]], [[Gearbox Software]], [[Koch Media]], [[Microsoft]], [[Nintendo]], [[Square Enix]], [[Sega]], [[Take-Two Interactive]], [[Turtle Beach Corporation|Turtle Beach]], [[Ubisoft]], [[Verizon]], [[Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment]], [[Xseed Games]]

| Online event due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Branded as the "Electronic Entertainment Experience" due to its online nature. Final event held before discontinuation.

|-

|scope="row"| E3 2022

| rowspan="2" colspan="5" {{n/a|Cancelled}}

| Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, including the online event.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3" />

|-

|scope="row"| [[E3 2023]]

| Planned to take place from {{nowrap|June 13–16, 2023}} at the Los Angeles Convention Center.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/e3-2023-dates/ |title=When is E3 2023? Dates confirmed for next year's expo |date=September 26, 2022 |access-date=September 26, 2022 |archive-date=December 2, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221202141928/https://www.gamesradar.com/e3-2023-dates/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Cancelled due to lack of interest and attendance of major publishers.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/e3-has-been-canceled|title=E3 Has Been Canceled|website=IGN|last=Valentine|first=Rebekah|date=March 30, 2023|access-date=March 30, 2023|archive-date=April 2, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230402214217/https://www.ign.com/articles/e3-has-been-canceled|url-status=live}}</ref> [[ReedPop]] would have helped organize a new format.

|}

==See also==

*[[TokyoBrasil Game Show]] &mdash; Game expo held in [[Tokyo|Tokyo, Japan]].

*[[Game Developers Conference]]

*[[SpaceWorld]] &mdash; [[Nintendo]] exclusive game expo.

*[[Gamercom]]

*[[Consumer Electronics Show|CES]] &mdash; Consumer Electronics Show

*[[Gamescom]]

*[[Game Developers Conference|GDC]] &mdash; Game Developers Conference

*[[List of gaming conventions]]

*[[Tokyo Game Show]]

*[[PAX (event)|PAX]]

*[[China Digital Entertainment Expo & Conference|ChinaJoy]]

==Notes==

{{notelist}}

==References==

{{reflist |refs=

<ref name=E3A>{{citation |title=E3 is dead — how big was it, anyhow? |url=https://www.theverge.com/2023/6/23/22568841/e3-los-angeles-attendees-hotel-nights-economic-impact |author1=Sean Hollister |date=10 July 2023 |publisher=The Verge}}</ref>

}}

==External links==

{{Commons category}}

*[http://www.e3expo.com/ Official E3 site]

{{Spoken Wikipedia|date=2021-04-14|En-E3-article.ogg}}

*[http://www.gamecriticsawards.com/ Game Critics Awards - Best of E3]

*{{Official website}}

*[http://www.e3insider.com E3Insider news]

*[http://www.armchairempire.com/Features/e3-chronicles/mainpage.htm E3 Summary 1995 - 2004]

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