The Electronic Entertainment Expo, or E3, is now officially canceled forever. For almost 30 years, E3 was one of the biggest events in gaming, where new games and consoles were announced, and fans could see the future of gaming unfold. Starting back in 1995, E3 quickly became the place to go for exciting news, from the reveal of the Nintendo DS to the first look at The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.

But in recent years, things have changed. Many major companies like Sony, EA, and Nintendo have started to skip E3 and host their events instead. Plus, the rise of digital showcases like Nintendo Direct and Sony's State of Play made big in-person events less important. When COVID-19 hit, it further disrupted the expo, and events were either canceled or moved online. By 2022 and 2023, the event couldn't make a comeback.

E3 also faced competition from new events like Geoff Keighley's Summer Games Fest and The Game Awards, which offered more flexible ways to connect with players around the world. With all these challenges piling up, the decision was made to end E3 for good.

The Entertainment Software Association, which ran E3, said they were proud of what the event had achieved but felt it was time to close the doors. Today, gaming companies can connect with fans in many different ways, and this has changed the need for a huge yearly event like E3.

This news marks a big shift in the gaming industry. It shows how things have moved from massive in-person events to more digital, personal ways to share news. But it also leaves us wondering: What's the future of big gaming showcases? Will new types of events take their place, or is this the end of large-scale gaming gatherings as we know them?

What do you think about E3's end? Will digital showcases be enough, or will we miss the excitement of big events?

GameSpot, GamesRadar, Nintendo Life, OC3D (Overclock3D)