The Internet is buzzing this weekend after Next-Generation posted an article stating E3 as we know it will be no more.
According to the report, the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) has learned larger game publishers have gotten together and determined the lavish multi-million dollar booths do not justify the return in media exposure and sales. As such, they have jointly decided to pull out of the venerable trade show and focus their resources on individual publisher ‘Gamer Days’ where the focus is solely on each individual publisher instead of multiple publishers vieing for equal attention simultaneously. This decision has left the ESA scrambling to determine the show’s fate.
If the report is true, and we have no reason to believe it’s not (today isn’t April 1), the most likely reorganization will have E3 considerably downsized and the focus shifted to smaller developers without big pockets. The enormous scale of the Los Angeles Convention Center would no longer be needed, thus ending a decade-long tradition of media battling geeks, babes and suits to bring you all the latest holiday game news in one fell swoop.
An official announcement is expected to come from the ESA either Monday or Tuesday. If and when it breaks, I’ll chime in on why this unforeseen turn of events may ultimately benefit us all.
