Before livestreams, Nintendo Directs, YouTube reveals, and Summer Game Fest, there was one event every year that completely dominated gaming conversations for weeks. That event was E3.
The very first Electronic Entertainment Expo officially took place from May 11 to May 13, 1995, at the Los Angeles Convention Center, and it immediately changed the gaming industry forever. At the time, gaming was entering one of its most important transitions ever.
The industry was moving away from the 16-bit era dominated by the Super Nintendo and Sega Genesis and stepping into the world of 3D gaming and CD-based consoles. Around 50,000 people attended the first show, which was created specifically to give the video game industry its own dedicated event outside of CES (Consumer Electronics Show).
Many publishers and developers felt gaming was getting lost inside CES alongside televisions, appliances, and other electronics, so the Interactive Digital Software Association, now known as the ESA, pushed for something entirely focused on games.
The first E3 was packed with legendary moments that still get talked about today. Sega shocked audiences by announcing the immediate U.S. launch of the Sega Saturn during the show itself. But then Sony walked onto the stage and completely stole the spotlight with one of the most iconic moments in gaming history.
After Sega revealed the Saturn’s price at $399, Sony executive Steve Race famously walked on stage, said “$299”, and walked away. That single moment instantly positioned the original PlayStation as the cheaper and more attractive console option, helping kick off one of the biggest console wars the industry has ever seen.
Nintendo was there too, although in a much quieter way. The company discussed its upcoming Ultra 64 console, which later became the Nintendo 64, but didn’t actually have playable hardware on the show floor yet. Other systems like the Atari Jaguar, 3DO, and Nintendo’s bizarre Virtual Boy were also part of the event.
Over the following years, E3 became gaming’s biggest annual spectacle. Huge stage reveals, celebrity appearances, surprise announcements, giant booth displays, and unforgettable moments became part of gaming culture itself. Entire summers started revolving around E3 week.
But eventually, the industry changed. Publishers slowly realized they no longer needed one giant trade show to reach audiences. Digital showcases, livestreams, social media, and independent events gave companies far more control over announcements while avoiding the enormous costs of E3 presentations. Then the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated everything even further.
The last physical E3 happened in 2019, and after years of uncertainty, the Entertainment Software Association officially discontinued the event in 2023.
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Author: 360 Technology Group
