End of era as ESA confirms collapse of E3

The Entertainment Software Association has confirmed that the E3 Expo will no longer continue to be the biggest event in the games industry calendar, revealing that a "more intimate" event is now planned.

In an official statement, ESA president Doug Lowenstein said: "The world of interactive entertainment has changed since E3 Expo was created 12 years ago. At that time we were focused on establishing the industry and securing orders for the holiday season.

"Over the years, it has become clear that we need a more intimate program, including higher quality, more personal dialogue with the worldwide media, developers, retailers and other key industry audiences."

From now on, the focus for E3 will be on "targeted, personalised meetings and activities", according to the ESA, with further plans to be announced soon.

It's been confirmed that the show will still take place in Los Angeles, but the emphasis will be on press events and small meetings between media, retail and development. Although publishers will still have the opportunity to demo their products, the ESA has stated that next year's show "will not feature the large trade show environment of previous years."

According to Lowenstein, E3 will remain "an important event for the industry", and the ESA remains committed to maintaining "that sense of excitement and interest" - with an emphasis on productivity.

Following the growth of major events such as the Leipzig Games Convention and the Tokyo Game Show, Lowenstein said, "It is no longer necessary or efficient to have a single industry âmega-showâ.

"By refocusing on a highly-targeted event, we think we can do a better job serving our members and the industry as a whole."

The ESA has pledged to reveal further details of the revamped E3 Expo in the coming months.