The Entertainment Software Association (ESA), the American association of software and video game producers, has announced the final closure of the world's largest gaming industry exhibition, the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3), which was held annually from 1995 to 2019. This information was posted on the official E3 website.

"After more than two decades of E3, each one bigger than the last, the time has come to say goodbye. Thanks for the memories," the message on the event's page reads.

The message concludes with the abbreviation GGWP (Good game, Well played), a phrase gamers typically use to thank each other for an interesting game match or session.

According to ESA President and CEO Stanley Pierre-Louis, the organization decided to permanently close E3 due to the emergence of competing events, the departure of partners, and changes in audience habits during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"We know that the entire industry, game developers, and gamers alike, looked forward to E3 with great enthusiasm. We share that passion. It's tough to say goodbye to a beloved event, but it's the right thing to do, considering new opportunities to engage fans and partners," Pierre-Louis told The Washington Post.

New opportunities include online conferences that allow information to be conveyed directly to the audience without unnecessary expenses. The Japanese company Nintendo pioneered this approach with its Direct video conference, featuring announcements of new games and products.

Pierre-Louis added that the closure of E3 means the gaming industry's development is now taking different paths, where major companies have the opportunity to create their own events and platforms, attracting audiences in new ways.