It’s recreation over for the Electronic Entertainment Expo, higher generally known as E3.

The Entertainment Software Association, the video-game commerce group that ran the conference, introduced Tuesday that E3, first launched in 1995, is winding down.

“After more than two decades of hosting an event that has served as a central showcase for the U.S. and global video game industry, the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) has decided to bring E3 to a close,” the commerce group stated in an announcement. “ESA remains focused on advocating for ESA member companies and the industry workforce who fuel positive cultural and economic impact every day.”

E3 was canceled in 2020 was canceled due to COVID — and the in-person model of the present by no means recovered. ESA held an all-virtual E3 in June 2021 after which it was canceled altogether in 2022 and 2023 after the commerce convention struggled to draw exhibitors.

Even earlier than the coronavirus pandemic, E3 was shedding steam. Geoff Keighley, founding father of the Game Awards (who stated he had attended each E3 because the first one), in 2020 launched the Summer Game Fest. Before E3 2020 was canceled, Keighley stated he was not collaborating within the expo as a result of he believes in-person occasions don’t serve gaming followers, builders or publishers in addition to on-line occasions can.

In 2019, the final time E3 was held in individual, the conference drew 66,100 attendees, in keeping with the ESA.

On social media, E3 posted a farewell message that learn, “After more than two decades of E3, each one bigger than the last, the time has come to say goodbye. Thanks for the memories.”

In a remaining bid to revive E3, ESA final 12 months had fashioned a partnership to provide E3 2023 with ReedPop, the event-production firm behind PAX, New York Comic Con, Star Wars Celebration and others.