In recent years, independent showcases by platform leaders and standalone events from big-name studios have overshadowed E3, stealing its thunder. Furthermore, Geoff Keighley’s Summer Games Fest show now dominates the June slot that was once reserved for E3 announcements.

Opinions on E3 differ. In a podcast interview with VGC earlier this month, Keighley said, “I think E3 sort of killed itself in a way.” The absence of Microsoft and Sony, the platform overlords, from E3 has reduced the incentive for the event. Additionally, the recent rivalries and conflicts over multi-billion acquisitions have driven the competitors further apart.

It is possible that Xbox and PlayStation may never share the E3 stage again, especially given the tension between Microsoft and Sony over the Activision Blizzard fiasco. In June, Microsoft hosted its Xbox Games showcase event, followed by a dedicated show for a Starfield deep-dive. On July 11, the company will host the next ID@Xbox Showcase to reveal trailers and gameplay details of new titles. Sony and Nintendo also held their own events in June, and Keighley had his own gaming event during the same window. This does not mean that E3 is doomed, but the opportunity for E3 to regain its former glory is diminishing.