Editing E3 (section)

===2016–2019: Opening to the public===
[[E3 2016]] featured a separate but free "E3 Live" event at the nearby [[L.A. Live]] space that was to help provide a small-scale version of the E3 experience. While it drew about 20,000 people, it was found to be underwhelming.<ref name="gibiz e3live">{{cite web |url=http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2016-06-17-e3-live-completely-disappoints-fans |title=E3 Live completely disappoints fans |first=James |last=Brightman |date=June 17, 2016 |access-date=February 8, 2017 |work=[[GamesIndustry.biz]] |archive-date=February 11, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170211075828/http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2016-06-17-e3-live-completely-disappoints-fans |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.polygon.com/2017/2/8/14547766/how-to-buy-tickets-to-e3 |title=E3 2017 will open up 15,000 tickets for purchase by the public |first=Brian |last=Crecente |date=February 8, 2017 |access-date=February 8, 2017 |work=[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]] |archive-date=February 8, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170208164419/http://www.polygon.com/2017/2/8/14547766/how-to-buy-tickets-to-e3 |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2017, the ESA reserved 15,000 tickets to the convention for members of the public to buy;<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.destructoid.com/e3-is-open-to-the-public-this-year-15-000-tickets-go-on-sale-monday-417552.phtml |title=E3 is open to the public this year, 15,000 tickets go on sale Monday |first=Chris |last=Carter |date=February 8, 2017 |access-date=February 8, 2017 |work=[[Destructoid]] |archive-date=November 11, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201111210135/https://www.destructoid.com/e3-is-open-to-the-public-this-year-15-000-tickets-go-on-sale-monday-417552.phtml |url-status=live }}</ref> these were all sold, leading to more than 68,000 attendees during [[E3 2017]], which led to noticeable crowding and floor management issues.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2017/06/e3-is-too-crowded-now-and-that-sucks.html |title=E3 Is Too Crowded Now (And That Sucks) |first=Holly |last=Green |date=June 14, 2017 |access-date=June 15, 2017 |work=[[Paste (magazine)|Paste]] |archive-date=July 2, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190702111713/https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2017/06/e3-is-too-crowded-now-and-that-sucks.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2017-06-14-fan-reaction-to-e3-mixed |title=Fan reaction to E3 mixed |first=Brendan |last=Sinclair |date=June 14, 2017 |access-date=June 15, 2017 |work=[[GamesIndustry.biz]] |archive-date=February 24, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210224210652/https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2017-06-14-fan-reaction-to-e3-mixed |url-status=live }}</ref> ESA confirmed that [[E3 2018]] would include public passes, but that for two of the days, the event would be open only to industry attendees for three hours prior to admitting the public.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/though-still-open-to-the-public-e3-2018-has-dedicated-industry-only-hours |title=Though still open to the public, E3 2018 has dedicated 'industry only' hours |first=Alissa |last=McAloon |date=February 6, 2018 |access-date=February 6, 2018 |work=[[Gamasutra]] |archive-date=October 1, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201001162301/https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/314395/Though_still_open_to_the_public_E3_2018_has_dedicated_industry_only_hours.php |url-status=live }}</ref>

The ESA unveiled the new logo for E3, replacing its previous one using three-dimensional block letters with a flatter, stylized graphic, in October 2017.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.destructoid.com/e3-has-a-new-logo-and-it-s-automatically-better-than-the-old-one-467309.phtml |title=E3 has a new logo and it's automatically better than the old one |first=Brett |last=Makedonski |date=October 16, 2017 |access-date=October 16, 2017 |work=[[Destructoid]] |archive-date=February 5, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180205141002/https://www.destructoid.com/e3-has-a-new-logo-and-it-s-automatically-better-than-the-old-one-467309.phtml |url-status=live }}</ref>

While the ESA has the Convention Center space reserved through 2019, ESA's CEO Mike Gallagher said, following the 2017 event, that they were considering other options due to lack of modernization and upgrades that the center has had to make the space more appropriate for their needs.<ref name="gamespot 2017">{{cite web |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/e3-2017-attendance-revealed-future-in-la-uncertain/1100-6450995/ |title=E3 2017 Attendance Revealed, Future In LA Uncertain |first=Eddie |last=Makuch |date=June 15, 2017 |access-date=June 15, 2017 |work=[[GameSpot]] |archive-date=March 8, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308093631/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/e3-2017-attendance-revealed-future-in-la-uncertain/1100-6450995/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Gallagher said that the ESA was working with the City and [[Anschutz Entertainment Group]] (AEG) which owns the Los Angeles Convention Center and the space around it, with plans to have nearly {{cvt|500,000|sqft|m2}} of additional exhibition space added by 2020, but that they would judge this in the 2018 show.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2017-06-22-esa-ponders-e3s-future |title=ESA ponders E3's future |first=Christopher |last=Drung |date=June 21, 2017 |access-date=June 22, 2017 |work=[[GamesIndustry.biz]] |archive-date=June 22, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170622105447/http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2017-06-22-esa-ponders-e3s-future |url-status=live }}</ref> During 2018, the event drew 69,200 attendees, the largest since 2005.<ref name=e32018>{{cite web |url=https://www.vg247.com/2018/06/15/e3-2018-attendance-highest-since-2005/ |title=E3 2018 attendance was highest since 2005 |first=Marshall |last=Lemon |date=June 15, 2018 |access-date=June 15, 2018 |work=[[VG247]] |archive-date=November 9, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109020739/https://www.vg247.com/2018/06/15/e3-2018-attendance-highest-since-2005/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

With announcements of the dates for [[E3 2019]], the ESA declined to state where they had planned to hold the 2020 event.<ref name="gamespot e3 2019">{{cite web |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/e3-2019-dates-announced-and-its-the-final-show-con/1100-6459848/ |title=E3 2019 Dates Announced, And It's The Final Show Confirmed For Current Venue |first=Eddie |last=Makuch |date=June 14, 2018 |access-date=June 14, 2018 |website=[[GameSpot]] |archive-date=June 15, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180615032339/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/e3-2019-dates-announced-and-its-the-final-show-con/1100-6459848/ |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Sony Interactive Entertainment]] had announced that it would not be participating in E3 2019, having had participated in every E3 since its launch. Sony stated that they "are exploring new and familiar ways to engage our community in 2019".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Minotti |first=Mike |date=November 15, 2018 |title=Sony is skipping E3 2019 |url=https://venturebeat.com/2018/11/15/sony-is-skipping-e3-2019/ |access-date=November 15, 2018 |website=[[Venture Beat]] |archive-date=November 16, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181116043335/https://venturebeat.com/2018/11/15/sony-is-skipping-e3-2019/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Sony's CEO [[Shawn Layden]] stated in a February 2019 interview that with changes in retailer procurement, their own switch to fewer but more quality titles, and the rapid spread of news via the Internet that having a trade show as late as June is no longer helpful, and that Sony had to create its own Destination PlayStation experience in February as to secure retailer sales.<ref name="cnet sony 2019">{{cite web |url=https://www.cnet.com/news/sonys-shawn-layden-wants-fewer-bigger-playstation-games/ |title=Sony's Shawn Layden wants fewer, bigger PlayStation games |first=Ian |last=Shirr |date=February 11, 2019 |access-date=February 11, 2019 |work=[[CNet]] |archive-date=February 12, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190212015618/https://www.cnet.com/news/sonys-shawn-layden-wants-fewer-bigger-playstation-games/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Industry Analyst Michael Patcher, speaking to GamingBolt, said, "I think it's a mistake to skip the show, they will probably be there without a big booth. It was a surprise to me".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://comicbook.com/gaming/2018/11/17/playstation-ps4-e3-2019/ |title=PlayStation Skipping E3 2019 Is "A Mistake" Says Analyst |website=WWG |date=November 17, 2018 |access-date=November 17, 2018 |archive-date=November 18, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181118012213/https://comicbook.com/gaming/2018/11/17/playstation-ps4-e3-2019/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

As of 2016, revenues from running E3 accounted for about 48% of the organization's annual budget, with another 37% coming from membership dues.<ref name="variety">{{Cite web |last=Crecente |first=Brian |date=2019-05-10 |title=Inside the Disarray Facing the Video Game Organization Behind E3 |url=https://variety.com/2019/gaming/features/entertainment-software-association-mike-gallagher-e3-1203211280/ |access-date=2022-03-05 |website=Variety |archive-date=March 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220305053413/https://variety.com/2019/gaming/features/entertainment-software-association-mike-gallagher-e3-1203211280/ |url-status=live }}</ref> With Sony's withdrawal from the conference and the [[Entertainment Software Association#History|controversies]] surrounding outgoing ESA president Mike Gallagher, some member companies criticized the ESA for splitting its focus between producing E3 and acting as a legislative advocacy group, with neither focus receiving adequate attention. This led to calls advocating for the business of running E3 to be split out into a separate company.<ref name="variety"/> Developers and publishers complained of the increasing cost to have a booth presence at E3 compared to simply holding a digital event streamed online, saying the exposure afforded by E3 was not always worth the price.<ref name=LABJ>{{Cite web |last=Amore |first=Samson |date=2019-06-13 |title=E3 Show Goes on Despite Static Exhibitor Growth |url=https://labusinessjournal.com/news/weekly-news/e3-show-goes-despite-static-exhibitor-growth/ |access-date=2022-03-05 |website=Los Angeles Business Journal |archive-date=March 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220305081941/https://labusinessjournal.com/news/weekly-news/e3-show-goes-despite-static-exhibitor-growth/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Sony and Electronic Arts' departure and Nintendo's move to a digital-only keynote diminished E3's status as the premier game announcement event, which further eroded its ability to attract exhibitors.<ref name="WashPoHist">{{Cite news |last=Liao |first=Shannon |date=2021-06-11 |title=The origin and evolution of E3 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/video-games/2021/06/11/e3-history/ |access-date=2022-03-05 |newspaper=The Washington Post |archive-date=January 19, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230119070449/https://www.washingtonpost.com/video-games/2021/06/11/e3-history/ |url-status=live }}</ref> E3 lost nearly 1/3 of its exhibitors between 2017 and 2019, going from 293 to 209.<ref name=LABJ/>

====Data leak====
On August 3, 2019, it was found that an unsecured list of personal attendee data was publicly accessible from the ESA's site. The list contained the information of over 2,000 people, most of them being the press and social media influencers that had attended E3 2019. ESA removed the list after it was found, and apologized for allowing the information to become public.<ref>{{cite web |last=Dring |first=Christopher |date=August 3, 2019 |title=E3 accidentally leaks personal details of journalists, YouTubers and analysts |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2019-08-03-e3-accidentally-leaks-personal-details-of-journalists-youtubers-and-analysts |access-date=August 5, 2019 |work=[[GamesIndustry.biz]] |archive-date=August 5, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190805040253/https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2019-08-03-e3-accidentally-leaks-personal-details-of-journalists-youtubers-and-analysts |url-status=live }}</ref> However, using similar techniques to access the 2019 data, users found similar data for over 6,000 attendees of past E3 events still available on user-authenticated portions of their website; these too were subsequently pulled by the ESA once notified.<ref>{{cite web |last=Gera |first=Emily |date=August 5, 2019 |title=E3 organisers previously leaked over 6000 more names |url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2019/08/06/e3-organisers-previously-leaked-over-6000-more-names/ |access-date=August 5, 2019 |work=[[Rock Paper Shotgun]] |archive-date=August 6, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190806004753/https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2019/08/06/e3-organisers-previously-leaked-over-6000-more-names/ |url-status=live }}</ref> A number of journalists on the lists reported that they were subsequently harassed and had received death threats due to their private information being released as part of the leak.<ref>{{cite web |last=Robinson |first=Andy |date=August 5, 2019 |title=E3 organiser 'sorry' for media leak ahead of potential legal action |url=https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/e3-organiser-sorry-for-media-leak-ahead-of-potential-legal-action/ |access-date=January 13, 2020 |work=[[Video Games Chronicle]] |archive-date=December 23, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191223000712/https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/e3-organiser-sorry-for-media-leak-ahead-of-potential-legal-action/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Ahead of E3 2020, the ESA stated they were taking stricter security measures to protect the privacy of those registering for E3 as a result of the leak.<ref>{{cite web |last=Alexander |first=Julia |date=January 30, 2020 |title=E3 organizer says it's tightened security after accidentally doxxing thousands of attendees |url=https://www.theverge.com/2020/1/30/21115499/e3-2020-journalist-information-leak-youtube-twitch-security-doxx-vulnerability |access-date=January 30, 2020 |work=[[The Verge]] |archive-date=January 31, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200131072530/https://www.theverge.com/2020/1/30/21115499/e3-2020-journalist-information-leak-youtube-twitch-security-doxx-vulnerability |url-status=live }}</ref> ESA president Stanley Pierre-Louis stated they plan to collect less data from attendees and take measures such as securing the data on separate servers to avoid this type of leak from occurring again.<ref>{{cite web |last=McCarthy |first=Caty |date=February 13, 2020 |title=The President of The ESA On The Waning of Big Names at E3, Winning Back Media's Trust, and More |url=https://www.usgamer.net/articles/the-president-of-the-esa-on-the-waning-of-big-names-at-e3-winning-back-medias-trust-and-more |access-date=February 13, 2020 |work=[[USGamer]] |archive-date=March 8, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308131948/https://www.usgamer.net/articles/the-president-of-the-esa-on-the-waning-of-big-names-at-e3-winning-back-medias-trust-and-more |url-status=dead }}</ref>