E3 1995

The Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) 1995 was the first installment of what would become the annual trade event for the video game industry. Held from May 11-13, 1995, at the Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles, California, it was organized by the IDG World Expo. E3 1995 was a pivotal event marking a shift in how video games were marketed and presented to the public, retailers, and the press. Prior to E3, similar functions were typically integrated into larger electronics or toy trade shows.

The inaugural E3 provided a dedicated platform for game developers, publishers, and hardware manufacturers to showcase their upcoming products and technologies. Key announcements and product demonstrations included the Sony PlayStation, Sega Saturn, and Nintendo Virtual Boy. Many consider the unveiling of these consoles to be a watershed moment, signaling the transition from 16-bit gaming to the next generation of 32-bit and 64-bit systems.

The event attracted considerable media attention and a large number of attendees, establishing E3 as a significant marketing tool for the video game industry and a source of news and excitement for gamers worldwide. It solidified the convention as a regular, yearly showcase for advancements and trends within the gaming world. The impact of E3 1995 lay in its focused attention on the entertainment software and hardware industry, providing a central hub for networking, announcements, and the generation of hype around upcoming releases.