Scholarships
ESA Foundation awards scholarships to 31 students pursuing games and esports careers
Scholarships are worth between $5,000 and $10,000
Company Profile
ESA
Website
theesa.com/
About
The Entertainment Software Association is the US association exclusively dedicated to serving the business and public affairs needs of companies that publish computer and video games.
Articles featuring ESA
Podcast | Episode 93
Record D2C revenue and international studios flock to Spain | Week in Mobile Games podcast
The PocketGamer.biz podcast team give you the state of play every week. Here's where to get it and what's inside this week's episode 93...
Industry Outlook
ESA warns California games bill would burden developers and players
“This bill may sound consumer-friendly, but it ultimately hurts both players and creators”
Market Report
Mobile dominates US gaming as weekly player base reaches 212 million
Gen Z leads in-game spending, with 78% having made a purchase and a median monthly spend of $20
Hot Five
Hot Five: The Digital Fairness Act, Umamusume’s $2.5bn milestone, and Steal a Brainrot sets new industry record
Our quick-fix roundup of the hottest stories on PocketGamer.biz
Market Report
ESA survey claim just two-thirds of people primarily play games for fun
Mobile devices are the most popular gaming platform, used by 55% of players globally
Market Report
US video game spending hit $59.3 billion in 2024 led by mobile
Mobile is the most popular platform with 72% of households
Accessibility In Games
ESA launches Accessible Games Initiative with support from industry leaders
The initiative is supported by founding members Electronic Arts, Google, Microsoft, Nintendo of America, and Ubisoft
Festival Fundraising
ESA’s winter charity speedrun raises $85,000 for Make-A-Wish International
Fundraising records were broken by a Sonic the Hedgehog game
Esa Event
ESA's charity speedrun event is now on, raising money for Make-A-Wish
Raising funds for Make-A-Wish and children with critical illnesses, the ESA’s winter event is taking place this week
End Of An Era
E3 is dead. And for good this time
The legacy of E3, with over a quarter of a century of gaming reveals, platform victories, surprise success and crushing defeat has comes to an end
Industry Updates
No E3? No problem. Here's where to network and get games industry business done this summer
After a bumper PGC London, Pocket Gamer Connects has got your 2023 sorted as the show returns to Seattle, Toronto and Dubai!
Events
E3 2023 has been cancelled. So what the hell happened?
E3 is dead. Again. Why is it that the games industry loves a games show, but doesn't want E3?
See You Next Summer
E3 returns in June 2023
The first in-person conference since the start of the pandemic
Officially Cancelled
Update: No digital or in-person E3 to be held this year
Will return next year
Return Of The King
ESA launches E3 2021 dedicated app for "first-ever virtual experience"
Exhibitor Booths, Lounges, Forums, Leaderboards and more
Going Digital
E3 returns with an all-digital format for 12-15 June 2021
Takes place in June
A Good Deed
The ESA launches $1 million initiative with Black Girls Code
"Talent is everywhere, but opportunity is not"
Going Digital
ESA aiming for digital E3 2021
Follows the trade body cancelling last year's show
Political Views
ESA halts political contributions in wake of US Capital chaos
Trade body says it is reflecting on what to do moving forward
A Good Deed
The ESA Foundation raises $468k for various charities
It will also be used to fund its scholarship programme
All The Games
The US games industry accounts for $90.3 billion of economic output
"The statistics in this detailed report reinforce the significant impact video games have on the U.S. economy, including jobs creation and providing family-sustaining wages in wide array of careers"
Play A Game
The ESA reports that two-thirds of the US population plays games
According the trade body's new 2020 Essential Facts report
Poilitcal Issues
ESA speaks out against Trump visa freeze
"The executive order limiting immigration undermines reasonable solutions to end the current economic crisis, stabilise our economy and help people return to work."
What A Shame
ESA confirms that E3 2020 digital event won't be taking place
But trade body says it will be supporting companies who were meant to be at the show
End Of An Era?
Update: ESA officially cancels E3 2020 as coronavirus looms
E3 2021 to return as a "reimagined event"
"mixed Emotions"
More red flags for E3 2020 as creative director Iam8bit resigns
No reason was given for the departure
Still Happening
Update: E3 is still taking place despite LA declaring a state of emergency
ESA is keeping an eye on the situation
E3 Confirmations
ESA confirms Nintendo and others for E3 2020 as Geoff Keighley chooses to skip
SEGA, Capcom, Bethesda, and more are still going
Fix It
The ESA is planning to "shake things up" for E3 2020
People are encouraged to get in touch with ideas
E3's Big Players
Microsoft confirms E3 attendance as Sony bows out for second year
What does this mean for mobile?
Going All Gamescom
ESA reportedly looking to add celebrites, influencers and 10,000 consumers for E3 2020 in major overhaul
"'Queuetainment", industry-only day and a new floor plan
Loot Boxing
PEGI, TIGA and ESA weigh in on DCMS loot box recommendation
UK trade bodies are keeping it cool
Cool
Epic to disclose loot box odds following ESA pledge
Meanwhile, THQ Nordic refuses to put name to list of publishers as it says it has no plans to use this business model
Data Leak
E3 organiser ESA leaks contact details of journalists, influencers and analysts
US trade body has apologised for the, er, "inconvenience" that this has caused attendees
E3 2019
E3 2019: Mobile gets a fair shake as the lines between platforms blur
From mobile to cross-platform streaming, all kinds of games were welcome on the big stage
We Go Again
E3 attendance declines for 2019
E3 2020 will take place between June 9th to 11th, 2020
E3 2019
E3 2019: Livestream schedule for the biggest press conferences
Days and times for this year's keynotes
Job News
US games trade body ESA names new president and CEO
Interim boss Stanley Pierre-Louis takes the top job for the long term
Survey
ESA: 60 per cent of US gamers are playing on smartphones, survey finds
Almost three-quarters of games played are in the mobile-dominated casual genre
News Analysis
US senator introduces bill to ban loot boxes in games played by children
“Social media and video games prey on user addiction, siphoning our kids’ attention from the real world and extracting profits from fostering compulsive habits"
All Aboard
Sega, Riot and THQ Nordic among the ESA’s six new members
US-based trade body bolsters its ranks with three new and three returning members
Jobs News
ESA president Mike Gallagher steps down
SVP and general counsel Stanley Pierre-Louis will fill this spot until a successor is found
E3 2018
E3 2018 welcomes nearly 70,000 attendees and over 200 exhibitors
200 exhibitors showcase 3,250 products
We Are
ESA Foundation’s ‘We Are’ diversity initiative aims to inspire women in games
Scheme plans to connect women by highlighting individuals
Scapegoat Confirmed
Trump's meeting to scapegoat the games industry for US gun violence is on
ESA confirms actual invite after confusion around who would attend
Trumped Up Charges
Trump 'invites' games industry to meeting to scapegoat video games for US gun violence
Unclear what the point of this all is
E3 2017 Figures
E3 2017 sees 68,400 visitors interact with 2,000 products from 293 exhibitors
ESA reveals some big numbers from the show
E3 Opens Floodgates
E3 2017 will open its doors to 15,000 members of the public for the first time
$250 a ticket for the full three days
Data
Mobile games are a force multipler for entire industry says US survey
ESA looks at how mobile engages new audiences