The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) announced today that Activision Blizzard and Tencent have joined the industry group. The ESA is responsible for putting on the annual Electronic Entertainment Expo and represents the industry's interests on Capitol Hill.

　　The ESA's membership now stands at 37 companies, including heavyweights like Microsoft Corporation, Nintendo of America, and Sony Computer Entertainment of America, among others.

　　Activision left the ESA in May 2008 citing "business reasons."

　　Today, Activision Blizzard chief legal officer Chris Walther said the company is "excited" to return to the ESA.

　　"ESA has a long track-record of supporting its members and the video game industry, and we look forward to sharing our unique perspective and experience with them," Walther said in a statement.

　　Tencent is a significant Chinese Internet company that owns a majority stake in League of Legends developer Riot Games. The outfit also owns 40 percent of Gears of War studio Epic Games and has two employees on the developer's board of directors.

　　"ESA supports and cultivates collaboration among member companies," said Tencent director of business development and industry relations Gordon Bellamy. "We are excited to join an association that promotes the development of the U.S. game industry as we are exploring more opportunities in this market."

　　The ESA recently organized E3 2013 in Los Angeles, which drew 48,200 total attendees. Next year's event will be held June 10-12 at the Los Angeles Convention Center.

　　The trade association's president, Michael Gallagher, met with United States vice president Joe Biden earlier this year to discuss the role of violent media--including films and games--in mass shootings. The discussions came after the December schoolhouse massacre in Connecticut perpetrated by a reported "deranged gamer" that left 20 children and six adults dead.

　　ESA lawyers also successfully defended the game industry in a 2011 landmark Supreme Court decision that ruled that a California law preventing retailers from selling violent games to children was unconstitutional. The attorneys, Ken Doroshow and Paul M. Smith, were presented with the GDC Ambassador award for their contributions to the case.

　　You need a javascript enabled browser to watch videos.

　　Click To Unmute

　　Destiny - Official E3 Demo

　　How Alan Wake II Made Me Face My Fear of Horror Games

　　GameSpot's Top 10 Games of 2023Thompson: The Pop Culture Icon’s Strange Legacy - LoadoutFirearms Expert’s FAVORITE Weapons Of 2023State Of Gaming Handhelds In 2023How Lies of P Cracked the Souls GenreLike a Dragon: Infinite Wealth - Official Ichiban Kasuga Character Spotlight TrailerLike a Dragon: Infinite Wealth - Official Saeko Mukoda Character Spotlight TrailerLike a Dragon: Infinite Wealth - Official Chitose Fujinomiya Character Spotlight TrailerLike a Dragon: Infinite Wealth - Official Eric Tomizawa Character Spotlight TrailerLike a Dragon: Infinite Wealth - Official Kazuma Kiryu Character Spotlight TrailerLike a Dragon: Infinite Wealth - Official Yu Nanba Character Spotlight Trailer

　　Share

　　LinkEmbed

　　Size:640 × 360480 × 270

　　Start at: End at: Autoplay Loop

　　Want us to remember this setting for all your devices?

　　Sign up or Sign in now!

　　Please use a html5 video capable browser to watch videos.

　　This video has an invalid file format.

　　00:00:00

　　HTML5

　　Auto HD High Low

　　Report a problem

　　Sorry, but you can't access this content!

Please enter your date of birth to view this video

　　By clicking 'enter', you agree to GameSpot's

　　Terms of Use and Privacy Policy

　　enter