E3 is a staple event for gamers for several years. Many prominent games developers announce new games that are in development and release new trailers. In 2020, the event was fully cancelled due to COVID-19, and due to continued health concerns E3 2021 was held online.
2022 continues the disruption to the event. The event was moved fully online in January, due to concerns surrounding the COVID-19 spikes caused by the Omicron variant. Now, the event has been cancelled entirely.
A statement released by the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) said:
“E3 will return in 2023 with a reinvigorated showcase that celebrates new and exciting video games and industry innovations.
Instead, we will devote all our energy and resources to delivering a revitalised physical and digital E3 experience next summer”
The full statement can be read on their website.
E3 has been struggling to adapt over the past few years, not only because of COVID-19 but also because key developers are doing their own events. Things like Nintendo Direct, EA Play Live and Sony’s State of Play are held more often. E3 is also facing competition from similar events, such as Geoff Keighley’s Summer Game Fest.
In response to E3’s cancellation the host announced in a tweet that he was: “Excited to share that Summer Game Fest will return this June with a slate of events.”
E3 is an annual games conferencing event where developers announce the latest games that they are working on. Since 1995, the event has been held primarily in Los Angeles, with many games and platforms being showcased. It helped launch gaming and pushed a focus on games presentation. In 2017, the first E3 opened to the public, allowing them to play samples of upcoming games, come to the talks and meet representatives of companies, putting it on the gaming map.
It has featured high profile announcements, including Sony announcing a PS4 remake for Shadow of the Colossus in 2017 and Bethesda’s Elder Scrolls VI in 2018. The cancellations and alterations to the event over the last three years have forced gaming companies to look for other outlets to air their announcements, damaging E3’s central attraction.
Words by Kieran Burt
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