E3 has been struggling for some time. And that turmoil hasn’t stopped since the digital version of the gaming-centric event has reportedly been canceled.
According to Razer PR Lead Will Powers, the Entertainment Software Association sent an email with the news that IGN was able to confirm with its own report. A digital event was reportedly talked about, but didn’t move forward with enough momentum. That same report also states that the ESA is planning a comeback event in 2023, which it later confirmed in a statement. The statement reads:
“We will devote all our energy and resources to delivering a revitalized physical and digital E3 experience next summer. Whether enjoyed from the show floor or your favorite devices, the 2023 showcase will bring the community, media, and industry back together in an all-new format and interactive experience. We look forward to presenting E3 to fans around the world live from Los Angeles in 2023.”
MORE: Overwatch Is Introducing Remixed Events as Blizzard Preps Sequel
The ESA had canceled the in-person event in January 2022, but did not speak of a possible digital show, only saying it was looking “forward to announcing more details soon.” The words implied a digital show, but it did not come to fruition. IGN’s sources told the outlet that the ESA didn’t seem to have a plan on any sort of event and had internally decided on not having a physical, in-person E3 way before the official announcement.
The ESA also pulled out of E3 2020 over Covid concerns, which many saw as convenient since the controversial, influencer-focused show announced for that year had rubbed some the wrong way (not to mention the faulty site security that ended up leaking private details of press, influencers, and analysts in 2019). The ESA canned the physical show in 2021, too, but held a digital version that was widely criticized, mostly because of its lackluster companion app and disheveled presentation.
?
— Geoff Keighley (@geoffkeighley) March 31, 2022
E3’s slow demise has come right as Geoff Keighley’s Summer Game Fest has risen over the past couple years. The showcase has held plenty of interviews and reveals (including the Elden Ring gameplay reveal) in place of an in-person E3 show, which all came together in lieu of him announcing that he wouldn’t be participating in E3 2020.
MORE: The Stanley Parable: Ultra Deluxe Release Date Finally Nailed Down
