Video game fans are anticipating a big comeback for E3 this year, as the biggest showcasing event in the gaming industry had been postponed for three consecutive years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Unfortunately, it has been confirmed by the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) that E3 2023 is officially cancelled.
E3's Relevance Dwindling as Game Publishers Hold Their Own Online Live Events
ESA confirmed that E3 2023 will no longer push through through an e-mail sent to PC Gamer. The gaming news website reported that both the physical and digital events of the upcoming expo have been cancelled.
ReedPop's VP for gaming, Kyle Marsden-Kish, said that the decision to cancel E3 2023 is based on what they believe is "right for the industry." Cancelling E3 this year also appears to be the best call as some companies who wish to attend are not yet ready to present playable demos at the stage. Marsden-Kish also cited "resourcing challenges" that made it difficult for potential attendees to appear at E3 this year.
"For those who did commit to E3 2023, we're sorry we can't put on the showcase you deserve and that you've come to expect from ReedPop's event experiences," Marsden-Kish said in e-mail.
IGN first broke the news that E3 2023 has been officially cancelled, citing two other sources who claimed to have received an e-mail from ESA. The e-mail stated that E3 "simply did not garner the sustained interest" that is needed to "showcase the size, strength, and impact" of the gaming industry.
The lack of interest being the main reason of E3's cancellation has become more evident when the COVID-19 pandemic hit. When E3 was first postponed in 2020, video game publishers decided to hold their own showcasing events via live streaming, which turned out to be effective. At this point, having a physical stage like E3 to unveil the latest game titles and technologies of the year has less purpose.
The announcement from the big companies like Microsoft, Nintendo, Ubisoft, Sega and Tencent that they will skip this year's E3 did not help to bring more interest to the event. Some of these companies like Microsoft and Ubisoft have already confirmed their separate live event to take place at around the same time as E3.
E3 2023 was supposed to run from June 13 to 16 in Los Angeles, California.
Related Article: Ubisoft to Skip E3 2023 in Favor of its Own Forward Live Event
What's Next for the Gaming Industry With E3 2023 Cancelled?
With E3 2013 now cancelled, some fans are having doubts about the event's future. As for ReedPop and ESA, they are not closing their doors on "bringing back E3 in some form." It remains likely that the E3 stage will show force once again next year, but it has to undergo some changes to sustain the public's interest.
As per Nintendo Life, the cancellation of E3 2023 also gives Geoff Keighley's Summer Game Fest a chance to gain popularity. Nonetheless, Keighley paid respect to E3 on Twitter as he acknowledged the event's long history of showcasing some of the gaming industry's biggest offerings. At the same time, Keighley noted that E3 has to evolve moving forward in order to "compete in a global, digital world."
