E3 is officially cancelled for this year, the annual gaming expo was confirmed to be an all-digital event in January but it will no longer hold in 2022.
“We will devote all our energy and resources to delivering a revitalised physical and digital E3 experience next summer,” the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) said in a statement shared by IGN. “Whether enjoyed from the show floor or your favourite 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.”
It was hoped this year’s event will be held physically but it was moved to an all-digital event in January due to growing COVID-19 concerns. In 2020, the gaming event was completely cancelled due to the COVID-19 outbreak but it returned in 2021 as a digital-only event. This year’s cancellation makes it the third consecutive time without a physical E3 event.
The cancellation is not doing any favours to E3’s waning influence as well-known publishers have been pulling out of the show in recent years. Sony now organizes its own digital showcases to announce its upcoming games, while the likes of EA and Activision have also followed suit.
Despite E3’s cancellation, fans can expect to enjoy Geoff Keighley’s annual Summer Games Fest again this year. “Excited to share that Summer Game Fest will return this June with a slate of events,” Keighley wrote in a tweet today. “We’ll be producing another Kickoff Live show with announcements, news and first looks. Much more to share in the coming weeks, along with some very cool new elements for ’22.”
