Covid-19 obliges, the E3 video game trade show has not been held in person since 2020, much to the dismay of gamers the world over, and industry professionals alike. And it looks likeE3 is dead and buried... And with good reason: on December 12, 2023, theESA (Entertainment Software Association), which organizes the show, announced that it was putting a definitive end to any future E3. The announcement was made in a tweet, much to the dismay of gamers the world over.
- E3 (@E3) December 12, 2023
The show was once again cancelled by theESA on March 30, 2023. It was due to welcome visitors from June 13 to 16, 2023, at the Los Angeles Convention Center.
The reason for the cancellation? As ourIGN colleagues explained, "two sources confirmed the cancellation of the event, following receipt of an e-mail sent by the association". The e-mail explained that, althoughE3 "remains an event and a brand appreciated by all", it "did not generate sufficient interest to ensure the smooth running of a conference capable of demonstrating the size, strength and impact of our field of activity".
This information was confirmed in a press release from Reedpop, co-organizer of the event: "Our decision proved to be a difficult one, taking into account the efforts made by us and our partners to enable the event to run smoothly, but we had to make a necessary choice for the industry and for E3", explains the press release. He continues: "We understand that some companies would not have been able to make playable demos available to the public, and that resource issues would have turned E3 into an insurmountable obstacle".
News on #E32023 from the source. pic.twitter.com/BK7TUlb8mZ
- E3 (@E3) March 30, 2023
And yet, the stars seemed to be aligned for the 2023 edition. Starting with the promise made in 2022 by Stan Pierre-Louis, CEO and President ofESA, after three lean years.
In an interview with the Washington Post, the executive revealed that this edition was to be a "hybrid" show, organized both online, for those unable to travel, and at a convention center in Los Angeles. " We're thrilled to be back in 2023 with both a digital and a physical event. As much as we love these digital events, and as much as they touch people and we want that global reach, but we also know that there's a really strong desire for people to come together - to connect, to see each other and to talk to each other about what makes the games unforgettable," explained Stan Pierre-Louis, in the columns of the American newspaper.
" I think what's great about all this experimentation is that companies of all sizes are trying to figure out what works best to promote the product and content they're looking to share with consumers. And I think there's a space for a physical show, and I think it's important to have a digital reach," he added.
On the program side, this was to be revamped to offer an enhanced experience for all attendees, according to ReedPop. The E3 Industry Days were to take place from June 13 to 15, and were reserved exclusively for professionals, press and content creators. E3 Gamer Days were scheduled for June 15 and 16, with public, trade and media access in the South Hall only.
E3 Digital Week, meanwhile, was due to kick off on June 11, and would feature several of the most popular online showcases, including the PC Gaming Show, Future Games Show, Guerilla Collective and Black Voices in Gaming. Paragon was also to be the official streaming partner ofE3 2023, and MeetToMatch the event's main partner and sponsor.
An angel gone far too soon.
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