Three strikes and you’re out. Or, three years, in this case.
The news is official: E3 2022 is no longer just digital, it’s now dead as well. Though the ESA tried to keep the faith back in January that it was still working on SOMETHING this year, that will no longer materialize. The news first broke by game industry legend and PR maven Will Powers, who tweeted that he just found out via email.
Multiple outlets have since confirmed via statements from organizing body the ESA itself that the show will not be taking place this year after all.
“E3 will return in 2023 with a reinvigorated showcase that celebrates new and exciting video games and industry innovations.
We previously announced that E3 would not be held in person in 2022 due to the ongoing health risks surrounding COVID-19. Today, we announce that there will also be no digital E3 showcase in 2022.
Instead, 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.
Look for more news and announcements soon.”
It’s a bummer that for the third year in a row E3 will either not be around in person, por it will be a severely weird event. However, having all the announcements in one week was advantageous at times, especially for consumers who like to be hyped up and excited for a mountain of video game news. Nintendo began the trend of its own events back in 2011, ushering in digital showcases by every publisher and developer since, often giving light to games big and small. The industry has shifted to that model since, and made in-person events more difficult to justify.
Either way, we’re still hearing that Xbox and Nintendo are working towards digital showcases in June, and there’s always the loose calendar of Summer Game Fest to make a mess of your warmer weather times.
See you in 2023, I guess?
Statement via ESA
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