The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) stated in January that it has shelved plans for an in-person E3 event. The announcement came as Omicron’s fears persisted after the Christmas season ended. The company now stated that the 2022 edition of the gaming event would not take place in any form. The ESA argues that another delay will not mark the end of the exhibition, which has been hosted at the Los Angeles Convention Center every June since its inception. Instead, it argues that a year of retooling will help to better the planned hybrid event for next year.
In a statement, the group stated, “We will dedicate all of our efforts and resources to providing a revamped physical and digital E3 experience next summer.” “The 2023 showcase will bring the community, media, and industry back together in an all-new style and interactive experience, whether experienced on the exhibition floor or on your preferred devices.” Interest in the performance had ebbed and flowed during the years before to the outbreak. The exhibition returned to the LA Convention Center in 2009 after a major reduction in size in 2006.
The typically trade-only event was introduced to the general public in 2017. Sony confirmed three years later that it will not be keynoting at the exhibition, following in the footsteps of EA and the Nintendo, albeit the latter has opted for a virtual presentation to coincide with the event. COVID-19 ceased operations in 2020, with a scaled-down, online-only event taking place the following year.
The ESA says, “Our members look to the ESA to create an experience that revitalizes the event in a new and interesting way.” “As a result, we’re utilizing this time to form preparations for 2023, and we’re working with our members to guarantee that the rejuvenated showcase sets a new bar for hybrid industry events and fan interaction,” says the company. It remains to be seen what form this will take as firms continue to focus on their own launches and the public warms to virtual events.
