The future of one of the biggest events in the gaming world, E3 2023, has been put in doubt with its recent cancellation. E3 2023 was scheduled for 13–16 June.
I'm sorry. We genuinely tried. https://t.co/1zpwqk42jd
— Guy 'Yug' Blomberg (@YugSTAR) March 30, 2023
Following a mass exodus of game publishers and companies from the upcoming edition, there has been speculation about whether the annual tradeshow would still go ahead. This announcement comes just days after Ubisoft removed itself from attending this year’s event. Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo did not have intentions to make an appearance at what once was the biggest weekend in video games. While rumours have been circulating for some time, this latest development confirms E3’s uncertain future.
In the past, E3 has faced challenges to remain relevant, with the pandemic and competition from other events taking a toll. The 2020 event was initially planned as a traditional in-person show at the Los Angeles Convention Center in June 2020, but it was cancelled in early March 2020 due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Later that year, the Entertainment Software Association (ESA), the organisation behind E3, announced that the 2020 event would be replaced by a digital showcase event. E3 2020 was then overshadowed by a series of online presentations from publishers and developers, including Summer Game Fest and Gamescom. As time went on, E3 2022 was also completely cancelled due to business struggles.
Although ReedPop, the show’s organiser taking over for the ESA, promised a return to form in 2023, it seems that fate had other plans. ReedPop produces a range of pop culture events and conventions across the world, such as New York Comic Con, PAX, Star Wars Celebration, and C2E2. If they can’t do it, it doesn’t look like anyone can.
In good news for Australians, we still have a multitude of games events including PAX AUS 2023. We hope the team at ReedPop and ESA are okay and send our best wishes to them for the future of their business.
