Yesterday, news broke that this year’s E3 had been completely canceled. With the pandemic still wreaking havoc on major events, E3 2021 failed to bring in a large audience with its virtual event. Riddled with bugs and lacking content, the Entertainment Software Association was probably hesitant to move forward with another such event for 2022. Many have speculated that this could be the end of E3 altogether, but the ESA is squashing those rumors with the news that E3 2023 is moving forward. This time, fans can expect a hybrid digital and physical event–if all goes to plan.
Journalist Stephen Totilo broke the news on Twitter yesterday, and while there has not yet been confirmation from the ESA, Totilo added a screenshot of a statement from the association.
Read the statement from the ESA below:
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.
It remains unclear how the association plans to enact this hybrid event for 2023. Prior to the pandemic, E3 had always been an in-person event, with the exception of last year’s showcase. E3 will need to catch up, given that its much-coveted spot in the game event sphere has been stolen by Summer Game Fest, the latter of which is scheduled for June. Gamescom will also return both digitally and physically in August.
