Less than a year since its return was announced, the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) and ReedPop have revealed that this year’s Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) 2023 is officially been cancelled.
This follows after several publishers have pulled out of the event or distanced themselves from the show, putting into doubt just what would be on show for the event scheduled for June. The ESA had put out an email earlier to members talking about E3 2023, stating that the show “remains a beloved event and brand” but this year “simply did not garner the sustained interest necessary to execute it in a way that would showcase the size, strength, and impact of our industry.”
Kyle Marsden-Kish, Global VP of Gaming at ReedPop also had this public statement to share:
“This was a difficult decision because of all the effort we and our partners put toward making this event happen, but we had to do what’s right for the industry and what’s right for E3. We appreciate and understand that interested companies wouldn’t have playable demos ready and that resourcing challenges made being at E3 this summer an obstacle they couldn’t overcome. For those who did commit to E3 2023, we’re sorry we can’t put on the showcase you deserve and that you’ve come to expect from ReedPop’s event experiences.”
To elaborate further, ESA president and CEO Stanley Pierre-Louis was interviewed by GamesIndustry.biz, and had a little more to share about the reasons behind the cancellation of E3 2023.
“First, several companies have reported that the timeline for game development has been altered since the start of the COVID pandemic. Second, economic headwinds have caused several companies to reassess how they invest in large marketing events. And third, companies are starting to experiment with how to find the right balance between in-person events and digital marketing opportunities,” Pierre-Louis said.
He did not provide definite answers to other concerns, including if members were still interested in an event like E3 2023 or whether there would be a show in 2024.
While it is sad to see the demise of a once-significant show, the pivot to more publisher-led initiatives has filled the gap and provided fans with a more direct connection to the games and studios they love. And there is always Geoff Keighley and his seemingly unstoppable march to take over all big gaming events, starting with Summer Game Fest happening in June as well.
Jake is a full-time trophy hunter and achievement gatherer on consoles, and part-time Steam Sale victim. He has a thing for Batman and awesome statues, and running out of space for both. Send help.
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