It looks like this will be another year without one of the previously premier events on the gaming calendar. The Electronic Entertainment Expo, or E3, has officially been canceled, shuttering the hopes of a digital show in June.
While we knew an in-person E3 show would not be happening this year, there were still hopes for many that a digital showcase would take place, bringing the event to gamers around the world. However, it seems the ESA has other plans, shuttering the digital show in order to "focus its resources" on next year's show, according to a statement made to IGN.
IGN reports the news first came down via a tweet from Razer's PR lead Will Powers, stating that the show had been canceled via an email. The Electronic Software Association, or ESA, confirmed this with a separate statement to IGN, promising that the show will return in 2023 with an "all-new format and interactive experience." The statement also makes it seem the event will be back in person in Los Angeles in some form.
Via IGN:
"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."
E3 has had a tumultuous few years, going back to 2020 when the pandemic forced the show to shut down. 2021 saw the E3 return in some form in an online event, but it seems 2022 will not have the premier event on the calendar. This isn't too shocking, as the relevance of E3 has been questioned for years now, especially with major publishers pulling out of the show, as well as others hosting their own digital events, including Geoff Keighley's highly popular Summer of Gaming streams.
It remains to be seen exactly how E3 will rise from the ashes here and re-invent itself. It seems we'll be waiting till 2023 to find out.
