The ESA has responded to the circulating rumors surrounding the future of E3. Once hailed as the ultimate platform for new video game announcements and special showcases, E3 has faced a decline in popularity in recent years due to various factors including the COVID-19 pandemic, dwindling interest in the event, and the emergence of promising alternatives like Summer Game Fest. Consequently, the last few iterations of E3 have either been outright canceled or received a lukewarm response. Although E3 briefly returned in 2021 as an online-only livestream, it has been confirmed that the event will not take place in 2022 and 2023.
Even prior to the global lockdown imposed by COVID nearly three years ago, there were growing speculations within the gaming industry that E3 was losing its appeal as early as 2016. The cancellation of this year's E3 has further fueled concerns that it may mark the beginning of the end for the once-indispensable gaming convention. Recent rumors have intensified the belief that the next two editions of E3 may not materialize, leading many to fear that the event may never be able to fully recover from the blow of consecutive cancellations.
Reports suggesting the demise of E3 may have been exaggerated. The Entertainment Software Association has now addressed the rumors surrounding the cancellation of E3 in 2024 and 2025. In a statement to GamesIndustry.biz, the ESA denied these claims, stating that no final decisions have been made regarding future E3 events. However, the company acknowledged that discussions are ongoing about the future of E3 after the past two cancellations. As a result, anything is still possible at this point.
In the absence of E3, several smaller online gaming showcases have filled the void to offer a glimpse into what's to come. One of the most prominent of these showcases is Geoff Keighley's Summer Game Fest. In addition, publishers like Xbox, Ubisoft, and Nintendo have hosted their own standalone gaming livestreams, providing trailers and new information about upcoming titles such as Star Wars Outlaws and Super Mario Bros. Wonder alongside the blockbuster reveals of the Summer Game Fest.
While E3 may not be returning this year, the Entertainment Software Association has not officially confirmed the cancellation of the event for its 2024 and 2025 editions, despite rumors suggesting otherwise.
Source: GamesIndustry.biz
