E3 2022 is officially not happening anymore.
The possibility of having an in-person even this year was put to rest in January after the plan was cancelled. Rumors have since been swirling that a digital event would take place instead, but that is no longer the case either.
The announcement has been made by the Entertainment Software Association (ESA). Instead, the event will return in 2023 in Los Angeles.
It should be noted that this is the second time in three years that E3 has been cancelled. The event did not take place in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The ESA was able to hold a digital event last year.
E3 2022 is No Longer Happening for Sure
E3 2022 has officially been cancelled, according to a report by IGN. The ESA has released a statement regarding the matter, saying that the event will instead return next year in Los Angeles.
"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," ESA says in its statement.
The report also cites a tweet posted on the account of Will Powers, the PR Lead of Razer. The tweet says that Powers received an email and that E3 2022 is no longer happening. IGN has also verified the email as well.
You can view the tweet below:
In-Person Event Cancellation in January
IGN reports that an in-person event for E3 2022 was initially planned. It should be noted that the event did not take place in 202 due to the COVID-19 pandemic while a digital event took place last year.
That idea eventually did not push through thanks to the cancellation in January. At that time, the ESA was not able to confirm or deny if a digital event would take place instead. ESA's silence at that time is said to have frustrated third parties who are usually involved with the event, according to the report.
IGN's report says that discussions regarding a digital event have been taking place but the discussions had no "strong momentum to drive them."
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E3's Struggles to Stay Relevant
A report by Kotaku notes that "E3 struggles to stay relevant amid the proliferation of unaffiliated all-digital events, like Sony's regular State of Play showcases and Nintendo's immensely popular, yet frustratingly sporadic, Direct streams."
The report also notes that game publishers have been opting to make game announcements during one-off events that take place throughout the year.
Kotaku has pointed out that Sony has not taken part in E3 for years now while EA has opted to cancel EA Play Live, an event that is usually adjacent to E3.
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This article is owned by GameNGuide
Written by Isabella James