Gone are the big chain announcements that make the thousands of gamers gathered in the Los Angeles Convention Center green with envy for an edition of E3. This year, the space will remain empty in June, the most famous fair dedicated to gaming being canceled. This cancellation risks making waves by compromising the future of the show. E3 could simply disappear from the world of video games.
A canceled 2023 edition
It is with regret that the ESA (Entertainment Software Association) has announced the cancellation of the next edition of E3. Although several gaming players anticipated it, the announcement did not fail to affect the public. It is still one of the biggest meetings for gamers every year. Many fans are already regretting the big announcements, explosive trailers and revelations that have punctuated previous editions of the show.
This cancellation comes as the show had already encountered several difficulties in recent years. The Covid crisis had already caused the cancellation of E3 2020 before forcing the following ones to a much less attractive virtual format for fans. The show was also subject to stiff competition from Goeff Kighley and his famous Summer Game Fest. The event seems to attract more crowds while remaining easier to organize. It will be entitled to a new edition this year which will be held from June 8, 2023.
The boycott of the biggest publishers
The biggest reason for the cancellation of E3 2023 remains, despite everything, the boycott of several big names in the market. The organizer of the show admits this half-heartedly by evoking an event which “has not aroused the necessary interest”. Mean by that publishers like Ubisoft, Sony, Microsoft or Nintendo who have announced their absence from the show for quite a while. However, this boycott does not stem from ESA’s responsibilities.
This can be explained by the fact that for about two years, the biggest publishers have favored their own events to the detriment of joint fairs. The Nintendo Direct and the PlayStation State of Play are witness to this. This implies fewer big announcements for these shows which become much less interesting. This unfavorable state of affairs did not prevent the ESA from remaining positive. The association promises that other editions of E3 will be organized in the future.
A compromised future?
Unfortunately, it will be difficult to keep this promise. The chances that the E3 show can regain its former grandeur are less. The video game landscape has simply taken on new habits since the 2020 health crisis. But all hope is not lost. In 2007, the E3 had already encountered very great difficulties which reduced it to a simple gathering dedicated to distributors. It rose again 2 years later, in 2009, by becoming the unmissable meeting place for gamers from all over the world. Will she be able to repeat this feat? The future will tell !!!