The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) has officially announced the cancellation of this year’s Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3). Despite its previous commitment to return, E3 2023 will not take place due to insufficient interest from the industry to execute the event as initially envisioned.
No plans announced for E3 2024 after the cancelation of E3 2023
The ESA expressed its ongoing dedication to advocacy work in the email sent to members, though it did not mention any plans for future E3 events. In a public statement, Kyle Marsden-Kish, Global VP of Gaming at ReedPop, acknowledged the difficult decision and the challenges companies face in preparing for the event. The inability to provide the high-quality experience that attendees and exhibitors have come to expect ultimately led to the cancellation.
ReedPop and the ESA will continue their collaboration on potential future E3 events. However, the E3 2023 event, initially scheduled for June 13th-16th at the Los Angeles Convention Center, will not take place. This would have marked the first in-person E3 since 2019. Previous cancellations occurred in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, while 2021 saw a digital version, and 2022’s cancellation was to give the ESA time to refocus on a “revitalized showcase” for E3 2023.
The announcement of E3 2023’s cancelation follows decisions by major industry players, such as Xbox, Nintendo, PlayStation, and Ubisoft, to forego E3 participation and opt for their own digital showcases. The industry landscape continues to evolve, and it remains to be seen how future events will adapt to meet the needs and expectations of the gaming community.
