The annual trade and met-up of the video game industry, the Electronic Entertainment Expo commonly referred to as E3 has been called-off by the organizers. The E3 2022 was supposed to be an online-only event, but due to rise in Omicron variant cases in the USA has forced the organizers to cancel the event.
According to a statement from its organizers, The Entertainment Software Association (ESA), the annual event will be returning as a hybrid format featuring both Offline and Online experiences “next summer” (i.e. 2023). After the cancellation of 2020, this is the second time the event has been called off due to ”ongoing health risks surrounding COVID-19 and its potential impact on the safety of exhibitors and attendees.”
The organization in a statement said:
“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.”
Since last month, the latest Omicron variant of Covid19 has been spreading worldwide rapidly causing disruption in services and business at large.
While the latest spread isn’t as deadly as before, the virus is spreading very quickly and the USA is reporting 10K avg cases daily.
The latest spread of Omicron cases has forced all events to reschedule or move to an online-only format.
Starting with the CES 2022 in Las Vegas, where we saw many major technology companies pulling out of the in-person event and instead opting to host virtual shows to announce new products.
It is unclear just what kind of future E3 holds after all is said and done. With the 2nd time cancellation of the whole E3 event, the ESA is again going to miss a major chunk of its revenue this year.
Plus the increased competition from independent publisher events and Geoff Keighley’s Summer Game Fest has been chugging away audience and hype from the E3’s yearly segment.
