E3 may not be happening this year, but convention lovers should have something to look forward to next year, as the Electronic Entertainment Expo is set to return in 2023.
E3 was cancelled in 2020 alongside every other major tech event, and it was an all-digital affair last year. The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) had planned to return in-person for 2022, but it instead canceled the whole thing earlier this year.
At the time, the ESA promised a "reinvigorated...physical and digital E3 experience" in 2023, IGN reported. And now, ESA President and CEO Stan PIerre-Louis has reiterated that E3 is still alive.
Speaking to The Washington PostThe Washington Post, Pierre-Louis acknowledged that large gaming companies have seen success with digital showcases, including Nintendo Direct, Sony’s State of Play, and Geoff Keighly’s Summer Game Fest. But “as much as we love these digital events, and as much as they reach people and we want that global reach, we also know that there’s a really strong desire for people to convene — to be able to connect in person and see each other and talk about what makes games great," he told the Post.
Pierre-Louis noted that “there is a critical element of what we think E3 can provide,” in terms of combining a physical show with digital reach. Stay tuned for more details.