ReedPop’s first go at hosting beloved video games industry event “E3” has ended prematurely, as the Electronic Software Association (ESA) has cancelled the expo for 2023. Alongside the cancellation, the ESA noted that the event “did not garner the sustained interest necessary to execute it in a way that would showcase the size, strength, and impact of our industry.”
Ever since it initially hit the scene in 1995, E3 has been a mainstay on the annual video game industry calendar for over 20 years. Unfortunately, due to the COVID-19 pandemic the event was shut down completely in 2020 and then hosted as a digital-only event in 2021, before being cancelled again in 2022. While the world is recovering from the effects of COVID-19, it seems that E3 may not be granted that same luxury as this could be the end of the once prestigious conference. The official press release from the ESA goes on to state that ReedPop and the ESA will continue to work together on “future E3 events,” but many industry insiders are doubtful.
While E3 is officially closing its doors (at least for this year), a few publishers and industry personality Geoff Keighley have announced that they still plan to hold independent showcases around the week that E3 usually takes place. Here’s a snapshot of what has been announced so far:
June 8th – Summer Game Fest Opening
June 11th – Xbox & Bethesda Showcase; Starfield Direct
June 12th – Ubisoft Forward
Image from: E3
