The vaccination rhythm to mitigate the COVID-19 pandemic made face-to-face attendance at the main technological events gradually return. First it was CES 2022 in Las Vegas, then Mobile World Congress 2022 in Barcelona, but for the second consecutive year this momentum did not reach the video game fair Electronic Entertainment Expo known worldwide as E3 2022.
After previously canceling its in-person E3 2022 event, organizer ESA has now informed its partners that there will also be no equivalent digital event this year, meaning that E3 2022 was completely canceled.
The news came to light through a tweet from Razer PR lead Will Powers, who had access to an internal email announcing the cancellation of the E3 digital event.
The ESA had initially planned an in-person E3 event this year after not having any events in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and a digital one in 2021.
However, this was canceled in January, and the ESA at the time did not make it publicly clear whether or not there would be a digital equivalent.
“We previously announced that E3 would not be held in person in 2022 due to the health risks surrounding COVID-19. Today we announce that there will also be no digital E3 in 2022, “they explained in an official statement.
The future of E3
In recent years the popularity The Electronic Entertainment Expo was declining at the rate that the big companies decided to leave its structure to promote their own events, such as the cases of PlayStation (State of Play) or Electronic Arts (EA Play).
Sources connected to the event told IGN that discussions about a possible digital equivalent have been ongoing since then, but without a strong push to see them through.
Instead, ESA appears to be making plans to regroup for a “great comeback” ahead of the 2023 edition.
“E3 will return in 2023 with a revitalized showcase that celebrates exciting new video games and industry innovations,” organizers said.
“Instead, we will dedicate all our energy and resources to offer a revitalized physical and digital experience from E3 next summer. Whether enjoyed from the show floor or on our favorite devices, the 2023 showcase will once again bring the community, media and industry together in an entirely new format and interactive experience.”
SummerGame Fest, the big winner
Again the big winner with the cancellation of E3 was Geoff Keighley – the same one that organizes the “Oscars of video games” The Game Awards- who will once again organize the Summer Games Fest digital festival in the American summer for the second consecutive year.
The producer’s event confirmed its celebration in June “with a spectacular opening show” presented by himself. “The video game industry meets to advance what is to come,” says the header of his official website.
Until now, the editors who will participate in the event that is broadcast through digital platforms have not been confirmed. However, when comparing with the 2021 edition it would not be strange for them to be part again PlayStation, Xbox, 2K Games, Activision, Bandai Namco Entertainment, SEGA y Electronic Arts among others, many of them who stopped attending E3.