ESA announces cancellation of E3 2022 digital event
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The E3 logo in its 2021 announcement trailer. E3 2022 has been canceled.
Screengrab provided by YouTube via E3
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ESA announces cancellation of E3 2022 digital event

The organization said it intends to return with a better event in 2023
Image of Dylan Tate
Dylan Tate
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Published: Mar 31, 2022 04:29 pm

The Entertainment Software Association has canceled this year’s Electronic Entertainment Expo digital presentation, as announced by Razer public relations lead Will Powers and confirmed by the ESA in a statement to IGN. As a result, E3 will not take place in any form in 2022.

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“We will devote all our energy and resources to delivering a revitalized physical and digital E3 experience next summer,” the ESA’s statement said. “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. We look forward to presenting E3 to fans around the world live from Los Angeles in 2023.”

In January, the ESA announced the cancellation of E3 2022’s in-person event. At the time, the ESA did not confirm whether a virtual event would take place. In addition, the organization never publicly announced dates for a 2022 event, nor did a 2022 event ever appear on the Los Angeles Convention Center’s schedule. Now, the ESA has confirmed that it is canceling this year’s show to focus on creating next year’s.

The lead-up to E3 2022

The ESA has not hosted a traditional in-person E3 since 2019. The 2020 event was canceled in its entirety as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. While E3 returned in 2021, it took place entirely online.

The impact of this year’s cancellation may be minimal for some companies. For example, Nintendo has not hosted an in-person presentation at E3 since 2012. Instead, the company has aired pre-recorded Nintendo Directs during each event, although live attendees could try out new games at booths set up by Nintendo in the LACC.

Conversely, video game developers could turn to Geoff Keighley’s Summer Game Fest 2022 as an alternative to E3. This year’s Summer Game Fest was announced 30 minutes after the news of E3’s cancellation broke.

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Author
Image of Dylan Tate
Dylan Tate
Dylan Tate is an alumnus of the Hussman School of Journalism and Media at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He is a gaming journalist with a love for Nintendo esports, particularly Super Smash Bros. and Pokémon.
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