Sponsors of E3, the long‑running video‑game trade show, have pulled the plug on its 2023 gathering. On Thursday, the event’s website announced that both the physical and digital versions of the expo have been canceled and that the future of E3 will be “reevaluated.” The decision follows a wave of digital events launched by major gaming companies and reports that industry titans such as Xbox, Nintendo and Sony planned to sit out this year’s show.
ReedPop, the organizer of E3, confirmed the cancellation, stating that “Show organiser ReedPop announces E3 2023 will not take place as scheduled this June, with both physical and digital events canceled.” The announcement added that, together with the Entertainment Software Association (ESA), the parties will reassess E3’s future.
The ESA has sponsored the annual gathering since 1995, typically holding it in Los Angeles. The event was canceled in 2020 due to the COVID‑19 pandemic, and a virtual version was held in 2021. In July of last year, sponsors announced plans to return to a physical event in June 2023 at the Los Angeles Convention Center, promising a “recognizably epic” show featuring publishers, developers, content creators and licensors.
However, ReedPop’s Kyle Marsden‑Kish cited a lack of “playable demos” from interested companies as a key factor in the cancellation, according to the Los Angeles Times. He called the decision “difficult” but said, “We had to do what’s right for the industry and what’s right for E3.”
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