In the wake of the 2020 Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) being canceled due to the global health crisis, organizers have failed to provide any clarity about the event’s potential return. This has led to much speculation and concern over whether or not the Expo will make its return in 2024.
E3 had been a key event in the gaming industry for over two decades, providing a platform for video game developers and publishers to show off their newest titles, as well as to announce updates to existing games. It has also been a huge event in terms of general video game news coverage with hundreds of media representatives attending every year.
However, in the face of the pandemic, organizers of the event had no choice but to cancel it. In a statement the Entertainment Software Association (ESA), the organizers of the event, stated that “due to the health and safety concerns created by the Covid-19 pandemic and potential travel restrictions, the ESA will not hold a physical event for E3 2021”.
The statement then went on to mention that the “ESA and its member companies look forward to participating in E3 offering exciting keynotes, press conferences, and showcase streaming”, without any actual confirmation of a physical event taking place in 2024.
The lack of confirmation is worrying to many as there is no guarantee that the situation with the pandemic will have improved by 2024. Without any definitive announcements it’s hard to say whether or not E3 will return in the traditional physical format next year.
It’s possible that the ESA may not want to officially announce anything at the moment as the event is still ten months away. However, given the importance of the event to the entire industry it would be beneficial for the ESA to at least provide some kind of statement regarding the potential for an E3 return in 2024.
At the moment the future of E3 is uncertain and it’s anyone’s guess as to whether or not the physical event will return next year. The organizers have failed to confirm anything about a potential 2024 return, leaving many in the gaming industry in limbo. All eyes will be on the ESA in the coming months to see if they make any kind of announcement regarding the event’s future.
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