According to a March 30th report by IGN, two sources have verified that the Entertainment Software Association (ESA), which organizes E3, has sent emails to its members informing them of the event’s cancellation.
As per the sources, the ESA stated in the emails that while E3 is a cherished event and brand, the 2023 exposition has not generated enough sustained interest to justify organizing it in a manner that highlights the industry’s size, power, and impact. The email concluded with the ESA affirming its unwavering dedication to advocacy work.
ReedPop’s Global VP of Gaming, Kyle Marsden-Kish, also released a statement:
This was a difficult decision because of all the effort we and our partners put toward making this event happen, but we had to do what’s right for the industry and what’s right for E3. We appreciate and understand that interested companies wouldn’t have playable demos ready and that resourcing challenges made being at E3 this summer an obstacle they couldn’t overcome. For those who did commit to E3 2023, we’re sorry we can’t put on the showcase you deserve and that you’ve come to expect from ReedPop’s event experiences
E3 2023 was set to start on June 13 and end on June 16.
Why E3 2023 was completely canceled
In a GameIndustry.biz interview on March 30, Stanley Pierre-Louis, CEO and president of the ESA, discussed why the organization decided to cancel its major yearly event. He cited the COVID-19 pandemic and a struggling economy as contributing factors.
“We were off to a strong start. There was interest among exhibitors, industry players, media, and certainly the fans,” said Pierre-Louis. “Ultimately, however, there were challenges that proved too large to surmount.”
First, several companies have reported that the timeline for game development has been altered since the start of the Covid pandemic. Second, economic headwinds have caused several companies to reassess how they invest in large marketing events. And third, companies are starting to experiment with how to find the right balance between in-person events and digital marketing opportunities.
In a GameIndustry.biz interview on March 30, Stanley Pierre-Louis, CEO and president of the ESA, discussed why the organization decided to cancel its major yearly event. He cited the COVID-19 pandemic and a struggling economy as contributing factors.
Despite the cancellation, Pierre-Louis emphasized that the ESA remains dedicated to creating a platform for the game industry to showcase new releases and engage in in-person interactions. He also stressed the importance of finding the right balance to meet the industry’s current needs, with a continued focus on advocating for the workforce.
When asked about the possibility of E3 2024, Pierre-Louis declined to confirm, stating only that the ESA will have additional news to share in the future.
