While the ESA and new E3 organiser ReedPop had big plans to bring the event back this year, it would seem that too many companies pulled out. Last night, the ESA confirmed that E3 has been cancelled and at this point, it is widely assumed that the event won't be returning again. 

Sources speaking with IGN confirmed that E3 “simply did not garner the sustained interest necessary to execute it in a way that would showcase the size, strength, and impact of our industry”. Essentially, too many major companies pulled out to make it an exciting event. Nintendo, Microsoft and Sony had already pulled out and recently, the likes of Ubisoft, SEGA, Devolver Digital and others also stepped away from E3.

Speaking on the cancellation, the ESA and ReedPop issued a statement, saying: “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.”

Given that E3 has now been cancelled for four years in a row, and most companies are now starting to team up with Geoff Keighley and his E3 rival event, Summer Game Fest, it is unlikely that E3 ever returns at full strength. With that said, the ESA apparently still wants to try and has said it will work with ReedPop on “future E3 events”.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: While the ESA claims it still has future plans for E3, at this point, I just find it incredibly hard to believe that the event can ever return. 

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