E3 gaming expo called off, will be held in person and virtually in 2023

The gaming industry’s biggest trade show, the Electronic Entertainment Expo, commonly known as E3, has been called off in all forms this year, according to an IGN report. Entertainment Software Association (ESA), which organises the expo, has confirmed the cancellation and said that the 2022 edition was cancelled as they want to focus on next year’s show that will return with a “revitalised physical and digital experience” in the summer of 2023. 

Since the Covid-19 outbreak, most trade shows in the technology and gaming industry were forced to suspend the in-person event and switch to a digital-only format. E3 was cancelled in 2020 and was held as an online-only event in 2021. It was expected to return as an in-person event this year, but after an increase in Omicron cases in the US and Europe, the ESA decided to switch to a digital-only event in January. 

Though the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) and Mobile World Congress (MWC) had returned with a hybrid event this year, many companies including Google, Amazon, Meta, Nvidia had decided to stay away from the in-person event and participate only through the online event. 

The cancellation of E3 was first reported by executives of the participating companies on social media who had received an email from the ESA. For instance, Razer’s PR head Will Powers said in a Twitter post, “Just got an email. It's official, E3 digital is officially cancelled for 2022. Lots of mixed feelings about this.”

First held in 1995, E3 is one of the most followed gaming shows in the world. It is attended by all major gaming companies that want to showcase their upcoming gaming titles and share their product roadmap with fans. The show also recognises the best in gaming through its E3 awards and provides the gaming community the opportunity to meet their favorite game developers, designers and actors.