E3 will return in 2023. That's according to the ESA — the organisation behind the Lost Angeles-based expo. Quoted in The Washington Post, ESA CEO Stan Pierre-Louis stated: "We’re excited about coming back in 2023 with both a digital and an in-person event". The ESA's intentions are clear, then.
Of course, we've been here before. E3 was supposed to happen this year, but was quite quickly transformed into an online-only event because of the ongoing pandemic — similar to what was delivered in 2021 (a series of shows that was heavily criticised for...well, largely being a waste of time). A few months ago In March, E3 2022 was officially cancelled in its entirety. It's coming back in 2023, though, honest!
Okay, snark aside, E3 could actually reappear if it gets enough support from the big publishers — but at this point, that feels like a big 'if'. The industry as we know it has changed quite dramatically since the last in-person E3, with most publishers now more than happy to host their own online events for what is presumably a fraction of the cost. Reverting to a traditional E3 model may be seen as going backwards as far as some companies are concerned (Sony in particular).
Things like Summer Game Fest are still trying to replace E3 as well — at least to an extent. If Geoff Keighley's efforts prove fruitful over the coming weeks, then the ESA has an even bigger fight for relevancy on its hands.
Having said all this, some of us really miss E3 — we miss the buzz that used to surround an absolutely manic week in video games. Will we ever get that again? It's hard to say, but the ESA is apparently going to try and make it happen, for better or worse.
[source washingtonpost.com]
Comments 13
I feel like I'm watching an endangered animal in its death throes. I miss E3 plenty, but this hurts to watch. ESA should just call it quits.
After Liam's soapbox yesterday, this is great news. Honestly I think E3 should just go back to Atlanta. Staying in California doesn't seem to be doing them any favors
It does feel like how well June 2022's "not E3" does will decide whether E3 survives. Perhaps that's why Nintendo's seemingly returning to 2020 tactics (shadow dropping info instead of a general Direct).
in order to make it happen i think the ESA need to do the following things:
make the event cheaper for the publishers. 1 of the most notorious thing about e3 was that it's very expensive for publisher to have a show and booth space.
2 only allow press to go. the few times it also allowed regular people to go,it became way to hectic and overcrowed acording to press members.
3. let the publishers have a bigger say in the event's workings. let them pick their own time to host the show (within the week ofcourse).
4. don't chase trends such as trying to make it a influencer show they planned on doing in 2020. the press,fans and even publisher did not like that idea before that e3 was canceled.
if the ESA will be more friendly towards the publishers and press it might bring in some of them to give it another chance.
kinda like how geoff threats the publishers. respectfull and giving them breathing room.
They'll return to showcase leaks we've known about for months.... yippy
@jdv95 100% THIS!!!!
I certainly hope they make it back. Nintendo seems to be a lock, they are huge supporters of E3, just gotta get a couple other big dogs back and they'll be good. Sony might have too much arrogance/pride to return, but I know lowering the costs and getting rid of the whole public access debacle would really help. Here's hoping the ESA did some soul searching and gets it right
I wrote a lot on NL on it. I do want it to come back, and I'm enjoying the shred of hope. But ESA needs to make a case for why publishers that have been fine without them should pay them again. There's clearly consumer demand for the event. There's clearly publisher interest in an event around this time as a result considering everyone but Nintendo, including even Sony of all companies is joining in loosely this year even without E3, but the whole thing is incohesive, while Geoff really sucks at organizing something.
ESA is good at organizing, but they seem to be in their own way, unable to define what value they're offering by participating. They need to convince publishers they're getting something for their money, or offer them an event that doesn't cost a fortune for the small benefit the value of the brand offers.
The brand does offer value. There's a reason we're all here talking about "E3 that's not E3" all month. I just doubt ESA's competence at leveraging that value. Failing to provide a digital show as a placeholder this year demonstrates that. That was an important task.
We mostly want it back as consumers. Publishers clearly sense that demand and are keen to provide something. ESA needs to actually offer something worth their time and money to organize under E3 again.
This is great news
I'll believe it when the E3 2023 premiere stream is about to start in an hour.
“Let the past die. Kill it, if you have to”
I highly doubt it, but I really hope it does. I totally agree with Liam's article and I'd actually go a step further. The E3-less game world is a metonymy for this all-digital world we're living in: soulless, disembodied, depressing and just not fun.
This realization came strong to me recently as I attended a Metallica concert and went to see Top Gun: Maverick in the theatre a couple days later. God, have I missed the energy that is only really possible when people come together in a physical space.
I mean, I never actually attended E3 in person, but even from a distance there was this contagious excitement and palpable electricity. Now we're treated with these digital streams that just feel hollow.
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