The Electronic Entertainment Expo, or E3, will shift to an online-only showcase for the second consecutive year and a year off, according to GamesBeat
In a statement shared with GamesBeat, the Entertainment Software Association (ESA), which runs E3, cited concerns regarding the ongoing pandemic, now fueled by the omicron variant that has caused a sharp spike in confirmed infections. At this point, itâs unclear when or if E3 will return as an in-person event.
âDue to the ongoing health risks surrounding covid-19 and its potential impact on the safety of exhibitors and attendees, E3 will not be held in person in 2022,â the ESA said in a statement. âWe are nonetheless excited about the future of E3 and look forward to announcing more details soon.â
When reached for comment via email, the ESA gave Kotaku the same statement, saying it will âshare updates as news breaks.â
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There were rumblings E3 2021 would take place in-person after last yearâs was held online and 2020âs was canceled entirely, but the ESAÂ opted to make the showcase online-only as the delta variant of the coronavirus upended peopleâs lives. While the dates for E3 2022 have yet to be confirmed, the event typically takes place during the first or second full week of June. Itâs worth mentioning that, according to business analyst Mike Futter, the ESA âhad abandoned [its] dates for the LACCâ at the end of November 2021. This means the ESA could have scrapped plans for an in-person event prior to the full effects of omicron being realized.
And, of course, last yearâs E3 was quite the mess. Many companies, including PlayStation, opted out of the event after doing so for the later-canceled 2020 show, while others hosted their own livestreams. The whole thing made E3 2021, the biggest event in gaming, feel sparse and a little unnecessary. Hopefully, the ESA irons out the kinks this year for a smoother show.
