The ESA (Entertainment Software Association) has canceled E3 2022 after a disappointing 2021 live-only event and a cancellation in 2020. These events have led us to wonder: should E3 be gone for good?
E3 2022 Is Canceled
The news broke on 31st March 2022 via a tweet by Will Powers that E3 2022 is canceled, after originally having been slated for June, as is typical for the event.
In an ESA E3 2022 statement, the association confirmed this and mentioned that it would bring a “revitalized physical and digital E3 experience” for 2023.
Should E3 Be Canceled for Good?
With E3 being canceled twice in three years, you may be wondering whether it’s a sign of E3 being canceled for good. These are valid concerns with the changes to the video game industry in recent years, not just considering COVID and a global cost-of-living crisis but the way the big three companies (Microsoft, Sony, Nintendo) are operating.
Microsoft’s 2019 show was the most-watched E3 Twitch stream for the third straight year, according to GitHyp. Its acquisition of Activision-Blizzard, as well as owning 343 Studios (Halo) and Bethesda (The Elder Scrolls) means that Microsoft has enough scale to put on its own gaming conference using its own branded platforms. Microsoft also owns its own theater, so it seems likely it’ll want to capitalize on this by hosting Xbox events there in the near future.
Sony has been distancing itself from E3 even before the pandemic started. After its highly-populated 2018 conference, a couple of weeks later, the company announced it wouldn’t be attending the 2019 event. E3 2020 was canceled, and Sony didn’t show up at the online-only E3 2021 event either. Sony seems to have shifted its focus on showcasing future releases, instead using its new State of Play series to showcase upcoming games.
Nintendo perhaps pulled its punches a little with its E3 2021 contribution, showing new footage of various games it’d already announced but staying relatively shock-free. While Microsoft and Sony seem to have made alternative arrangements for showcasing their upcoming games to fans, Nintendo seems a little slow to the jump in comparison. But if only Nintendo were to attend E3 2023, would you feel that it was the same event as it was in previous years?
The idea of E3 being gone may sadden you if, like many gamers, you have nostalgia for events gone by that you either attended in person or watched online. But nobody wants an E3 that feels a shadow of its former self. On the other hand, if audiences are still invested in the event then companies have little to gain by disappointing fans.
E3 2021 viewership peaked at 3.8m according to Statista, with Nintendo leading. There is clearly still demand for the show even without the option to physically attend the event. In addition, E3 offers a way for all publishers and developers to put on a show for the audience on a neutral platform.
Even if PlayStation and Microsoft pull out, E3 could have indie game developers take their place. But the question is whether you think indie developers are enough to draw in the same type of viewership.
E3 Should Be Canceled
With the health risks present in current times of attending in-person events, various cost-of-living crises globally, and major E3 participants seemingly stepping back from the event, it seems time to cancel the event.
There is little point in continuing with an E3 where most of the publishers and developers aren’t even attending. Companies are placing more focus on their own branded platforms and assets because of the certainty it provides. Rather than saving up new information to bombard fans with news of games and consoles, they can keep their press releases rolling all year on their own schedule.
It’s important to note that with the lack of events where all gaming companies are playing fair and competing, there exists a danger of fans feeling further disconnected from video game companies.
Do You Think E3 Should Be Canceled?
There are arguments both for and against E3 being canceled for good, but judging on the current facts it does seem like it may be time for the event to hang up its boots. Whether you think this is right or not, it seems the motions are already in place for video game companies to replace their E3 contributions with new communication methods.
You may have to switch to online forums and other platforms to replace the speculation and news that would have previously come from E3.
