The Electronic Entertainment Expo, or E3, is being relocated to a purely online showcase for the second year in a row, with a one-year break GamesBeat.
Shared in a statement with GamesBeat, the Entertainment Software Association (ESA), which runs the E3, cited concerns about the ongoing pandemic now fueled by the Omicron variant, which has caused a surge in confirmed infections. It is currently unclear when or if E3 will return as a face-to-face event.
“Due to the ongoing health risks related to Covid-19 and the possible effects on the safety of exhibitors and visitors, E3 2022 will not be held in person,” said a statement by ESA. “We are still excited about the future of E3 and look forward to announcing further details soon.”
When asked for a comment by email from ESA, gave Kotaku the same statement that says she will “share updates as messages”.
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There were rumors that E3 would be held in person in 2021 after last year’s online and 2020’s completely canceled, but ESA decided to do the storefront online only when the delta variant of the coronavirus turned people’s lives upside down. The dates for E3 2022 have yet to be confirmed, but the event usually takes place in the first or second full week of June. It is worth noting that according to business analyst Mike Futter, the ESA had “given up” [its] Dates for the LACC “at the end of November 2021. This means that ESA could have abandoned plans for a face-to-face event before the full impact of omicron is realized.
And of course, Last year’s E3 was a mess. Many companies, including PlayStation, then opted out of the event for the later 2020 show, which was canceled, while others hosted their own live streams. The whole thing made E3 2021, the largest event in the gaming sector, seem sparse and a little unnecessary. Hopefully this year ESA will iron out the kinks for a smoother show.
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