E3 is still likely to take place in 2024 and beyond, according to a statement from the ESA. The statement came after a meeting of the Los Angeles City Tourism Commission, which provided data that considered the cancellation of E3 in 2024 and 2025.
In a statement to Gamesindustry.biz, a spokesperson wrote that the industry is “currently having conversations about E3 2024 (and beyond)”. However, they later stated that “no final decision has been made regarding the campaign at this time”.
Kyle Marsden-Kish, global vice president of gaming at ReedPop, said it was a “difficult decision” to make following the cancellation of E3 2023. In its absence, the summer slot is packed with publisher-run shows, Geoff Keighley’s Summer Games Fest, and a selection of other individual shows highlighting games in their particular niche.
It’s worth noting that ongoing discussions in no way suggest that E3 2024 will necessarily be a success. The show didn’t run in 2023 due to a lack of interest from publishers, and ESA will have to re-earn that to justify future shows. After an E3-style summer presentation that was largely problem-free, and media and influencers providing ample opportunities for interviews and previews in the real world, it’s hard to see a shift in the companies’ minds on the matter.
But, you never know. Maybe E3 will return better than ever, with perks that the current announcement season doesn’t have. We’ll be watching E3 and the ESA closely in the coming months to find out.
(iGamesNews is a site owned by Reedpop, which partnered with ESA to produce the E3).
