The ESA will attempt a hybrid E3 again next year

[Daniel Sims]

Why it matters: In March, the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) canceled the 2022 Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3), which would have been this month. Covid has hit this expo harder than others over the last three years, but the ESA isn't quite ready to give up.

In an interview with the Washington Post this week, ESA president and CEO Stan Pierre-Louis reiterated the association's commitment to holding an in-person and online E3 next summer. However, the ESA hasn't confirmed a precise date.

This year's E3 cancellation was the second in three years. Covid — the cause of E3 2020's cancellation — wasn't the only source of controversy surrounding the expo and the ESA, as attendees criticized how the association handled the backend of the online-only E3 2021.

The ESA fought to justify E3's existence in 2021, already in question pre-pandemic, attempting to adapt to a virtual environment. But the result is an embarrassment. What does E3 now contribute as a virtual trade show, beyond brand "prestige?" Even that only goes so far.

— Matt Brown (@mattjbrown) June 7, 2021

Afterward, the status of E3 2022 was immediately in doubt. After each E3, the ESA usually reveals the next expo's date, but last year it simply announced a hybrid E3 with an unspecified 2022 date. The ESA changed its mind again in January, making it an online-only event. That decision was largely based on the Omicron variant's impact on CES and Sundance Film Festival. The ESA finally scrapped E3 2022 plans altogether in March, with Pierre-Louis citing Covid as the cause.

However, other 2022 game industry events are taking place in various forms despite the pandemic. March's 2022 Game Developers Conference was in-person. The Summer Game Fest this Thursday will be in-person and online, as will Gamescom in August. September's Tokyo Game Show will be in-person.

As other physical events learn to live with Covid and the game industry adapts without E3, next year may decide the future of its existence.

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https://www.techspot.com/news/94862-esa-attempt-hybrid-e3-again-next-year.html

 

[Dimitriid]

Unpopular opinion: these massive events shouldn't happen at the scale they used to even if there was 0 chance of spreading a dangerous virus well, there's always the risk and always logistical issues and a lot of people put in a lot of pressure to make this massive events happen when we've show that well, we didn't actually need any of them we've been fine without em.

 

[texasrattler]

I thought online event was fine. Maybe because I don't have or never had time for in person. Online imo means more people get to see more. Online isn't without its technical issues that can happen at even given moment. Nothing will ever be 100% or go without issues, just not realistic to think otherwise. Covid and other diseases have changed the world. Yes covid isn't the only disease in the world. If you really are worried about getting anything then don't be around people in big spaces. There is nothing or never will be 100% protection. Best judgement and what you view is best for you and your family is best protection against anything.

 

[Theinsanegamer]

"muh covid" sure is a convenient excuse when even the super lefty institutions that worship the federal government like god have reopened by now. Only a twitter sized minority still care. Nobody's scared of a cold, frankly colds hit harder then anything past delta.

E3 was already a dead man walking with widespread internet leaks over anything interesting and the gaming industry turning into a glorified casino.

Unpopular opinion: these massive events shouldn't happen at the scale they used to even if there was 0 chance of spreading a dangerous virus well, there's always the risk and always logistical issues and a lot of people put in a lot of pressure to make this massive events happen when we've show that well, we didn't actually need any of them we've been fine without em.

By that logic you should never do anything, because there is ALWAYS danger, and most people do not cower in fear of their lives from every shadow in the night.

Covid strains today have a death rate comparable to other colds and flus, diseases so minor in the grand scheme of things nobody cared one iota until the media spun up its hype train. You are more likely to die driving to the grocery store, going to the doctor, or being hit by a meteor at this point unless you are over 70, fat, diabetic, with a failing heart and a quarter lung.

Every human, every day, takes on riskier activities (yes even you dimitriid) then the Great Red Lung poses to them on a daily basis. We call it "acceptable risk", and a disease with a 99.9% survival rate falls under that category for the vast majority of humanity.

 

[VaRmeNsI]

It's like people forgot death existed before wuflu.

 

[Fearghast]

TBH, next year, no one will care for E3 any more, it will be thoroughly replaced by other events.
My bets are pretty much on Geoff Keighley.

 

[ZedRM]

They don't get it. Trade shows need to be hands on. No virtual crap. Make it a full on convention or don't do it!