Fears mount that E3 will be canceled after more publishers pull out

[midian182]

In brief: With so many companies pulling out of E3, it's starting to feel like the pandemic all over again. And, just like those dark days, it's beginning to look like the event will be canceled. Covid-19 isn't to blame this time; it's just a lack of interest in taking part in an event that few publishers view as important anymore.

Update: Shortly after this report went live, IGN was informing that E3 2023 has been cancelled.

After Nintendo, Xbox, Sony, and Ubisoft all confirmed they wouldn't be attending this year's E3, IGN reports that Sega and Tencent are also skipping the event. "After careful consideration, we have decided not to participate in E3 2023 as an exhibitor. We look forward to sharing more information on announced and unannounced projects in the future," said Sega. Tencent also confirmed that subsidiary Level Infinite would not be at E3, either.

With so many big names set to be absent this year, numerous individuals in publishing and PR are concerned that E3 2023 could be canceled. Many said they hadn't heard of anyone else who was planning to attend for sure, and sources say a lack of communication from both the ESA and organizer ReedPop only compounded the uncertainty about what to expect from the event.

Even before Ubisoft said it was skipping E3 to hold its own Ubisoft Forward Live event on June 12, a source told IGN that "there's no possible way this show can happen."

E3 2023: https://t.co/VYzoGTbuZA pic.twitter.com/caqP4iyCeE

— Ultima | #вÊÂм (@UltimaShadowX) March 28, 2023

Another publisher who won't be visible during the event is Devolver Digital. Although it has never officially attended E3, the company sets up its own show in a parking lot opposite the main hall. These surreal and hilarious events are often a highlight of the E3 schedule, but DD has confirmed it won't be hosting any of these satellite shows this year.

There was a time when E3 was the most important date on the gaming calendar, but it had started to lose its appeal even before Covid hit. It's possible that more companies will pull out before proceedings start on June 11, which could see the first in-person show for three years canceled before its return - reports claim several publishers have already decided not to attend but have yet to make official announcements. Should the worst happen, there's a strong possibility E3 would disappear permanently - at least in its current format.

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https://www.techspot.com/news/98136-more-publishers-pull-out-e3-many-fear-show.html

 

[Theinsanegamer]

E3 has been a snooze fest for a long time, and if the showrunners are still this scared of the cold, then they may as well cancel it.

 

[Blqckout]

Ok, now explain why they are pulling out

 

[RudyBob]

Maybe if they served beer. It is the highlight of so many events

 

[MasterMace]

Turn it into an Indie Game show and it will flourish

 

[lonetac]

Went to pax east last weekend, it was similar in many ways. Ive been to Pax before and you would get AAA companies and big name brands. This time it was nearly ALL indie games. The only AAA company there was nintendo and they were not promoting anything new.

All these big companies have their own shows now so they dont need to go to these expo's anymore.

 

[Kam7r]

For me, if E3 is canceled this year, it's dead, it will never come back, it's finished imo

 

[daffy duck]

These sorts of huge events are very 20th century. They cost a bomb for companies to rent a space especially if they want a higher profile. Australia has no computer shows, no Motoring shows, no camera shows at best we are down to camping and boat shows. They weren't driving sales to even warrant the cost and were all abandoned.

 

[bviktor]

It's canceled.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1641546610218811393

And that's probably the end of it all.

So sad. End of an era. Back in the 2000s it was always the highlight of the year for gamers. All magazines had their "E3 special" issue during this time of the year, they were literally all about the event. X announced this, Y announced that. Heck, in 2003, 576 Konzol even had an E3 DVD for purchase (I got it, thankfully). And of course, the babes (but that's sexist now, as we know it). It was really like xmas for gaming.

And now it's gone. Farewell

 

[d5aqoep]

The game and hardware companies have grown larger than E3 itself. Everyone’s following Apple in that aspect.

 

[lonetac]

It's canceled.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1641546610218811393

And that's probably the end of it all.

So sad. End of an era. Back in the 2000s it was always the highlight of the year for gamers. All magazines had their "E3 special" issue during this time of the year, they were literally all about the event. X announced this, Y announced that. Heck, in 2003, 576 Konzol even had an E3 DVD for purchase (I got it, thankfully). And of course, the babes (but that's sexist now, as we know it). It was really like xmas for gaming.

And now it's gone. Farewell

Just go to pax or one of the other 100 video game conventions. E3 hasnt been for gamers for awhile now.

 

[pcnthuziast]

Video games are boring af.

 

[NewSparrow]

Since all the big fish are going the Apple way and having their own event, why not open up to the small indie companies to showcase what they have? Seems it's going to become the next Comdex if it doesn't change.

 

[lonetac]

Since all the big fish are going the Apple way and having their own event, why not open up to the small indie companies to showcase what they have? Seems it's going to become the next Comdex if it doesn't change.

You just described Pax, it already exists.