Last night it was officially announced that E3 2022, the Electronic Entertainment Expo in Los Angeles, was canceled. There will be no physical or digital events.
The news has shaken fans, the press and companies in the sector, although there was already a vague hint of cancellation from last year. In 2021, in fact, due to the difficulties related to the pandemic, the event had an exclusively digital edition where, however, between ups and downs, some important announcements found ample scope. The 2022 edition was not so lucky and many see in this cancellation the prospects for a future that is anything but rosy for E3. Could this really be the case?
The value of E3
Since 1995, that of E3 has been a stage of great prestige for the world of video games which, for the first time in history, had an ever-increasing internationally renowned event at their disposal. As the name suggests, a real Expo until then absent, or at least not at those levels, which for the first time gave great prominence to the world of videogames, making itself known even by non-fans. Since then, even here between ups and downs, theE3 has maintained its own identity gathering under his management more and more software houses and companies willing to use that scenario to present the upcoming videogame news.
In recent years, thanks (or because?) Of the advent of new platforms and a refreshed initiative of the individual software houses, the importance of the event has decreased. Between State of Play, Showcase, DevLog and so on, companies have found new channels to tell their own stories up to, in some cases,abandonment of E3 itselfcome Sony. The evolution of the means of communication has had repercussions on the value of the Expo which, despite everything, has always defended itself well, remaining, even today, one of the most important events in the world that puts the medium of video games in its spotlight.
However, that of 2022 is the second edition to have been canceled, after that of 2020, in full pandemic. This time, however, the reasons given by the organizers were not very clear and this left air to numerous rumors that see an imminent end (already rumored) in the video game Expo.
E3 2022 has been canceled, could that be a good thing?
There’s no greater fan than me of what an event like E3 represents to the industry. I went to every E3 for 25 years. As the industry has evolved, the way our industry unites must evolve too.
I will always fight to do what I think is right for games – and don’t plan to stop.
— Geoff Keighley (@geoffkeighley) March 31, 2022
A more optimistic line of thought instead sees in this choice a hope for the future of the event. Whether you are a fan or not, it is undeniable that the formula proposed in recent years did not directly follow the rapid and drastic evolution that video games and its market have undergone. The decision to have canceled E3 2022 could in fact hide the desire for a revolution in the ways and means organization and use of E3 both by the public and by companies.
In fact, there are many who are already looking to the future, including l’ESA (Entertainment Software Association) itself. The organizers, through a press release said: “E3 will return in 2023 with a renewed showcase that celebrates new and exciting video games and industry innovations. We will devote all our energy and resources to delivering a revitalized physical and digital E3 experience next summer. Whether followed by the show floor or your favorite devices, the 2023 showcase will bring together the community, media and industry in a whole new format and interactive experience. We look forward to introducing E3 to fans around the world live from Los Angeles in 2023. “
Does the existence of E3 still make sense?
On the other hand, the voices, even here of gamers and companies, are of a completely different opinion they hope that E3 has come to an end. The disappointments of recent years have been burning and the pace, weight of the ads or simply the ways of use, have not pleased many and the E3 has been overwhelmed with criticism. At the same time, attention has turned to other events of similar importance such as the Gamescom Cologne or the same online events organized independently by the companies.
Whether you are for or against the existence of E3, it is important to keep in mind the historical and unitary value that such an event possesses vis-à-vis the market. In fact, there is no other organization that has brought practically all the protagonists of the videogame world into one place, so much so that it is known internationally even by those who have never played video games.
Having such a prominent figure in gaming gives value to video games themselves and to what revolves around you and as enthusiasts, we can only be grateful for this. We sincerely hope that this year of pause can bring a breath of fresh air in the creativity of the organizers and exhibitors, for a truly crazy E3 2023!
What do you think?