E3 2023, the highly anticipated gaming event, has been canceled after leading gaming companies, including Nintendo, Microsoft, and Ubisoft, announced they would not participate. Scheduled to take place in Los Angeles from June 13th to 16th, E3 aimed to make its in-person return since 2019, but faced challenges leading up to the event.
Uncertain Signs for E3’s Revival
In an email to employees, verified by IGN, E3 2023 “did not garner the sustained interest necessary to execute it in a way that would showcase the size, strength, and impact of our industry.” Kyle Marsden-Kish, global VP of gaming at ReedPop, expressed in an email to The Verge that the decision was difficult due to the effort involved, but it was the right choice for the industry and E3.
In an unexpected turn, E3 2023 has been canceled due to the withdrawal of major gaming companies from the event. The gaming world had eagerly anticipated the return of E3 as an in-person event in Los Angeles for the first time since 2019. However, the absence of industry giants like Nintendo, Microsoft, and Ubisoft cast a shadow over the event’s viability.
Marsden-Kish assured that ReedPop and the ESA will collaborate on future E3 events, hinting at a possible return in the coming years. In January, IGN reported that Microsoft, Nintendo, and Sony would all skip the show, with Nintendo and Microsoft later confirming their absence. Ubisoft, Sega, and Tencent also announced they would not attend E3.
Despite E3’s cancellation, June will still be filled with gaming news. Geoff Keighley’s Summer Game Fest is scheduled for June 8th, with the in-person Play Days component returning, according to IGN. Microsoft’s annual Xbox showcase and Starfield-focused show are set for June 11th, and Ubisoft’s in-person Ubisoft Forward Live will follow on June 12th.
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