E3 will return in June 2023

Along with returning BlizzCon, many gaming conventions are making their comebacks, including the long-awaited E3. The organizers of E3 announced that the gaming conference will return in June 2023.

While two years ago we could experience E3 in an online format, 2022 was entirely skipped due to unexpected circumstances.

Traditionally, E3 was held in a large venue across three days in June, where worldwide-known publishers presented their upcoming projects. Usually, hosts and developers interact with the live E3 audience while presenting their games and some companies even invite actors who feature characters in their upcoming games. For example, the showcase of Cyberpunk 2077 in 2019 with Keanu Reeves became a golden moment in the gaming industry. 

E3 2022 cancelled

E3 in 2022 was confirmed earlier this year in a digital show format, however, it was later cancelled. There are no specific reasons why it became impossible to hold the event, but many speculate that it was done because of the publisher’s lack of interest. Many companies started to present new projects on their own online showcases so it seems that there’s basically no need for another digital show. 

Another aspect is COVID-19, which throws up roadblocks to every organizer who wants to prepare a LAN tournament or gaming event with viewers. After 2 years of the pandemic, there are still consequences and outbursts that ruin the plans. 

Stan Pierre-Louis, CEO of organizer ESA commented in a Washington Post interview:“What I can tell you is that Covid has been a driving factor for anyone who conducts physical events for the past three years.” 

E3 2023 to take place in LA

Despite the fact that this year’s event was cancelled, the organizers announced that E3 is coming back in 2023 in an offline format. The conference will be held in June 2023 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. The main partner of the conference will be ReedPop, which is behind New York ComicCon and EGX, and the company also owns leading media brands in the gaming industry. 

According to the announcement, the event will feature both digital presentations and in-person components, so the conference can be visited by gaming fans. The registration for media outlets and representatives will be available later this year as well as event schedule and travel guides.   

ReedPop’s President, Lance Fensterman claimed about E3 2023: “It is a tremendous honor and privilege for ReedPop to take on the responsibility of bringing E3 back in 2023.

“With the support and endorsement of the ESA, we’re going to build a world-class event to serve the global gaming industry in new and broader ways than we already do at ReedPop through our portfolio of world-leading events and websites.”

Header credit: E3