In 2020, The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) was kept from hosting an Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) due to the eruption of the COVID-19 pandemic, skipping the year entirely. While an online showcase took the usual physical event"s place in 2021, another skip is happening in 2022.
Confirmed by various media figures and independently by IGN, ESA will not be hosting a physical nor a digital E3 showcase this year. While details are scarce as to why the sudden cancellation happened, according to sources close to the organization talking to IGN, the event planner wants to "regroup for a larger comeback in 2023."
The official event itself is no longer being held, but expect quite a few "E3 week" shows to still surface in June by lone publishers and other event holders. For example, Microsoft is sure to hold a massive festival to show off its upcoming Xbox and Bethesda games during that time as it does every year. The same should happen with Nintendo and Ubisoft. Unfortunately, EA is also a company that won"t be hosting a dedicated major event this year, with it planning to spread out its announcements more.
Join us this June for @SummerGameFest - an industry wide celebration of video games, featuring a spectacular live kickoff show hosted by @geoffkeighley
— Summer Game Fest 2022 (@summergamefest) March 31, 2022
Sign up at https://t.co/1ZwAhZ66ie to be the first to know details. pic.twitter.com/P2eLRISqfQ
At the same time as news broke of the E3 cancellation, The Game Awards" Geoff Keighley took the opportunity to announce another Summer Game Fest. Possibly being the main replacement showcase, the 2022 edition of the event will be returning in June with a live kickoff event.