E3 Aims to Return in 2023
Normally, this time of year would be filled with fervent speculation about an upcoming event. “What games will they show off?” “Will this game get a sequel?” “What kind of wacky antics will Devolver Digital get up to?” “Which studio ‘won’ the event?” For the past couple years, Covid has left all those questions without a usual answer. Companies moved to other avenues for generating hype – internal announcements, direct reveals, and so on. The Electronic Entertainment Expo, or E3, has been seemingly left behind.
But that may soon change. As of a recent Washington Post interview, the association’s president promised a return.
“We’re excited about coming back in 2023 with both a digital and an in-person event,” said Stan Pierre-Louis, ESA president and CEO. “As much as we love these digital events, and as much as they reach people and we want that global reach, we also know that there’s a really strong desire for people to convene—to be able to connect in person and see each other and talk about what makes games great.”
A specific date window has not been specified, but at this point we’re a year out from the event anyway. They’ve got plenty of time to figure something out.
If this ideation turns true, the future of games advertising may reach a unique age. With all the major announcements sequestered off for The Game Awards or any publisher-specific outlets, what will be left over for E3? Will these extra avenues be pulled back in favor of the larger event? Or will people just prefer the modern tactics, and leave E3 in the past? Only time will tell, but any outcome will be interesting.