This week, another edition of the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) should take place, one of the oldest and largest video game conferences in the gaming industry. The event has been losing expression in recent years, mainly due to the abandonment of manufacturers such as Sony, but with the COVID-19 pandemic, since 2020 it has not been held. In 2021, the organization still held the event in an exclusive online format, but for 2022 the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) canceled all plans outlined, ending with news for 2023.
In an interview with The Washington Post, ESA president Stan Pierre-Louis reiterated that the organization still believes that E3 remains relevant in the gaming industry and that in 2023 it will return to the traditional face-to-face format, supported by the digital component.
"As much as we love these digital events, and as much as they reach more people, and we want that global reach, we also know that there is a strong desire for people to come together, to have the ability to connect in person.".
BUT: Official: E3 2022 canceled
With the pandemic, publishers have taken advantage of the calendar to make their own digital presentations. And the Summer Game Fest event, presented by the well-known journalist Geoff Keighley, has been filling this gap of an aggregator space for big video game announcements, trailer reveals and other industry news.
These events have also shown that the major publishers have alleviated the high costs of their presence, whether in travel and accommodation for their staff, the space occupied on the premises, while at the same time achieving results by making their presentations online. But Stan Pierre-Louis believes there is still room to hold the event “old fashion".
"I think what's great with all this experimentation is that companies of all sizes are trying to figure out what works best for promoting their products and the content they're trying to share with consumers.🇧🇷 And in that sense, he stresses that there is still room for a physical event. But at the same time the importance of digital reach. “Combining the two, I think that's the critical element that we think E3 can deliver.”, highlights the president of the ESA.
