POLAND - 2021/06/15: In this photo illustration an E3 logo displayed on a smartphone with stock market percentages on the background. (Photo Illustration by Omar Marques/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
E3 2024 looks to be cancelled
Gamesindustry.biz reported today that Reedpop (their parent company) and the ESA have parted ways. This news comes a matter of months after the two signed a multi-year deal in order to host E3 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. As a result, E3 2024 looks to be cancelled.
Now, of course, the event may still happen but the odds of that actually occurring are slim to none at this point. Remember, ReedPop and the ESA signed a multiple year agreement for E3, but then E3 2023 was cancelled shortly afterward. Rumors around the event were that of poor planning and setup by ReedPop, making attempts by developers and publishers to iron out details for booths, panels, etc nearly impossible. Many developers backed out of the event, including the likes of Nintendo, Xbox and Ubisoft. With so many “big dogs” out of the event, the ESA was left with no choice but to cancel the event.
“We appreciate ReedPop’s partnership over the past 14 months and support their ongoing efforts to bring industry and fans together through their various events,” said ESA president and CEO Stanley Pierre-Louis.
“While the reach of E3 remains unmatched in our industry, we are continuing to explore how we can evolve it to best serve the video game industry and are evaluating every aspect of the event, from format to location. We are committed to our role as a convenor for the industry and look forward to sharing news about E3 in the coming months.”
Even if the event does pop off (pun intended), it won’t be at the LA Convention Center. This means that the ESA would need to find a new host and venue, along with organizing the major details of the event so developers and publishers will actually know what to do, all within about two months. The reason being that E3 is a huge event, and the main panels are usually planned about by the end of the previous year.
It is a bit surprising that ReedPop has so much of an issue with E3 seeing as they have so much experience running PAX events along with New York City Comic Con. What are your thoughts on E3? Do you think or want it to be back, or are you content with the digital showcases? Let us know below.
