E3 is Back this Year: What we Know so Far.
E3, a long-standing event in the gaming industry, is currently undergoing significant changes. In the past few years, several major publishers have withdrawn from the event and the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted plans. As a result, the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) decided to cancel the 2022 E3 event. However, the ESA later announced that E3 will return in 2023 with some major updates, including a new organizer. Below is a summary of what we know about E3 2023 so far.
E3 is Back!
The Eectronic Entertainment Expo (E3) will be held at the Los Angeles Convention Center from June 13-16, 2023, marking the return of live events after a three-year break. The event will be divided into two parts: E3 Business Days and E3 Gamer Days. E3 Business Days, which are open only to registered industry members, will take place on June 13-15 and will feature networking opportunities, meetings, and hands-on demos of upcoming games in industry-only spaces. E3 Gamer Days, which are open to the public, will be held on June 15-16 and will allow players to try out the same upcoming games and connect with developers and content creators. This area will also be open to industry members on their designated days.
Before the official start of E3 2023, there will be a series of “partnered digital events and showcases” from June 11 onwards. It is likely that these events will be separate showcases from major gaming companies such as Microsoft, Ubisoft, Nintendo, and Sony, as these companies have traditionally held their own events prior to the start of E3. These events will be in addition to the ones held on the show floor itself.
New Organizer
Previously, the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) was responsible for organizing E3, but in 2023, that role will be taken over by ReedPop, the company behind events such as PAX, NYCC, and Star Wars Celebration. The ESA will still be involved as a partner of ReedPop. ReedPop stated, “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 web sites.” The ESA is a lobbying group that represents the interests of video game companies in Washington D.C. In 2018, a US politician from Hawaii accused the ESA or people working on its behalf of attempting to halt efforts to regulate loot boxes in video games. In 2019, the ESA faced criticism after accidentally leaking the personal information of video game journalists and other members of the media.
E3 2023 has been confirmed for June 2023, and more details about the event are expected to be announced in the coming months. This will include information about the specific schedule for the event and other important details for both the main event and any associated showcases. As the event is only about six months away, fans can look forward to more updates soon.
