E3 2023
{{Short description|Cancelled 27th annual Electronic Entertainment Expo}}
{{Infobox recurring event
| name = Electronic Entertainment Expo 2023
| logo =
| logo_size =
| logo_alt =
| image =
| caption =
| status = Cancelled
| genre =
| begins = June 13, 2023 (cancelled)
| ends = June 16, 2023 (cancelled)
| venue = Los Angeles Convention Center
| location = Los Angeles, California
| country = United States
| prev = E3 2022 (cancelled)
E3 2021
| next = E3 2024 (cancelled){{Cite news |date=2023-09-07 |title=E3 2024 in doubt, as organiser exits and location abandoned |language=en |work=Eurogamer.net |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/e3-2024-in-doubt-as-organiser-exits-and-location-abandoned |access-date=2023-10-04}}{{Cite web |date=2023-09-07 |title=E3 confirms no 2024 LA event, with 'complete reinvention' reportedly planned for 2025 |url=https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/e3-confirms-no-2024-la-event-with-complete-reinvention-reportedly-planned-for-2025/ |access-date=2023-10-04 |website=VGC |language=en-GB}}
| attendance =
| organizer = Entertainment Software Association
ReedPop
| filing = Non-profit
}}
The Electronic Entertainment Expo 2023 (E3 2023) would have been the 27th E3, during which hardware manufacturers, software developers, and publishers from the video game industry would have presented new and upcoming products. The event, organized by the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) and produced by ReedPop, was scheduled to take place at the Los Angeles Convention Center from June 13–16, 2023.{{Cite web |last=Givens |first=Billy |date=2022-09-26 |title=E3 2023: Dates and Details Announced |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/e3-2023-dates-and-details-announced |access-date=2022-12-18 |website=IGN |language=en |archive-date=2022-12-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221218205559/https://www.ign.com/articles/e3-2023-dates-and-details-announced |url-status=live }} However, on March 30, the event was officially confirmed to be cancelled due to lack of interest,{{cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/e3-has-been-canceled|title=E3 Has Been Canceled|website=IGN|last=Valentine|first=Rebekah|date=March 30, 2023|access-date=May 5, 2023|archive-date=April 2, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230402214217/https://www.ign.com/articles/e3-has-been-canceled|url-status=live}} namely as a result of Xbox Game Studios, Sony Interactive Entertainment, and Nintendo all choosing to forego attending E3 that year, which would have marked the first time since E3 1995 that none of the console manufacturers would have been in attendance. In addition, other gaming-related companies like Sega, Tencent, and Bandai Namco all pulled out of E3 2023 prior to its cancellation.{{cite web|url=https://www.gematsu.com/2023/03/sega-and-level-infinite-to-skip-e3-2023|title=SEGA and Level Infinite to skip E3 2023|last=Romano|first=Sal|date=Mar 30, 2023|access-date=2023-03-31|archive-date=2023-03-31|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230331111006/https://www.gematsu.com/2023/03/sega-and-level-infinite-to-skip-e3-2023|url-status=live}} In lieu of that, several publishers made plans to continue with presentations of game announcements during the planned E3 period, while others opted to use more traditional marketing throughout the year.
The ESA initially planned to resume the E3 in 2024, but in September 2023, the ESA stated that the event was cancelled.{{Cite news |date=2023-06-22 |title=E3 2024 and 2025 cancelled according to Los Angeles tourism department |language=en-gb |work=Eurogamer.net |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/e3-2024-and-2025-cancelled-according-to-los-angeles-tourism-department |access-date=2023-06-25 |archive-date=June 22, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230622215626/https://www.eurogamer.net/e3-2024-and-2025-cancelled-according-to-los-angeles-tourism-department |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |date=2023-09-07 |title=E3 2024 in doubt, as organiser exits and location abandoned |language=en |work=Eurogamer.net |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/e3-2024-in-doubt-as-organiser-exits-and-location-abandoned |access-date=2023-09-11}}{{Cite web |date=2023-09-07 |title=E3 confirms no 2024 LA event, with 'complete reinvention' reportedly planned for 2025 |url=https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/e3-confirms-no-2024-la-event-with-complete-reinvention-reportedly-planned-for-2025/ |access-date=2023-09-09 |website=VGC |language=en-GB}} The ESA announced in December 2023 that the E3 would be discontinued.{{Cite news |last=Park |first=Gene |date=December 12, 2023 |title=E3, once gaming's biggest expo, is officially dead |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/video-games/2023/12/12/e3-permanently-canceled/ |access-date=December 12, 2023 |newspaper=The Washington Post}}
Format and changes
The ESA announced in July 2022 that E3 2023 would be the first in person E3 event held since 2019. The 2020 and 2022 events were cancelled outright, while the 2021 event was held in a digital format.{{Cite web |last=Spangler |first=Todd |date=2022-09-26 |title=E3 2023 Dates Set for In-Person Games Expo in L.A. |url=https://variety.com/2022/gaming/news/e3-2023-dates-games-expo-la-1235383682/ |access-date=2022-12-18 |website=Variety |language=en-US |archive-date=2022-12-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221218205747/https://variety.com/2022/gaming/news/e3-2023-dates-games-expo-la-1235383682/ |url-status=live }} ReedPop, which produces PAX festivals, New York Comic Con and Star Wars Celebration, would organize a new format.{{Cite web |last=McWhertor |first=Michael |date=2022-07-07 |title=E3 to return in 2023 with first in-person event since 2019 |url=https://www.polygon.com/23197143/e3-2023-dates-physical-event-reedpop |access-date=2022-12-19 |website=Polygon |language=en-US |archive-date=2022-12-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221219183926/https://www.polygon.com/23197143/e3-2023-dates-physical-event-reedpop |url-status=live }} Three months later, it was announced that the event would include three "Business Days" where the floor would be limited to developers, publishers, retailers, and recognized journalists, while two days at a separate location would be held as "Fan Days" for all members of the public.{{cite web |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/e3-is-returning-in-june-2023-with-separate-business-days-and-gamer-days |title=E3 is returning in June 2023 with separate 'Business Days' and 'Gamer Days' |website=PC Gamer |date=September 26, 2022}}
Prior to the event, it was announced in January 2023 that none of the first-party publishers would attend the event with Nintendo confirming their absence the following month.{{cite web | url =https://www.ign.com/articles/xbox-nintendo-sony-skipping-e3-2023 | title = Exclusive: Xbox, Nintendo, and Sony Won't Be Part of E3 2023 | first = Kat | last = Bailey | date = January 30, 2023 | accessdate = January 30, 2023 | work = IGN}}{{cite web | url = https://www.theverge.com/2023/2/24/23613605/nintendo-e3-not-attending-show-2023 | title = Nintendo confirms it won't be part of E3 2023 | first = Jay | last = Peters | date = February 24, 2023 | accessdate= February 24, 2023 | work = The Verge}} Most third-party publishers pulled out two months later.{{cite news |last1=Bailey |first1=Kate |title=Rumors Swirl Around E3's Future as Sega, Even More Publishers Back Out |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/rumors-swirl-around-e3s-future-as-sega-even-more-publishers-back-out |access-date=29 March 2023 |agency=IGN |date=29 March 2023}}
= Cancellation =
On March 30, 2023, E3 2023 was officially cancelled by the ESA. Its president and CEO, Stanley Pierre-Louis, cited a change in the game development timeline since the COVID-19 pandemic, causing companies to have a lack of playable demos. He also made the observation that brands have been more willing to market using digital events rather than in-person ones.{{Cite web |last=Buckley |first=Sean |date=2023-03-30 |title=E3 2023 has been canceled |url=https://www.engadget.com/e3-2023-has-been-canceled-211201976.html |access-date=2023-03-31 |website=Engadget |language=en-US |archive-date=2023-03-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230331001847/https://www.engadget.com/e3-2023-has-been-canceled-211201976.html |url-status=live }}
Alternative events
= Summer Game Fest =
Summer Game Fest kicked off with a live kickoff show on June 8, 2023, hosted by Geoff Keighley. It continued throughout the month of June. Unlike in previous years where the event was virtually livestreamed, the event was open to the general public.{{Cite web |title=Summer Game Fest - Live in June 2023 |url=https://www.summergamefest.com/ |access-date=2022-12-19 |website=www.summergamefest.com |archive-date=2022-12-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221219002202/https://www.summergamefest.com/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Rowe |first=Willa |title=Hot Geoff Summer returns! Summer Game Fest gets an in-person event for 2023 |url=https://www.inverse.com/gaming/summer-game-fest-2023-dates-game-demos-tickets-livestream |access-date=2022-12-19 |website=Inverse |language=en |archive-date=2022-12-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221215194342/https://www.inverse.com/gaming/summer-game-fest-2023-dates-game-demos-tickets-livestream |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |date=2022-12-01 |title=Summer Game Fest returns just before E3 2023 next June |url=https://www.digitaltrends.com/gaming/summer-game-fest-start-date-before-e3/ |access-date=2022-12-19 |website=Digital Trends |language=en |archive-date=2022-12-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221219002200/https://www.digitaltrends.com/gaming/summer-game-fest-start-date-before-e3/ |url-status=live }}
= Xbox =
Xbox hosted an Xbox Games Showcase on June 11, 2023. Another presentation, called "Starfield Direct" that was centered around the Bethesda game Starfield, followed the showcase.{{Cite web |author1=Dustin Bailey |date=2023-03-08 |title=Xbox Games Showcase 2023 confirmed for E3 week |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/xbox-games-showcase-2023-confirmed-for-e3-week/ |access-date=2023-03-09 |website=gamesradar |language=en |archive-date=2023-03-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230308212221/https://www.gamesradar.com/xbox-games-showcase-2023-confirmed-for-e3-week/ |url-status=live }} Microsoft has confirmed that Xbox would not officially be on the E3 show floor, but would have been co-streaming the digital event.{{Cite web |last=Bailey |first=Kat |date=2023-03-10 |title=Xbox Confirms It Won't be on E3 2023 Showfloor |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/xbox-confirms-it-wont-be-on-e3-showfloor-will-co-stream-digital-week |access-date=2023-03-11 |website=IGN |language=en |archive-date=2023-03-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230311000905/https://www.ign.com/articles/xbox-confirms-it-wont-be-on-e3-showfloor-will-co-stream-digital-week |url-status=live }}
= Ubisoft =
Despite prior reports stating that Ubisoft would attend E3 2023,{{Cite web |date=2023-02-20 |title=Ubisoft confirmed for E3 2023 |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/ubisoft-confirmed-for-e3-2023 |access-date=2023-06-09 |website=GamesIndustry.biz |language=en}} they announced in late March 2023 that they would do a Ubisoft Forward video presentation on June 12, 2023, instead.{{cite news |last1=Zwiezen |first1=Zack |title=Ubisoft Is Skipping E3 2023 As The Show Continues To Fall Apart |url=https://kotaku.com/e3-2023-canceled-ubisoft-backs-out-skipping-xbox-sony-1850269997 |access-date=28 March 2023 |agency=Kotaku |date=28 March 2023 |archive-date=28 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230328010112/https://kotaku.com/e3-2023-canceled-ubisoft-backs-out-skipping-xbox-sony-1850269997 |url-status=live }} Games covered during the event included Star Wars Outlaws, Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, The Crew Motorfest, and Assassin's Creed Mirage.{{Cite web |first=Logan |last=Plant |date=2023-06-12 |title=Ubisoft Forward 2023: Everything Announced |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/ubisoft-forward-2023-everything-announced |access-date=2023-06-16 |website=IGN |language=en}}
= Nintendo =
Nintendo, after confirming their absence from the now-cancelled E3 2023, held a Nintendo Direct on June 21, 2023. Many games were announced during the Nintendo Direct such as the new side-scroller platform game Super Mario Bros. Wonder, a remake of the role playing game Super Mario RPG, and Pikmin 4.{{cite web |title=Super Mario Bros. Wonder, Super Mario RPG, and many more games announced for Nintendo Switch |url=https://www.nintendo.com/whatsnew/nintendo-direct-june-2023-recap/ |website=Nintendo |access-date=27 June 2023}}
References
{{Reflist}}{{portal bar|COVID-19|2020s|Video games}}{{Electronic Entertainment Expo}}
Category:Cancelled events in the United States
Category:Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the video game industry