E3 2020 will no longer go ahead, multiple sources have told GameSpot. Rumors swirled today that the consumer and trade show would soon be officially canceled amidst dwindling support from video game publishers and platform holders, as well as ongoing safety concerns due to coronavirus. Several sources have confirmed the news to GameSpot, but the ESA has still not officially announced the cancellation.
The first rumblings came from a tweet made by publisher Devolver Digital that encouraged people to cancel their E3 plans, flights, and accommodation. Since then, Ars Technica also published a report stating the cancellation is imminent. Speaking to GameSpot, multiple sources with knowledge on the matter have also indicated this to be the case.
This would mark the first time the annual event skipped a year. GameSpot has reached out to the ESA for an official statement.
This is the latest in a long line of major global events cancelled over concerns relating to COVID-19 (coronavirus). GDC 2020 was postponed, while other cancelled events include SXSW and Emerald City Comic Con. As of March 6, there were still plans to continue with E3 2020, but that has since changed.
Even before it became clear that the coronavirus was likely to lead to the event’s cancellation, E3 2020 looked to be in bad shape. PlayStation was not planning on attending, Geoff Keighley had dropped out of hosting the E3 Colosseum, and iam8bit had stepped away from its creative director position.
Here are lists of every publisher that was attending E3 2020. The cancellation of E3 2020 will have a major impact on how these companies announce and market their games.
We’ll continue to update with more details–including how announcements scheduled for E3 will be delivered–as they become available.
