The Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3), the annual gaming convention, has apparently been canceled due to the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak, according to a number of sources.
While the news has not yet been confirmed by the Electronic Software Association (ESA), multiple sources speaking to Ars Technica have reportedly confirmed the three-day show will not be going ahead in early June. Those sources were then backed up by a short tweet by the developer Devolver Digital, which appeared to confirm the rumors.
For the unfamiliar, E3 is the biggest annual show in gaming. Stretched out over three days every June, it’s the premier event for publishers to show off new games. While the event has been rocked by a number of blunders and major mistakes over the years, E3 is still one of the biggest and busiest events for the gaming industry — and it’s seen as so vital it hasn’t missed a year since 1996. That is, until now.
Despite the lack of statement (yet) from the ESA, Ars Technica seems content to treat the news as confirmed, and claims its sources come “directly from ESA members.” A public statement was apparently scheduled to go live yesterday, Tuesday, March 10, but did not materialize. The ESA has previously published how it was planning on responding to the outbreak, with hand-washing guidance and avoiding contact with those who are sick.
It would not be surprising to see the show postponed as a result of the coronavirus outbreak, and it would be only the latest in a number of events canceled by the virus. Only yesterday, Huawei broke the news it would not be holding a physical launch event for its new P40 Pro smartphone, and would instead be holding an online event. Other large-scale events have also been canceled due to fears the outbreak could be worsened, including Google’s annual I/O conference and the Geneva Motor Show. The virus has even pushed back the release of the new James Bond film, No Time to Die.
But this major cancellation could have a bigger impact on E3 than some other events. Social media means it is easier than ever to make huge announcements without the need for a third-party, and we’re seeing more and more big names start to drop out of the convention altogether. Sony had already dropped out of E3 for the second year in a row, while Nintendo has effectively replaced the show with its own Nintendo Direct online events. Really, the loss of E3 this year will underline whether publishers and developers really need E3 any more.
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