The worlds largest video game expo that was planned to take place in Los Angeles, has been cancelled. E3 2020 is being cancelled due to growing concerns regarding the global outbreak of COVID-19.
The Entertainment Software Association, the trade association that manages the expo, released a statement to press this morning:
“After careful consultation with our member companies regarding the health and safety of everyone in our industry—our fans, our employees, our exhibitors and our longtime E3 partners—we have made the difficult decision to cancel E3 2020, scheduled for June 9-11 in Los Angeles,”
The ESA also said that they will be “exploring options with our members to coordinate an online experience”, leading us to believe that some form of online showing will be available some time in June. Most of us would probably agree that the majority of what we are interested in at E3 are the trailers and announcements. So putting something together that is online should be still be stacked full of big game announcements and trailers.
Earlier this year, Geoff Keighley announced that he would be skipping E3 this year which took some people by surprise. Geoff Keighley has always been pretty closely tied to E3, assuming a various number of roles over the years. Here was Keighley’s response to E3 being cancelled.
E3 2020 has been cancelled. My heart has been on such a roller coaster the past month. To those of us who love games, we will find new and different ways to come together as a community. Please stay safe. pic.twitter.com/DlNW7SY5Bq
— Geoff Keighley (@geoffkeighley) March 11, 2020
When we have more information on the online announcements for E3 we’ll be sure to announce it.