E3 2022 has canceled plans for a physical event this year due to fears surrounding the ongoing COVID pandemic, and it is not yet ready to say whether there will be a digital event either. The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) initially confirmed to GamesBeat that there would be no physical event, and then IGN followed up by clarifying that an online-only E3 2022 is not guaranteed either.
“Due to the ongoing health risks surrounding COVID-19 and its potential impact on the safety of exhibitors and attendees, E3 will not be held in person in 2022,” an ESA statement reads. “We remain incredibly excited about the future of E3 and look forward to announcing more details soon.”
The last in-person E3 was held at the Los Angeles Convention Center in June 2019. Plans for a 2020 show were canceled altogether when the pandemic began to grow to uncontrollable levels early that same year. As the pandemic showed no sign of stopping throughout the next year, the industry began to adapt with digital presentations to fill the void left by a lack of in-person events, leaving the ESA to follow suit with E3’s first digital showcase in 2021. The ESA has yet to confirm which publishers and developers will offer their participation at E3 2022, should an online-only digital event proceed. Right now, it’s just clear that a physical E3 2022 is canceled.
