With the current concerns over the Omicron wave, the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) has made an early call in regards to E3 2022. As reported by GamesBeat, the annual gaming convention is once again forgoing the physical component, and going online instead. This will be the second year in a row that the show is digital following its cancellation back in 2020.
“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,” the organizers of E3, the ESA, told GamesBeat. “We remain incredibly excited about the future of E3 and look forward to announcing more details soon.”
While it seems like a good move by the ESA amid the rising concerns of the Omicron COVID-19 variant, it remains to be seen if a physical show will still be possible, or if there will be a show at all. Following the less than ideal state of affairs at last year’s show, E3 2022 may not be as important an industry event as before.
Publishers and developers can easily reach fans online by doing their own livestreams and events, and the shadows of Geoff Keighley, alongside The Game Awards and other more fan-friendly events like PAX, loom large over E3.
