by To update [Wed 1st Feb, 2023 03:45 GMT]: The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) has now provided a statement in response to IGN’s story – saying it remains committed to E3. Here it is in full:
As you probably saw, IGN published an E3 article last night. While we’re unable to comment on the specific claims in the article, we wanted to share our commitment to moving forward with E3.
E3 has a rich history within our industry, and we’re always excited to feel the passion for the show and hear what it means to different people. Relaunching a show after a three-year hiatus and a global pandemic was always going to have its challenges, which is why we conducted extensive research (in consultation with ESA member companies) to identify the best partner to produce the E3. By choosing ReedPOP as our partner, we were able to tap into their rich history of hosting popular industry events, like PAX, and broader consumer shows, like Comic Con.
They have made great strides in redesigning the event and have received tremendous support from companies of all sizes thinking not just about E3 2023, but how E3 fits in in marketing plans for 2024 and beyond.
It is important to note that even if the show evolves and adapts, it will not have an impact on the heart of ESA’s work for its member companies. Our priority remains the defense of your political interests at the state and federal levels.
We’ll share E3 news and developments as they become available. If you have any questions in the meantime, please do not hesitate to contact me. We thank you for your continued support.
original article [Tue 31st Jan, 2023 00:45 GMT]: E3 is returning as a physical event for the first time in four years in 2023, and while it was supposed to be a return to form for one of the biggest showcases on the gaming calendar, it looks like it could be without the main actors.
According to an “exclusive” from IGN, the gaming outlet has been informed by “several knowledgeable sources” that Nintendo, Sony, and Xbox will not be participating in the fun of E3 2023, nor will they have any ‘Presence’ in the ground show at the Los Angeles Convention Center.
While it’s no surprise Nintendo isn’t hosting a showcase at the event, as noted in the report, the Japanese company has traditionally maintained a booth at E3 year after year.
The article goes on to mention how PlayStation initially scrapped the event in 2019 due to “reported disagreements” with the ESA and Xbox this year has already announced its own summer showcase and supposedly won’t have a booth at the event. this year’s event.
In a statement last September, ReedPop said it was ready to “bring the industry together” with the game’s annual event. full ofdisclosure: Nintendo Life and its media grapple sister sites are partnered with ReedPop.
ReedPop issued a statement to IGN regarding their report, suggesting that negotiations are underway with “many of the biggest companies in the business”:
E3 is such an important event for the gaming industry and being entrusted with an important cultural touchstone is not a responsibility ReedPop takes lightly. Since ReedPop accepted the execution contract for E3 six months ago, we have worked diligently with ESA members based on their feedback to create a new kind of E3 that meets their goals. and their needs.
This process was time consuming due to the sheer number of stakeholders who provided input, although we appreciate that we could have been more transparent for questions where we were still finalizing answers. We continue to work tirelessly to create a spectacle that brings the global gaming industry together. We believe we have created a new format for the event that meets the needs of the industry and its fans, and we are committed to building it and develop it in the years to come.
While we spent much of 2022 fine-tuning the shape E3 2023 would take, reflecting on the feedback we solicited, we didn’t send a single contract to an exhibitor until early this month. We’ve received tremendous interest and verbal commitments from many of the biggest companies in the industry, and when we’re ready to announce exhibitors, we’re confident this will be a lineup that will make the trip to Los Angeles is worth it for industry and consumers.
