Electronic Entertainment Expo or E3 2020, the biggest gaming event that every gaming companies and gaming fans expect to see in June 2020, has been canceled. This is one of the most trending topics as of today, Mar. 10, after gaming journalists on various websites confirmed the said rumor. Why would it be canceled? The reason why might shock you as it is not directly linked to Coronavirus.
Bad news: Don't expect E3 gaming event for this year
E3 2020, the grandest and biggest gathering of all gaming fans around the world, has reportedly been canceled with no confirmed reasons yet.
Multiple sources from different websites and gaming journalists first break the news to all gaming fans late yesterday, Mar. 10. However, Entertainment Software Association or ESA has not yet released an announcement regarding the claim. Reports said that ESA might confirm the canceled event within 24 hours from today.
Ars Technica first confirmed the rumor when their unidentified source from ESA said that cancelation would be announced within today. "An official, public statement on the matter "was supposed to be today [Tuesday, Mar. 10] and slipped," written by Ars Technica.
After they've heard this news, minutes later, indie game publisher Devolver Digital posted a major clue on Twitter saying that E3 will, unfortunately, be canceled for this year.
Cancel your E3 flights and hotels, y’all. — Devolver Digital (@devolverdigital) March 11, 2020
This tweet was then back up by a few other gaming journalists from Kotaku.
Been hearing secondhand whispers tonight from several devs/pubs that E3 is cancelled, although I've also heard from a couple of people in positions to know that the ESA hasn't officially made a decision yet and is still consulting with pubs. Either way, it's only a matter of time https://t.co/Od0MDj3ZXv — Jason Schreier (@jasonschreier) March 11, 2020
Coronavirus might not be the primary reason for E3's cancelation
Last month, E3 Expo already posted an announcement on their website that the event will still push through despite the widespread Coronavirus or COVID-19 in the country.
"The health and safety of our attendees, exhibitors, partners, and staff is our top priority. While the ESA continues to plan for a safe and successful E3 show June 9-11, 2020-we are monitoring and evaluating the situation daily," written by E3 Expo. "Our E3 team and partners continue to monitor COVID-19 via the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO). We are actively assessing the latest information and will continue to develop measures to reduce health risks at the show further."
Ars Technica made an assumption that the issues within the organization itself and backing out of most active E3 participants might be the primary reason for the cancelation. As said, the absence of renowned E3 collaborator Geoff Keighley and the presumed cancelation of Sony on the event-- since they did not also appear last year-- sums up the main reasons for the cancelation.
As of now, ESA has not yet confirmed nor denied the cancelation, and we'll see it later this day.
