E3 gaming convention CANCELLED due to coronavirus – shutting down world’s biggest video games expo
GAMING mega-expo E3 has been cancelled due to "growing concerns" over the coronavirus outbreak.
The event was due to take place over June 9 to 11 in Los Angeles, but organisers have told The Sun that it will no longer go ahead.
E3 organisers ESA described the COVID-19 as unprecedented, and said exhibitors and attendees will receive full refunds.
"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," said ESA in a statement.
E3, or the Electronic Entertainment Expo, is the world's most famous and influential video games show.
It was industry-only from 1995, but the annual event has been open to the public since 2017 – with 15,000 general-admittance passes offered.
In 2019, more than 66,000 people attended E3.
Gaming firms typically use the show to reveal major news, including new console details and games.
E3 2020 was expected to be a blockbuster event, with the Xbox Series X and PS5 both set to launch later in 2020.
Game developers are currently racing to get top titles ready in time – and details of many of these games would've been revealed during E3.
Fortunately for gamers, ESA has promised to explore an "online experience" for announcements in June 2020.
E3 attendance over the years
Here's how many people turned out each year...
- E3 1995 – 50,000
- E3 1996 – 57,795
- E3 1997 – 37,000
- E3 1998 – 41,300
- E3 1999 – unconfirmed
- E3 2000 – 45,000
- E3 2001 – 62,000
- E3 2002 – unconfirmed
- E3 2003 – 60,000
- E3 2004 – 65,000
- E3 2005 – 70,000
- E3 2006 – 60,000
- E3 2007 – 10,000
- E3 2008 – 5,000
- E3 2009 – 41,000
- E3 2010 – 45,600
- E3 2011 – 46,800
- E3 2012 – 45,700
- E3 2013 – 48,200
- E3 2014 – 48,900
- E3 2015 – 52,200
- E3 2016 – 50,300
- E3 2017 – 68,400
- E3 2018 – 69,200
- E3 2019 – 66,100
- E3 2020 – CANCELLED
Event organisers have already confirmed that they hope to continue with E3 2021 next year.
But the 2020 event is completely cancelled, rather than postponed.
"We felt this was the best way to proceed during such an unprecedented global situation," E3 organisers explained.
"We are very disappointed that we are unable to hold this event for our fans and supporters.
"But we know it’s the right decision based on the information we have today.";
Gamers seemed largely supportive of the decision to cancel the show.
London-based YouTuber MrRoflWaffles, who has 1.45million subscribers, tweeted: "Attending E3, despite all the convention's problems, has been a staple highlight of my year for a long time now.
"Gutted to see it cancelled but it's for the best."
Notable games writer Jason Schreier warned of the impact the show's cancellation will have.
In a tweet, he wrote: "Most people only think of E3 as press conferences, but those will be easily replicated.
"The repercussions will come from the deals that don't happen: the indie pitches and biz lunches and chance meetings that can save companies.
"E3's cancellation could really hurt some people."
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In other news, we're expecting Microsoft to reveal new Xbox Series info during a live-stream next week.
Samsung phones can now play Xbox and PS4 games with the new Google Stadia app.
Sony has already sent the official PS5 website live.
And both new consoles are expected to have thousands of games ready at launch.
Do you think cancelling E3 is the right decision? Let us know in the comments!
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