In the late hours of last night, we shared the story that multiple outlets and reputable sources were reporting that E3 2020 was going to be canceled. While these sources were well-known insiders in the gaming community, including members of Devolver Digital and a few well-known gaming journalists, everything was still pending confirmation from E3.
It seems that we’ve gotten that confirmation. Roughly one hour ago as of writing this, E3 took to Twitter to confirmed the cancelation of E3 2020.
“The E3 team is devastated to share this news,” the company stated in a tweet that we’ve placed below. “This decision was not reached lightly, but it is the right one for the health and safety of all involved.”
The E3 team is devastated to share this news. This decision was not reached lightly, but it is the right one for the health and safety of all involved. Read our statement here: https://t.co/1uOWxTerN9 pic.twitter.com/gD2IxNACLX
— E3 (@E3) March 11, 2020
“Following increased and overwhelming concerns about the COVID-19 virus, we felt this was the best way to proceed during such an unprecedented global situation,” their full statement reads. “We are very disappointed that we are unable to hold this event for our fans and supports. But we know it’s the right decision based on the information we have today.”
Through the rest of the statement, they discuss reaching out to exhibitors and attendees to provide full refunds. They are also exploring options to coordinate an online experience to showcase the announcements and talks that would’ve been taking place during the conference, similar to the moves that GDC 2020 has taken.
E3’s announcement comes shortly after they insisted that they would be moving “full steam ahead” due to impressively high sales and some events that they wanted to share as recently as early March. In the last week or so, however, the COVID-19 virus has reached high proportions, with entire nations now locking down borders as the virus continues to claim hundreds of lives.
E3 is only the latest event to be canceled in response to the viral pandemic, with now dozens of esports events and gaming expos postponed, canceled, or moved online to help combat the virus. Often times it seems that this falls out of the hands of the organizers as exhibitors drop out, often several at a time.
This may also lend new light to the resignation of publisher iam8bit from their position as the Creative Directors of E3 2020. While there’s nothing whatsoever to support this, one can’t help but think that there may have been discrepancies between the two bodies on how to move on with COVID-19 spreading so rapidly.
The severity of this really can’t be understated. E3 is one if not the single largest gaming events in the community, and the cancelation of it is highly likely to domino into further postponements and cancelations. While this choice is undoubtedly the best for the health of those involved, we in the gaming community can’t help but be disappointed and simply hope for a swift end to the spread of this virus.
