E3 2022 In-Person Event Canceled

As in 2021, the traditional E3 2022 plans have been canceled. However, there will still be an event. The Entertainment Software Association announced that there will be a virtual one instead. E3 2022 could be again held online. This will mark the second time in a row there will be no in-person activities. [Thanks, VentureBeat!]

Here is the exact statement The ESA offered to VentureBeat’s GamesBeat division. When speaking to the outlet, it cited the COVID-19 pandemic again. In the latter half of 2021, the omicron variant led to a new surge in infections.

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.

However, while The ESA cited the pandemic when bringing up how it canceled the E3 2022 in-person affair, others suggested this decision came up earlier. F-Squared analyst and The GameDev Business Handbook author Mike Futter and IGN Reporter Rebekah Valentine both mentioned hearing talk about the cancellation earlier.

This is spin. I heard from sources in mid-November, before Omicron's emergence at the end of that month that the ESA had abandoned their dates for the LACC. https://t.co/2oIbkNDFBx

— Mike Futter (@Futterish) January 6, 2022

well, what can you do! I'd been investigating this for the last few months. multiple folks told me their understanding was that the physical event had been quietly canceled months ago. and the ESA can't confirm the digital event, even now, five months outhttps://t.co/QcJt1ZoeN7

— Rebekah Valentine (@duckvalentine) January 6, 2022

E3 2021’s in-person component was canceled in favor of a virtual event.

The E3 2022 in-person element is canceled, and its online portion has no dates yet.