The ESA says E3 Expo will return in 2023

After years of cancellations due to COVID-19, the ESA told The Washington Post the E3 Expo will return as an in-person conference in 2023.

The statement shared by ESA president Stan Pierre-Louis comes just two days before the Summer Game Fest hosted by Geoff Keighley.

“We’re excited about coming back in 2023 with both a digital and an in-person event,” said Pierre-Louis. “As much as we love these digital events, and as much as they reach people and we want that global reach, we also know that there’s a really strong desire for people to convene — to be able to connect in person and see each other and talk about what makes games great.”

Though there was only a digital E3 in 2021, the cancellation of the in-person event from 2020-2022 has made some companies create their own online events without the ESA and the E3 Expo. Other events will continue on their own, without E3, like the PC Gaming Show and Devolver Direct.

Capcom recently announced its first-ever showcase for Monday, June 13. Microsoft will continue with its Xbox and Bethesda Games Showcase on June 12, the same day for the PC Gaming Show (by PC Gamer).

With companies bringing their own events online, Louis-Pierre says game developers and publishers are looking for ways to market their products.

“I think what’s great about all this experimentation is that companies of all sizes are trying to figure out what works best to promote the product and the content that they are looking to share with consumers,” he told The Washington Post. “And I think there is a space for a physical show; I think there’s an importance of having digital reach. Combining those two, I think there is a critical element of what we think E3 can provide.”

While the Entertainment Software Association is planning to bring the E3 Expo back in 2023, will game developers and publishers also return to this event?

[Source]: The Washington Post: E3 video game convention will return in 2023, says parent company – [Archive].