NO E3, NO PROBLEM

     With the news that E3 was cancelled, many gamers were understandably upset and frustrated. E3 is like “gamer Christmas”, a true celebration of the industry and filled with merchandise, friends, new game and console reveals, and surprises. In recent years people have debated the importance and relevance of E3 in the current landscape, with the sheer passion displayed in discussions showing just how much the event means to so many people. Its cancellation due to concerns about COVID-19 (Coronavirus), was just the latest event to be shuttered due to the raging pandemic. A couple of days later, and all the major sports leagues in the United States, both college and professional, had cancelled or suspended games. This virus is no joke, and precaution is needed. Gaming will continue, whether in person or online. Gamers can be flexible enough to make this change.

     E3 may be cancelled in the traditional sense for this year, but it will go on in a different format. Microsoft, Ubisoft, and other publishers have announced that they will have digital showcases in leu of a physical convention this year. So, in essence, there will still be an E3 with publishers showing off all their wonderful new products, it’s just going to be exclusively online. For most people, this will be business as usual, as many more people watch streams of the event rather than attend, anyway. Phil Spencer, Head of Xbox, confirmed that they were committed to having a large digital event to make up for the lack of physically being at E3. This will undoubtably feature Xbox Series X, new games, updates on upcoming titles, and surprises. As for those who say E3 is now dead and buried forever, never to return after this cancellation, they are sorely mistaken. This cancellation due to a national emergency will only embolden E3 to come back stronger than ever next year. Book it.