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E3 2020 canceled due to "overwhelming concerns" over coronavirus

by: Randy -
More On: E3 2020

The ESA canceled E3 2020 in an official statement released today. The Electronic Entertainment Expo, originally scheduled for June 9 – 11 in the Los Angeles Convention Center, is not happening following "increased and overwhelming concerns about the COVID-19 virus." Here is the full statement:

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, scheduled for June 9-11 in Los Angeles.

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. 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.

Our team will be reaching out directly to exhibitors and attendees with information about providing full refunds.

We are also exploring options with our members to coordinate an online experience to showcase industry announcements and news in June 2020. Updates will be shared on E3expo.com.

We thank everyone who shared their views on reimagining E3 this year. We look forward to bringing you E3 2021 as a reimagined event that brings fans, media and the industry together in a showcase that celebrates the global video game industry.

E3 is a trade event for the video game industry and has been running every year since 1995. This is the first year it's ever canceled. It's had attendance spikes and drops ranging all the way from a record 69,200 attendees in 2018, all the way down to 5,000 attendees in 2008.

While I was not going to be in attendance, I'm personally bummed that I won't see Bethesda's show. Aside from the hope of seeing more teasers for Starfield and The Elder Scrolls VI, their GhostWire: Tokyo looks fantastic, too. Minus having an audience around a stage, however, I'm sure Bethesda's Todd Howard and Pete Hines will find a way to disseminate any trailers, etc., that were going to happen at E3.