E3 will have in-person and digital events as it returns in 2023, ESA confirms

The Entertainment Software Association (ESA), the organization behind E3, confirmed that the video games trade show is slated to make a comeback in 2023. Following its notable absence this year, E3 is planned to include both digital and in-person events.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, E3 was one of the most anticipated events every year among video game fans worldwide. The trade show is famous for gathering the biggest developers and publishers in the industry to make their announcements about upcoming games and major title updates.

E3 was canceled this year, the second time throughout the pandemic, after taking a crack at an all-online format in 2021. The good news is ESA CEO Stan Pierre-Louis said in a recent interview with the Washington Post that E3 will return in 2023 with what appears to be an emphasis on bringing back in-person events.

Pierre-Louis said digital events were accepted well by fans because of their global reach. But he also noted that "there's a really strong desire for people to convene," along with the confirmation that E3 2023 will have in-person activities once again.

However, it appears that E3 2023 is planned to be some sort of a hybrid conference. While ESA has yet to provide specific details, including event dates, the CEO said it is slated to be a physical and digital show at the same time. "I think there is a space for a physical show; I think there's an importance of having digital reach," Pierre-Louis said. "Combining those two, I think there is a critical element of what we think E3 can provide."

Despite E3's absence this year, many fans may have hardly missed the conference. In its absence, Sony surprised PlayStation fans with a State of Play event last week, where the newest trailer for "Final Fantasy 16" was released. Geoff Keighley's Summer Game Fest kicked off on Thursday that featured major reveals, including "The Last of Us Part 1" remake for PS5 and the newest gameplay trailer for the upcoming "Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2."

Fans have not yet run out of events to look forward to as Xbox and Bethesda host their second joint showcase on Sunday. Microsoft also confirmed that there would be an extended stream next week, where players can expect more new trailers and announcements.

Photo by Aranami on Flickr with Creative Commons license (CC BY 2.0)