ESA cancels E3 game fair in June and plans online event

The Entertainment Software Association has confirmed that the game show E3 has been canceled due to concerns about the new corona virus. The organization will try to schedule announcements around an online event around the same dates.

The online event is not yet certain. “We are exploring options to host an online experience with our members to showcase announcements and news in June,” ESA said on the E3 site.

Ars Technica already reported on Wednesday morning based on anonymous sources that the cancellation was imminent. The organization says it has canceled E3 due to concerns about the outbreak of the new corona virus.

The cancellation follows many tech event cancellations. For example, telecom fair Mobile World Congress was canceled in February, while Game Developer Conference and SXSW were canceled in March. Google has canceled its developer conference I/O, while Facebook has done the same with F8. It will be the first time in 24 years that the largest game fair in the world will not take place.