Like SXSW, Ultra Music Festival and Coachella before them, organizers for the Electronic Entertainment Expo — best known as E3 — have called off the June event due to the growing coronavirus pandemic.
"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," event producers Entertainment Software Association (ESA) wrote in a statement this morning.
E3 was to be held from June 9 to 11 at the Los Angels Convention Center.
"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," the statement continues. "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."
Unlike SXSW and Ultra, however, ESA said it will be reaching out directly to attendees and exhibitors with information about "providing full refunds." Organizers are also looking to produce a digital event for industry announcements in June.
Coronavirus's ongoing disruption of entertainment industries has also resulted in a lengthy list of artists canceling tours, including Pearl Jam, Mac DeMarco, New Order, Avril Lavigne, the National, Wolf Parade, Green Day and many more. The forthcoming James Bond film No Time to Die also had its release delayed until November, while Coachella just pushed back its 2020 festival events until October.
Today, the World Health Organization declared the COVID-19 outbreak a pandemic. Over 118,000 cases have been reported globally in 114 countries.
"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," event producers Entertainment Software Association (ESA) wrote in a statement this morning.
E3 was to be held from June 9 to 11 at the Los Angels Convention Center.
"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," the statement continues. "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."
Unlike SXSW and Ultra, however, ESA said it will be reaching out directly to attendees and exhibitors with information about "providing full refunds." Organizers are also looking to produce a digital event for industry announcements in June.
Coronavirus's ongoing disruption of entertainment industries has also resulted in a lengthy list of artists canceling tours, including Pearl Jam, Mac DeMarco, New Order, Avril Lavigne, the National, Wolf Parade, Green Day and many more. The forthcoming James Bond film No Time to Die also had its release delayed until November, while Coachella just pushed back its 2020 festival events until October.
Today, the World Health Organization declared the COVID-19 outbreak a pandemic. Over 118,000 cases have been reported globally in 114 countries.
🚨 BREAKING 🚨
— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) March 11, 2020
"We have therefore made the assessment that #COVID19 can be characterized as a pandemic"-@DrTedros #coronavirus pic.twitter.com/JqdsM2051A