E3 2023: video game industry's biggest expo cancelled

E3, the video game industry's biggest annual expo, has been cancelled. The show had been due to make a return after years of Covid-19 disruption this June in Los Angeles, but in a joint statement, the US's Entertainment Software Association (ESA) and events company Reedpop announced it would no longer be going ahead. Known as "video game Christmas" by fans, E3 has been a fixture in the games industry calendar since 1995, and has traditionally been where game publishers and console manufacturers announce what's next for players. The Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and Wii U are among the consoles that have been announced at the event. Its cancellation leaves the games industry without a dominant focal point for marketing new titles; instead, since Covid, the trend has been towards live-streamed shows where publishers announce and show new titles virtually.