The biggest industry event conference, E3, is looking to be in for a big change this year. Sony is skipping the event once again, and it’s looking like potentially Nintendo might even not be there either. Now, it looks like another blow is here, with one of the biggest icons of the gaming industry announcing he will also be skipping E3 2020.
Speaking to the Hollywood Reporter, Geoff Keighley, who produces the E3 Coliseum show, confirmed not going to the show this year. He said it was a hard decision on his part and still wanted to support the developers who will still be attending. Keighley doesn’t seem to feel comfortable with the direction E3 is going.
“For the past 25 years, I have attended every Electronic Entertainment Expo,” said Keighley. “Covering, hosting, and sharing E3 has been a highlight of my year, not to mention a defining part of my career. I’ve debated what to say about E3 2020. While I want to support the developers who will showcase their work, I also need to be open and honest with you, the fans, about precisely what to expect from me.”
“Given what has been communicated about E3 so far, I just don’t feel comfortable participating this year,” he said.
Geoff has been one of the most long standing figures in the gaming industry and founded The Game Awards in 2014. That event has become one of the biggest in games, even bigger than E3 in a lot of ways. It’s not clear what Keighley is referencing being uncomfortable with, but odds are it’s something to do with the ESA’s recent announcement the 2020 show will be more celebrity and influencer based than previous ones. Either way, the icon not being part of E3 is a blow, since he had hosted the popular Coliseum segment that highlighted games and creators.
