Bethesda has decided not to replace its E3 plans with a digital showcase of its upcoming titles.
Organiser theEntertainment Software Association(ESA) cancelledE3 2020in March due to concerns over the coronavirus pandemic, forcing many games companies to change promotional activities they had planned for the event in June.
While multiple firms subsequently announced plans to host digital events to showcase games that would have been at E3,Bethesdais taking a different approach.
“Given the many challenges we’re facing due to the pandemic, we will not host a digital Showcase in June,”Pete Hines, Bethesda’s VP of global marketing,tweetedon Wednesday.
“We have lots of exciting things to share about our games and look forward to telling you more in the coming months,” he added.
Two eagerly anticipated Bethesda RPGs,StarfieldandThe Elder Scrolls VI, were absent fromthe publisher’s E3 2019 showcase, which featuredFallout 76,Id Software‘sDoom Eternal, and new game announcements in the form ofArkaneLyon’sDeathloopandTango Gameworks’Ghostwire Tokyo.
Bethesda and Id Software alsoconfirmedthis week that QuakeCon 2020, which had been due to mark the 25th year of the event in August, has been cancelled due the logistical challenges and uncertainties currently being faced because of the coronavirus.
Announcing E3 2020’s cancellation last month, the ESA said it was exploring options “to coordinate an online experience to showcase industry announcements and news” in June 2020.
Xbox will hold a digital eventto replace its plans for the show,as will Devolver Digital and Limited Run Games.
Ubisofthas said it will “explore” the option of a replacement online event, whileNintendohas said it’sconsidering various ways to engage with its fansfollowing E3’s cancellation.
Warner Bros. Gamesreportedly had big announcements scheduled for E3including a new Batman title, an open-world Harry potter game, and the next project from Arkham developerRocksteady Studios.
