US video games trade body the Entertainment Software Association and events specialist ReedPop have cancelled E3 2023.

Initially reported by IGN, the news has since been confirmed by the ESA. Speaking to GamesIndustry.biz, the trade body's executive director Stanley Pierre-Louis (pictured) said that E3 2023 biting the dust was due to a few factors.

"We were off to a strong start. There was interest among exhibitors, industry players, media and certainly the fans. Ultimately, however, there were challenges that proved too large to surmount," he said.

"First, several companies have reported that the timeline for game development has been altered since the start of the COVID pandemic. Second, economic headwinds have caused several companies to reassess how they invest in large marketing events. And third, companies are starting to experiment with how to find the right balance between in-person events and digital marketing opportunities.

"With all that said, we remain committed to providing a platform for industry marketing and convening but we want to make sure we find the right balance for the industry's current and on-going needs. We also remain focused on our issue advocacy work on behalf of the most creative and innovative industry in the world. While E3 serves in many ways a public-facing element of what ESA does, our primary focus and our priority remains to advocate for the industry and the workforce that fuels a positive economic and cultural impact."

This news comes in the wake of Sega, Tencent and Ubisoft pulling out of E3.

The ESA revealed in June 2022 that E3 would be returning for 2023. The trade body partnered with ReedPop for the event.