As major participants of E3 in the past have continued to bow out and even more do so, long-time E3 host and producer, Geoff Keighley closes the curtains and moves on from E3 just as Sony and Nintendo.
For 25 years, Geoff Keighley has been a well-renowned industry figurehead as the event’s host for years-on-end. However, that has all drawn to a close as Keighley has revealed via Twitter that he will no longer be this year’s host nor will he be there to produce E3 Coliseum.
Keighley joins Sony’s PlayStation brand in their absence. E3 itself, for what it’s worth, has seen a recent trend of loss in attendance, brands attending the event itself and stagnation that has harmed the show more than it has helped. On his Twitter account, Keighley opens up about the decision itself, “I have made the difficult decision to decline to produce E3 Coliseum. For the first time in 25 years, I will not be participating in E3.”
In a follow-up reply as to why he won’t be there, Keighley opened up regarding his overall decision to a Twitter user inquiring about the decision he made, “I think E3 needs to become more digital and global. It’s a brand that means a lot to people, but it shouldn’t just be a show floor.”
I think E3 needs to become more digital and global….it's a brand that means a lot to people, but it shouldn't just be a show floor.
— Geoff Keighley (@geoffkeighley) February 12, 2020
Former Sony studio’s head Shawn Layden had very much the same feeling in previous years as have many others, leading up to Sony’s departure from the show itself. For several years in a row, fans have found E3 to be less than what it was before, where fans would zero in on their favorite TV channels or live streaming options that saw industry veterans such as Adam Sessler, Morgan Webb, and Geoff Keighley polarize fans with big-game announcements, trailers, and hands-on experiences with newly-announced titles.
While it does sound like E3 is in a bit of trouble, the ESA has stated that this year’s show “will feature special guest gamers, celebrities, and digital programming on the show floor while connecting with global audiences through extended livestreaming. A highlight will be the debut of an all-new floor experience that will be streamed to bring exclusive conversations with leading industry innovators and creators to attendees and fans worldwide.”
E3 does seem to be getting things put together, the high-profile conference doesn’t seem near as what it was in previous years, with a clear focus on upcoming titles, hardware, and features to gaming consoles. As of late, it seems that Nintendo Direct’s, PlayStation’s State of Play and even the PlayStation Expo seem more focused, allowing fans to enjoy what they do. Here’s to hoping that Digital Devolver can blow our minds once again with their Quentin Terention-esque stage performances.
I wanted to share some important news about my plans around E3 2020. pic.twitter.com/EhrreKV9oR
— Geoff Keighley (@geoffkeighley) February 12, 2020
If you want to see more of Geoff Keighley, you’ll want to tune into this year’s The Game Awards event as well as Gamescom 2020 where he will be hosting once again for Opening Night Live this August.
About the Writer(s):
Dustin is our native console gamer, PlayStation and Nintendo reviewer who has an appetite for anything that crosses the borders from across the big pond. His interest in JRPG’s, Anime, Handheld Gaming, and Pizza is insatiable. His elitist attitude gives him direction, want, and a need for the hardest difficulties in games, which is fun to watch, and hilarity at its finest. You can find him over on Twitter or Facebook.