The impact of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has been felt in all sectors and all corners of the world, and the video games industry has not, of course, been exempt from that. For instance, E3 2020, perhaps the biggest gaming event of the year, was cancelled earlier in the year, though the ESA also said while making the cancellation’s announcement that they would be looking into hosting a digital-only event in place of the cancelled show instead.

Well, it’s now looking like that won’t be happening either. Mike Futter of the Virtual Economy Podcast recently took to Twitter and stated that he’s heard from four sources that in spite of having been working for several weeks to whip up some sort of idea for a replacement event, the ESA will not be hosting a digital E3 show after all. An announcement regarding the same, according to Futter, is expected from the ESA early next week, which should be the next couple of days.

Most publishers that take part in E3 on a yearly basis have already either announced a replacement event – like Microsoft and Devolver Digital – or announced that they are looking into alternatives to E3 – like Square Enix, Ubisoft, Nintendo, and the PC Gaming Show. On the other hand, Sony, who weren’t going to attend E3 2020 as it is, have of course remained silent, while Bethesda have confirmed that they have no alternative plans.