Leave an "F" in the comments, E3 2020 is officially canceled. The ESA released the official announcement this morning, letting fans, developers, and media know the biggest event in gaming is skipping this year due to COVID-19 (coronavirus), which is now officially a pandemic. Reactions to the news were swift, coming from all directions. From shock to sadness, the range of emotions displayed across the internet has run the gamut.

The Developers and Publishers

A large number of developers and publishers have shared their thoughts on the cancellation announcement on Twitter. Many of whom are promising information in the coming weeks on how they will respond or show off their previously-planned E3 2020 content. Others are expressing their sympathy for those that can no longer show off their hard work for everybody to see.

The Media

E3 is a huge undertaking; it's a logistical balancing act for all members of the video game industry. It's a lot of meetings, planning, and coordination to pull off and create the content everyone enjoys. With that being said, E3 is a special time for those in the media to meet up with friends and peers from around the games industry. It's a grand opportunity to make connections, new friendships, and expand their communities. Losing E3 is like losing out on a chance to see your friends.

The Fans

E3 is an event that is often referred to as "Gamer Christmas." It's a time of excitement, speculation, and intrigue, causing all the good little gamers to anxiously sit around their monitors or TVs, waiting to see what "Gamer Clause" will deliver. Despite the very reasonable cancellation, having that ripped away is still a sad pill to swallow.

E3 is the event any small studio, website, content creator, or fan dreams about attending. There is a certain air of wonder and majesty associated with the event. I include myself among those dreamers. I have never been to E3. While I am relieved the ESA decided to cancel the event, the fact that the cancellation falls on the year I may finally live my dream and attend in person stings a little.

My heartfelt sympathy goes out to all the individuals who have worked so hard for this event. This includes the developers that have been grinding away on demos, the first-time attendees who had saved their money to buy a ticket, and everyone who will feel the ripples for months to come.

I have zero doubt that come June 2020, fans and developers will still reveal their new games. Players will still get news that will keep them salivating for the rest of the year. Some companies are already planning Direct-like videos to make their announcements. Still though, part of me can't get over the feeling like we may have just witnessed the canceling of the last E3 as we know it, and that just sucks.