Why is E3 2022 cancelled? A timeline of E3's recent woes

gamesradar.com:

It's official: E3 2022 has been completely cancelled, with no physical or digital event taking place. But exactly why was E3 2022 cancelled? That's a complicated question with a lengthy answer.

"We previously announced that E3 would not be held in person in 2022 due to the ongoing health risks surrounding COVID-19. Today, we announce that there will also be no digital E3 showcase in 2022," the ESA said in a statement on March 31. "Instead, we will devote all our energy and resources to delivering a revitalized physical and digital E3 experience next summer. Whether enjoyed from the show floor or your favorite devices, the 2023 showcase will bring the community, media, and industry back together in an all-new format and interactive experience."

While the ESA says it's focusing on next year, in truth, E3 has been trending downwards for a number of years now. At the beginning of the last decade, E3 was the powerhouse for game reveals and announcements, very commonly referred to as something along the lines of "Christmas for games."

In the years following though, a series of events have culminated in E3's downfall. You can arguably trace E3's fall in relevance back to Nintendo, who was the first of the big three platform holders to stop holding public-facing keynote presentations way back in 2013. Ever since, Nintendo has held its own 'Nintendo Direct' shows throughout the year, giving the company the capacity to make announcements and reveal new games on its own timetable.

Sony followed suit in 2019 and, while Nintendo maintains some presence during the E3 season with its Treehouse: Live events and show-floor booths to give attendees hands-on access to its upcoming titles, PlayStation never returned in any significant