Xbox and Ubisoft commit to digital events in wake of E3 2020 cancellation
Despite having E3 2020 canceled, game publishers re refusing
to let the summer gaming buzz die out, most notably with Xbox head Phil Spencer
promising that Microsoft will “celebrate the subsequent generation of
gaming” with a “digital event” later this year.
“E3 has always been a crucial moment,” said the
Xbox head during a Tweet responding to the news of the exhibition’s
cancellation, explaining that “details on timing and more within the
coming weeks” are to be revealed regarding Microsoft’s reshuffled plans as
a result.
Despite PlayStation confirming it wouldn’t be attending the
now non-existent E3 2020 last year, Microsoft still intended to point out up
during a big way, promising new information and game reveals for its upcoming
next-gen console, the Xbox Series X.
Ubisoft has also confirmed it’s “exploring other
options for a digital experience” in E3’s absence this summer, suggesting
it had been getting to reveal more news about Watch Dogs Legion, the rumored
Assassin’s Creed sequel, and Gods & Monsters, among other surprises.
E3’s organizers, the Entertainment Software Association,
confirmed that it had chosen to cancel this year’s event thanks to public
health concerns surrounding the growing spread of the COVID-19 virus, which
continues to rise in cases across the world.
The ESA has teased that it plans to “coordinate a web
experience to showcase industry announcements and news in June 2020”,
however, though whether each of those companies intends to hold its digital
event through that or do its own separate thing, remains unclear.
There are also increasing worries a few potential Xbox Series X delay, given the Corona Virus’ impact on production pipelines, especially within the tech sector. We’ll keep you updated if and once we hear anything more.
