Geoff Keighley Bows Out As Host Of E3 Coliseum This Year
Geoff Keighley is known as the host for the Game Awards as well as the E3 Coliseum in the last few years. He’s become a notable name and face in the games industry. Serving as emcee and host at E3 multiple years in a row, it looks like Keighley won’t be making a return this year.
Based on the controversies involving the stakeholders that organize E3, one of the most well-known gaming expo events each year, he doesn’t feel comfortable making a return. “Given what has been communicated about E3 so far, I just don’t feel comfortable participating this year,” Keighley told The Hollywood Reporter (via Prima Games).
In addition to Sony bowing out of the show for the second year in a row, the massive security breach that leaked personally identifiable information of thousands of media personnel and influencers to the public has left a long-lasting sense of distrust in the ESA. In fact, the Entertainment Software Association has yet to make an apology deemed acceptable by those involved in games media. Given the scale of the entire debacle and the aftermath that affected the thousands of media attendees, it’s not difficult to see why people continue to criticize the corporation.
Furthermore, the conscious choice of opening the formerly private event to the public has left a sour taste in many of those involved in games media. In other words, it’s been the perfect storm for criticism and backlash. It just so happens that Geoff Keighley’s public announcement of backing out of E3’s Coliseum this year is akin to a defining and bitter cherry on top.
“For the past 25 years, I have attended every Electronic Entertainment Expo,” Keighley continued. “Covering, hosting, and sharing E3 has been a highlight of my year, not to mention a defining part of my career. I’ve debated what to say about E3 2020. While I want to support the developers who will showcase their work, I also need to be open and honest with you, the fans, about precisely what to expect from me.”
Sounds like it wasn’t an easy decision for Keighley to step away from his position as emcee at E3 this year. As a fellow gamer and enthusiast like the rest of us, there are times where influential figures in the industry use their platform to stand up for what they personally believe in.
What do you think of Geoff Keighley backing out of E3 this year? Do you think this will avalanche into something even bigger? Do you care about his stance on E3 enough to feel slighted by the people organizing the annual expo? Let us know what you think in the comments section below or start a conversation on Don’t Feed the Gamers Facebook page. To stay up to date on gaming and entertainment news as it happens, follow us on Twitter! Here are some of our latest:
Hoi Duong2131 Posts
Hoi is an elusive figure at DFTG, whose favorite past-times include chillin' in the Fade, reading manga, watching anime, collecting novelty items, and gaming.
