Is this the end?
SDCC 2023 is fast approaching July 19th to the 24th. But this time many of the studios have decided to skip. Therefore no major announcements will be made during the San Diego Comic Con this year.
A sing of things to come?
After the ”death” of E3 2023 and the subsequent cancellation of E3 2024 and E3 2025. It is easy to see, that this convention will not be returning in this format. And with the Summer-Gamefest that has taken the game announcements with the studios to streams. It is very unlikely for E3, to ever return as an in-person event. This cancellation was mostly in part that the major players in the industry would not be attending.
Similar yet different
It is easy to see the similitude between the two. With the major names like, Marvel Studios, Netflix, Sony, HBO, Universal and Disney not taking part of this year San Diego Comic Con. One can only wonder if this is related to the writers strike, or simply the studios noticed what was done in the gaming industry and are planning to do the same.
ROI
One can only question the return on investment made to be part of those events. With movie budgets at an all time high and the box-office numbers that are dwindling. It is easy to see, that viewers are more and more waiting for their favorite franchise to hit the streaming service they already pay for to watch that movie. This is not talking of the piracy affecting the industry as well.
Side affects
Many were going to attend those conference, where the announcements of things to come were divulge, can the San Diego Comic Con survive without the presence of the studios? Will the fate of the E3 be the same for the SDCC, and if so what of the other smaller Comic Cons?