Game Zone Live cancelled as key exhibitors drop out

UK consumer games show Game Zone Live has been cancelled after failing to attract key companies including Sony, Microsoft and Electronic Arts, but trade show EGN will go ahead in a different venue, ELSPA has pledged.

Game Zone Live, which was known as Game Stars Live last year, was due to run in the giant ExCeL exhibition space in London's Docklands district in early September, and was to be supported by a new television series about videogames.

However, a lack of support from platform holders Sony and Microsoft - despite both of them having new consoles emerging this year - and top publisher Electronic Arts has meant that the show is unable to go ahead.

This has left trade event EGN in a difficult situation - the event last year ran alongside Game Stars Live, and the combined consumer and trade event was widely hailed as a success.

However, despite the collapse of Game Zone Live, British publisher association ELSPA has pledged to go ahead with the EGN event at a different venue, and says that it remains committed to running a trade event in September.

"The cancellation of GameZone Live has no impact on the future of EGN, aside from the location," an ELSPA spokesperson told GamesIndustry.biz this afternoon. "The feedback from last yearâs inaugural event was incredibly positive and ELSPA is looking forward to building on a successful launch."

"The UK is the gateway the European market and we intend to maintain a strong industry-facing event in London this year," he continued, "specific details of which weâll be announcing shortly."