The murders of two young men at a “Madden NFL” videogame contest in Florida on Sunday has the e-sports industry—a burgeoning business—grappling with how to address security at its events, says videogame website Polygon:
Various organizers have issued statements in the past two days, focused on assuring the public of their security measures. The Entertainment Software Association, organizer of E3, responded to a Polygon request for comment with the following statement: “E3 attendee safety is a paramount concern for ESA. We regularly consult with leading security and law enforcement experts to implement protocols wherever necessary, including, among other measures, deploying metal detectors, uniformed personnel, and bag searches. We will continue to review these and other measures to help ensure the safety of all E3 exhibitors, staff, and fans.”
Responding to the Florida shooting, Game Developers Conference general manager Katie Stern commented: “We are devastated by … Polygon
