E3’s finally returning to physical events this year, but it appears as though some major names won’t be present during the show. A recent report has revealed that gaming giants Sony, Xbox, and Nintendo won’t participate in E3 2023, which may disappoint would-be attendees who join solely for the platforms’ showcases.
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In an IGN article, a source claims that Nintendo won’t appear in E3 this year. The company would usually have a booth on the showfloor during the event despite having its own showcase in the form of Nintendo Direct during previous years, though this may not be the case anymore. Sony has already been a no-show for years since 2019 after disagreements with the Entertainment Software Association (ESA).
If there was one of the “Big Three” that would have shown up, it’d be Xbox, as the platform has games slated for launch this year, including Redfall and Starfield. And while Xbox CEO Phil Spencer did praise the event for its community-fostering nature, IGN stated that Xbox “won’t have a booth on the showfloor.”
Of course, that doesn’t mean Xbox won’t be presenting any of its titles later this year. A showcase is planned for sometime in June, the same month as E3 2023, but Spencer states that it will occur at a time when it’ll be “convenient for press and even consumers.”
Soon after IGN’s original report on the E3 no-shows, the ESA apparently responded with a statement, claiming that E3 was “always going to have its challenges.” Here’s the full statement:
As you have likely seen, IGN published an article last night about E3. While we are not able to comment on the specific claims in the article, we wanted to share our commitment to moving forward with E3.
E3 has a rich history within our industry, and we are always heartened to feel the passion for the show and hear what it means to different people. Reviving a tradeshow after a three-year hiatus and a global pandemic was always going to have its challenges, which is why we conducted an extensive search (in consultation with the ESA member companies) to identify the best partner to produce E3. In selecting ReedPOP as our partner, we have been able to tap into their rich history of hosting popular industry events, like PAX, and broader consumer shows, like Comic Con.
They have made strong progress in reshaping the event and have received tremendous support from industry companies of all sizes who are not only thinking about E3 2023, but how E3 fits into marketing plans for 2024 and beyond.
It’s important to note that even as the show evolves and adapts, it will not impact the core of ESA’s work for its member companies. Our priority remains advocating for your policy interests on the state and federal level.
We will share news and developments regarding E3 as they are available. If you have questions in the meantime, feel free to reach out to me. Thank you for your ongoing support.
It’s worth noting that the statement does not validate the claims presented by IGN’s article, so we don’t know for sure if the reasons provided were true, or if they companies aren’t going to show up at all.
Source: IGN