E3 Will Be Missing Some Major Players In 2023, Namely Nintendo, PlayStation, And Xbox
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The gaming industry is currently a buzz with excitement as the popular event E3 is set to happen in person for the first time in four years at the Los Angeles Convention Center in June. The event was held virtually in 2020 and 2022. This gap between in-person events and digital experimentation can be contributed to the Covid-19 pandemic. The return of E3 is good news. The bad news is that industry leaders Xbox, Nintendo, and Sony do not appear to be participating in the event. The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) has announced a collaboration with the company responsible for organizing PAX as well as Star Wars Celebration – ReedPop. This announcement brightens the expectation of the upcoming E3 2023 event, however, the absence of Nintendo, Xbox, and PlayStation being onsite is guaranteed to be felt.
Xbox announced recently that they intend to return to LA for their annual summer showcase, but they have neither confirmed nor denied the company’s direct participation in E3. IGN reports that Xbox CEO, Phil Spencer stated that the company is timing their showcase with E3 at the convenience “for press and even consumers" attending E3, but will not necessarily participate in the event itself. IGN notes that Spencer reiterated the platform’s support for E3 and the ESA; noting however that Xbox does not plan to have a booth on the show floor. Xbox is not the only major player with a diminished presence at E3. Sony dropped out of the event in 2019 and is not currently expected to have a booth on the show floor either this coming June.
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A possible reason for E3 to experience the decline in participation is the surge in virtual opportunities. Nintendo for instance was the first gaming industry player to take advantage of virtual representation in their showcasing of products with Nintendo Direct. PlayStation has a similar model in the company’s PlayStation State of Play digital event. This is not to say that E3 is no longer relevant to the industry. Microsoft is expected to be present and while not having a showroom booth, Xbox is expected to deliver a Summer Showcase aligning with the event. It is likely that more details about the event and who will be there will be released in the next couple of months.
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