E3 is set to return later this year. In fact, ESA and ReedPop have already confirmed that it’s coming back from June 13-16. However, this largely depends on which video game companies will participate in the event this year.
Unfortunately, this is already showing signs of concern. IGN reported that Nintendo, Microsoft, and Sony will not be part of E3 2023 “nor have a presence on the Los Angeles Convention Center show floor.” Microsoft has already confirmed that it will be doing a showcase during E3, but despite recent expressions of support for E3, it won’t be much more than that.
Sony and Nintendo haven’t announced anything yet, but the former hasn’t been involved in E3 for at least a few years. The latter enjoyed a video presentation every June, although last year they decided to have a Partner Mini Direct. However, this would be the first time that Nintendo is not present at all at E3 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. Sony also continued with video presentations in the summer, but the month was varied.
As for the reason, IGN says their sources explained that there is still “ongoing frustration” with ESA over their actions “incredibly mishandling the E3 brand over the past three years.” ReedPop’s involvement in the production of E3 should have helped fix this, but apparently there is “a lot of information missing,” even though E3 is about half a year away. Unfortunately, their sources said that “there’s not a good sense that there’s an understanding of what this show is going to be or how it’s going to be put together, which is strange from a company that does such an amazing job with PAX twice a year.”
It is very likely that Nintendo and Sony will have video presentations in the summer, as usual. The specifics are a completely different matter. Nintendo might just have another Partner Mini Direct, just like last year. Sony, meanwhile, may decide to hold its video presentation later in the summer. However, whenever Nintendo announces its summer Direct, we’ll let you know. Meanwhile, E3 is almost half a year away, and Nintendo hasn’t even held its first Direct of the year yet.
