While none of these companies have formally announced their withdrawal from this year’s E3 conference, IGN cites “multiple knowledgeable sources” claiming that these companies won’t be part of E3 2023. Incidentally, Microsoft has confirmed that it will be holding its annual summer showcase in 2023. It is unclear at this moment whether the company intends to host it as a standalone event.
In an interview with IGN, Xbox CEO Phil Spencer confirmed that the showcase will happen at a moment “convenient for press and even consumers.” He also reiterated that Xbox continues to support E3, as well as the Entertainment Software Association (ESA), which organizes the annual event. It is also unclear at this time whether the recent layoffs at Microsoft have anything to do with the decision to stay away from E3 in 2023.
As for Sony, the company seems to be habitually skipping E3 in favor of its independently produced reveals. The company also seems to be unhappy with several changes within the structure of the ESA, which has led to “ongoing frustrations” (per IGN) with the ESA for over three years. While Nintendo did not have as big a presence at E3 as Sony or Xbox, it has maintained a booth at E3 for several years — despite the company pioneering the “direct” format of events. However, the IGN report indicates that Nintendo would likely skip E3 2023 as well.
The absence of three of the most important exhibitors could also prove to be a major setback for E3 — and large-format tech events in general. Given the huge presence of the Big Three at E3 expos in past decades, it is yet another death knell for E3 without Microsoft, Sony, or Nintendo being part of it.
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