The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) has authored a statement in response to the news that the three major gaming companies will not be featured at this year's E3. It is a devastating blow for E3, an event trying its best to claw back the relevance and prestige it once enjoyed.
2019's Electronic Entertainment Expo, known colloquially as E3 within the gaming industry, saw the event soar to new heights thanks to Keanu Reeves' breathtaking appearance live on stage. However, E3 and Cyberpunk 2077 have not had the smoothest of rides in the years since. What was arguably the largest annual gaming event has not been able to organize a live show since the COVID-19 pandemic began, only managing to establish a single virtual presentation for 2021. And it now seems that the hopes for a resurgence this year may be ill-fated, as an IGN report has claimed that Sony, Nintendo, and Microsoft will not be a part of E3 2023.
The ESA's statement focuses on reaffirming support for ReedPOP, the partner it hired last year to organize the event. Opting not to comment directly on the loss of Sony, Nintendo, and Microsoft, the ESA highlighted ReedPOP's history of hosting events such as PAX and Comic-Con. It goes on to claim that ReedPOP has made "strong progress in reshaping the event," receiving significant support from companies invested in E3.
IGN reported that Nintendo and Xbox were supposedly interested in maintaining a presence at E3 2023, but both pulled out for "reasons unrelated to the show itself." Although no official explanation for these decisions has been released, Nintendo allegedly opted out of the event because its release schedule failed to justify the slot. Xbox is expected to host a physical showcase of its own around the same time as E3. But ReedPop's handling of the tradeshow has been criticized by anonymous publishers who doubt that it will even be able to go ahead given how much of it remains up in the air.
E3 2019 survived without Sony, but mostly because Microsoft's presentation included Cyberpunk 2077, one of the most hyped video game properties in history. Absent all three of the major players, it has led some to question if E3 even exists. Bethesda also used to be a prominent showing, but it has since been acquired by Microsoft, and most publishers have gotten used to putting on their own shows independent of E3.
Source: IGN
