Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo Are Reportedly Skipping E3 This Year

Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo have reportedly declined to attend this year’s E3 trade show in Los Angeles. Citing “multiple knowledgeable sources,” IGN is reporting today that the three companies “won’t be part of E3 2023 or have a presence on the Los Angeles Convention Center showfloor.”

After E3 was canceled last year, the annual trade show is making a comeback as a physical and digital event on June 13-16, 2023. However, the absence of Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo probably had to be expected. Sony has been skipping E3 since 2019, while Nintendo doesn’t really need the E3 buzz at the company is now used to drop its “Nintendo Direct” livestreams throughout the year.

Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil SPencer told IGN last week that there will be an Xbox showcase “at a time where hopefully it’s convenient for press and even consumers that are going to the E3 event,” but IGN reports that Microsoft won’t have a presence at the Los Angeles Convention Center. Before the pandemic, Microsoft used to hold its Xbox E3 showcase at a separate venue in Los Angeles.

ReedPop, the company that will organize E3 2023 shared the following statement with IGN that doesn’t mention Microsoft, Sony, or Nintendo. “We have received a tremendous amount of interest and verbal commitments from many of the biggest companies in the industry, and when we are ready to announce the exhibitors we are confident it will be a lineup that will make the trip to Los Angeles well worth it for the industry and consumers alike.”

The absence of E3 in 2020 and 2022 had quite a big impact on how video game publishers choose to communicate about their upcoming games. Geoff Keighley, the host of The Game Awards conference launched the Summer Game Fest back in 2020, and the event is now directly competing with E3. It’s just been announced today that Summer Game Fest 2023 will be live from the YouTube Theater in Los Angeles on June 8, a couple of days before E3 2023 officially kicks off.