So if you missed the news due to it generally being shrug-worthy, it turns out that Sony has decided to skip out on E3 2020. This marks the second year of the console manufacturer not bothering with the convention, which is almost certainly not a good sign for the overall health of the show when the current market leader doesn’t feel like it’s worth bothering with after skipping out last year.
But the ESA has hit back with a statement that… well, never mentions Sony by name:
E3 is a signature event celebrating the video game industry and showcasing the people, brands and innovations redefining entertainment loved by billions of people around the world. E3 2020 will be an exciting, high-energy show featuring new experiences, partners, exhibitor spaces, activations, and programming that will entertain new and veteran attendees alike. Exhibitor interest in our new activations is gaining the attention of brands that view E3 as a key opportunity to connect with video game fans worldwide.
If you’re getting a general vibe from that akin to “no, she didn’t dump me, I dumped her,” you aren’t alone. There’s no word on the precise nature of Sony’s plans for events this year without the big show, but it seems like the company isn’t terribly worried about attracting eyes for its overall slate of announcements. The behind-the-scenes drama about who and who is not attending may be more interesting than the actual E3.
Incidentally, Microsoft will be there with bells on.
Our team is hard at work on E3, we look forward to sharing with all who love to play what's ahead for us. Our artform has consistently been propelled by the cross-section of creativity and technical progress. 2020 is a milestone year in that journey for Team Xbox. #XboxE3 #E32020
— Phil Spencer (@XboxP3) January 14, 2020
Sony skipping lessens the vibes, but the Microsoft show does have all eyes on it as the third-parties all will rush there.
E3 may be better off becoming a virtual event rather than a physical one.
E3 has become the SXSW of gaming. Great when it first started, now just a sad corporate shadow of it’s former self
Who is even going to be at E3? Microsoft, Ubisoft, and EA?
I really can’t wait for all those activations. I hope they activate hard this year.
Imagine all the new media they’ll be able to dox this year!
The show is struggling to find an identity/place in the modern landscape, and this year doesn’t look any better. Hopefully south hall won’t be another ghost town again, that was rough last year.
E3, see all of last year’s announcements repeated with more hot air.
E3, come and get doxxed, while being fed corporate word salad and deceptive CGI trailers.
Gee, I have no idea why E3 is failing.
So their bringing back the booth babes?
They never left. They just rebranded. They’re now all ambassadors, usually for some kind of energy drink.
E3 has been going downhill the last few years. On the endangered species list. It’s nowhere as relevant as it used to be. Don’t blame Sony for bailing out and Microsoft gladly going to hog the limelight.