The folks behind the Electronic Entertainment Expo (otherwise known as E3) in Los Angeles recently touted 2023 as the event’s big return to in-person action. The announcement of the event’s triumphant return followed speculation — including on Stuff‘s part — that the whole event was toast.

2023’s return was supposed to lay those fears to rest. Well… about that.

Same E3, fewer attendees

A report from IGN suggests that the so-called Big Three — the companies that also make games consoles — will not be in attendance at all this year. Nintendo scaled back its presence at the expo at the same time it started doing Nintendo Direct events. Sony PlayStation has also had reduced floor space at the convention for some time. But Microsoft? The lone American company? Losing them will hit E3 hard.

Xbox head Phil Spencer, reports IGN, has said that Microsoft will “place our showcase, like we always have done, at a time where hopefully it’s convenient for press and even consumers that are going to the E3 event.” But the gaming specialist also reports that Microsoft won’t have any presence at the show.

At present, current plans from Sony, Microsoft, or Nintendo are wholly unknown. It’s possible that all three will run showcases parallel to E3, as has happened in the past. That, at least, will offer the illusion that the expo is still fully-packed with the biggest names in gaming. It’s also possible that Xbox will still come to the party.

Organiser ReedPop said to IGN, “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.” Which, if you’re paying attention, doesn’t confirm or deny anything at this point.

Source: IGN