E3 2019 is still more than half a year away, but we already know that one big name company is breaking with tradition and electing not to host a press conference this year. Sony Interactive Entertainment — one of the biggest names in gaming — has decided to forgo the pomp and circumstance of the annual event, for the first time in 24 years.
Sony has not initially made an announcement regarding this decision. Instead, astute readers discovered Sony’s absence from the Entertainment Software Association’s announcement of attendees. Microsoft and Nintendo were present.
However, the company later spoke with Game Informer stating they’ve been looking for “inventive opportunities to engage the community”, that they “always want to innovate, think differently and experiment with new ways to delight gamers.” Because of this they’ve decided to abstain from participation in E3 in June.
Sony did not say what their plans are for fan interaction, instead saying: “We are exploring new and familiar ways to engage our community in 2019 and can’t wait to share our plans with you.”
Interestingly, this isn’t the first event Sony has elected not to host this year. Earlier this fall, the company announced it wouldn’t be holding its annual PlayStation Experience. According to the company’s chairman Shawn Layden, the decision was made based on the fact that they simply don’t have much to show.
As variety reports, the company is looking forward “to games like Dreams and Days Gone,” but they wouldn’t have enough to show to make it worth gathering fans and press in one place.
Current consensus seems to be that Sony will simply not have much to show fans, even in June. It’s also possible the company has decided the cost of a showing at E3 just doesn’t balance out based on what they get out of it.
That said, Sony does appear to have something in the works. We’ll just have to wait and see what it is.
