Published , by Kevin Tucker
Published , by Kevin Tucker
E3 2019 is just a matter of days away now, and plenty of video game fans are wondering what to expect from all the biggest names in the business. Both Microsoft and Nintendo have confirmed their E3 plans, but what about Sony? Why hasn't anything been said about PlayStation at this year's convention? Is Sony planning to attend E3 2019? Read on to find out.
Sony has no plans to attend E3 2019 or to host an E3 press conference. The news came as a surprise to many followers of the industry, as this marks the first time that the team behind PlayStation hasn't been to E3 in 24 years.
As for the reason why, well, things are a little complicated. Sony hasn't given specific details as to why it pulled out of E3 2019, saying instead that it was seeking out more "inventive opportunities" to connect with PlayStation fans across the globe. Check out the full statement:
"As the industry evolves, Sony Interactive Entertainment continues to look for inventive opportunities to engage the community. PlayStation fans mean the world to us and we always want to innovate, think differently and experiment with new ways to delight gamers. As a result, we have decided not to participate in E3 in 2019. We are exploring new and familiar ways to engage our community in 2019 and can’t wait to share our plans with you.”
When drawing conclusions from that statement, it's probably best to focus on the first four words: "As the industry evolves." Fun as E3 can be, and as exciting as it is to have a central spectacle for all of gaming, the notion of holding an offline exposition is... dated, to say the least. Developers and publishers started giving their news directly to fans through the Internet years ago, and it's still the preferred method of information distribution today. Besides, not everyone has the time, money, or connections needed to fly out to Los Angeles in order to learn about new games.
Sony didn't give a direct reason why it's skipping E3 2019, and it probably never will. Call it a sign of the times, perhaps. It's anyone's guess whether PlayStation will be represented at E3 2020, but as things stand now, video game fans shouldn't expect an E3 press conference from Sony this year.