Sony has confirmed it won’t be attending E3 this year, making this the second year that the massive tech company, and owner of the PlayStation brand, has skipped out on the annual gaming event. Major bummer, I know.
In a recent statement sent to gamesindustry.biz, Sony stated that it “[doesn’t] feel the vision of E3 2020 is the right venue for what we are focused on this year. We will build upon our global events strategy in 2020 by participating in hundreds of consumer events across the globe. … We have a fantastic lineup of titles coming to PlayStation 4, and with the upcoming launch of PlayStation 5, we are truly looking forward to a year of celebration with our fans.”
The statement from Sony follows a prediction from industry analyst Michael Pachter, who suggested that Sony would not make an appearance at E3 this year despite the fast-approaching launch of its PlayStation 5 (PS5) console at the end of the year.
“As far as I know, they don’t plan to attend,” Pachter says. “I think that’s a huge mistake, as their ‘focus on the consumer’ is not inconsistent with their attendance at the premier industry trade show. I hope they change their minds, but I am skeptical.”
It’s going to be a big year for Sony despite its absence at E3. Despite its next-gen PS5 console coming at the end of this year, its indifference to the gaming expo does make sense because Sony can release and stream its own announcements to PlayStation fans worldwide via its State of Play video series.
Aside from Sony’s disinterest in the gaming event, E3 still holds a dear place in many gamers’ hearts. As one of the major players in the console market, Sony’s continued absence doesn’t bode well for the future of the convention. As much as some gamers would love to see E3 throw some shade back, it’s more likely that the convention will simply focus on gaming giants Microsoft and Nintendo, which may hurt Sony’s dominance in the long run.
Photos: Sony
