Sony, Xbox, and Nintendo will not be attending E3 2023

The big three gaming companies will reportedly be absent from E3’s first in-person event in four years.

The details:

• According to IGN, three of the gaming industry's biggest companies will not attend E3 in June, with no showcases or presence at the Los Angeles Convention Center.
• Due to alleged disagreements between the gaming giant and the Entertainment Software Association (ESA), PlayStation withdrew from the event in 2019, bringing its 24-year run at the event to an end. Instead, it has since decided to host its own online stream called "State of Play," which we'll most likely see continue into 2023, to share the most recent news about the PlayStation 5, PlayStation VR2, and its games.
• Given its upcoming releases, including Bethesda's Starfield and Turn 10's Forza Motorsport, it seemed highly likely that Xbox would make an appearance at the show. Despite CEO Phil Spencer's public support for E3 in a recent interview with IGN, it's widely assumed that it will skip the event in favor of returning to its pre-pandemic summer showcase, also held in Los Angeles.
• Nintendo's absence is also surprising, given that the company has always maintained a booth, even during its worst years in terms of sales and releases. According to Andy Robinson of VGC, Nintendo "feels it doesn't have enough major releases ready to show that would justify significant event space." Physical events may be phased out of the company’s schedule in the future as it continues to host Nintendo Direct on a semi-regular basis.

Here’s the biggest recent news from the big three:

• In January, Xbox held its first Developer_Direct showcase, allowing fans to see the new Forza Motorsport, Elder Scrolls Online: Necrom, Hi-Fi Rush, and Minecraft Legends. Bethesda's Starfield did not make an appearance, but Xbox confirmed that a separate show for the game would be held in the near future. You can read our show recap here.
• Sony announced its launch lineup for the PlayStation VR2, including 13 new titles within the first month of release. According to Bloomberg’s sources, Sony has cut its shipments of the headset down to 1.5 million from 2 million following disappointing pre-order numbers as well as lower sales projections.
• Nintendo Switch production will reportedly increase within the next fiscal year in anticipation of a spike in sales due to the launch of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom in May 2023. The Switch held the record for the most unit sales within the US in 2022, and its lower price point gave it an edge over its competitors.