Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) is set to make its return this year after a four-year hiatus. Taking place from June 13 to 16 in Los Angeles, the long-running and iconic event is bringing with it a number of changes with its new organisers. Gamers can still expect exciting announcements, trailers, gameplays, and more for upcoming and unannounced titles. But, as per reports, the event will be missing the industry's big three - Sony, Xbox, and Nintendo - as they reportedly won't be participating in E3 2023.
Xbox has already confirmed that the company will be hosting a separate showcase event in Los Angeles around the same time as E3. The showcase is expected to reveal more details about Bethesda Game Studios' Starfield and other upcoming first-party games. While Nintendo's presence at the event has been limited to a booth in the past, it's now said that won't be the case this year. As for Sony, the company had pulled out of E3 2019 due to disagreements, and it remains to be seen if it will participate in E3 2023. Both Nintendo and Sony are yet to officially confirm their plans for the event.
The absence of the gaming giants is likely to have a dampening effect on the excitement surrounding the return of E3. The past three years have seen the event affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, with 2020's event cancelled due to the pandemic and 2021's event being held online. Last year, E3 2022 was completely cancelled with the hopes of a safe return to in-person events in 2023. How this plays out remains to be seen.