With the next generation of consoles just around the corner, you would think that Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo would be looking to get any advantage that they could. However recent news broke revealing that Sony will be skipping E3 2020. With Sony planning to skip E3 yet again, what companies will fill the void? Will their absence damage the release of the PlayStation 5? Let’s discuss why Sony skipping E3 2020 is a mistake.
Over the last three years, E3’s attendance has grown exponentially; this is predominately due to the Entertainment Software Association opening E3 to the public in an attempt to appease Sony and EA. Despite the ESA’s valid attempts to make the show more consumer-friendly, the show continues to lose developers. Many in the industry have criticized the ESA for the overcrowdedness and the data breach that leaked multiple journalists’ personal information. Sadly, the increase in general public tickets was the ESA’s attempt to appease Sony. So why should Sony reconsider their E3 absence?
Sony Announces its Absence from E3 2020
Yesterday afternoon, news broke that Sony would be skipping E3 yet again. In a statement made to gamesindustry.biz, an unnamed Sony Representative declared that Sony will be absent from the E3 2020 show floor and will focus on consumer events throughout the year.
After thorough evaluation SIE has decided not to participate in E3 2020. We have great respect for the ESA as an organization, but we do not 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. Our focus is on making sure fans feel part of the PlayStation family and have access to play their favorite content. We have a fantastic line up 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.
Give the Industry an Experience
When it comes to consumer purchasing, the industry plays a pivotal role in what succeeds or fails; whether it is games, movies, phones, or TV shows, the community decides what will become the next trend. In 2013, Sony benefited from attending E3 after the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 were revealed. The industry was able to get a first-hand look at the PS4 and compare it to the Kinect version of the Xbox One. With a strong E3 dominance, Sony would go on to outsell the Xbox One exponentially and cause Microsoft to play catch up the entire console generation. With E3 2020 a little under five months away, the world is wondering what Sony has to offer with the PlayStation 5.
Show the World New Games or IPs
The second half of 2020 looks rather boring with few new titles scheduled to be released. At the moment, the only two PlayStation exclusive titles announced for 2020 are Ghost of Tsushima and The Last of Us Part II. The Last of Us Part II is scheduled to be released on May 29th, 2020. Then in the second or third quarter, Ghost of Tsushima will potentially release. Outside of the PlayStation exclusive titles, there are not many titles for gamers to look forward to after April.
The first half of 2020 will be dominated by Doom Eternal, Final Fantasy 7 Remake, Resident Evil 3, Ori and the Will of the Wisp, and Animal Crossing: New Horizons. Cyberpunk 2077 was moved to September 2020. With the second half of 2020 having only one scheduled release, Microsoft or Sony could easily step in to give gamers something to be excited about beyond the Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 systems themselves.
Absence Kills Competition
Last year, Phil Spencer said, “E3 is not the same without Sony.” He would go on to say that he wished they were there. “E3 is not as good when they’re not here. E3 is a time in the year when the whole world is watching gaming, and that’s very important today when the industry is coming under criticism and judgment.” Sony’s absence was definitely noticeable last year with E3 feeling more like a tradeshow rather than an event, less like a gaming convention and more like an event to buy gaming apparel. E3 2019 was also the first year in recent history that Activision was absent from the show floor. Between Sony and Activision’s absence, E3 2019 felt rather lackluster.
PlayStation, the ESA, EA, and Even Microsoft Are to Blame
E3 was originally founded to help the industry grow as a whole. With Sony pulling out of the event, many have felt spurned by their departure. In prior years, smaller studios would have the opportunity to showcase their games through Sony. Sadly, small developers now have to pick and choose where they will showcase their upcoming titles. In a way, Microsoft, EA, and the ESA are also to blame. The ESA who runs E3 continues to raise the price of admission for developers while offering little value to them for such a high amount. They are also responsible for the data breach that leaked multiple members of the industry’s personal information. These two factors cause many to be distrustful of the ESA.
When EA decided to leave the E3 show floor and held a successful event, it showed developers that they did not need the convention center to showcase their games. Although Devolver Digital had done this previously, EA seemed to be the one to break the levee. Following EA’s departure, Microsoft moved its showcase to the Microsoft Theatre and Plaza. With Microsoft absent on the show floor, Sony and Nintendo had more space to work with but the ESA demanded more money.
Maybe Sony Will Show Up
Hopefully, Sony will show up to E3 in some capacity with some kind of surprise. Only time will tell. Could Sony skipping E3 2020 damage the launch of the PlayStation 5 or build suspense for the console’s grand release? Personally, I am appalled by Sony’s absence. Their supposed plan to attend a variety of consumer shows puts a greater financial burden on the industry. What will satisfy the ESA but also Sony? Will we see E3’s format change to something similar to the Tokyo Game Show?
We will just have to wait and see.
