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As Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft all share their plans to skip E3 2023, a sense of mystery surrounds the expo as summer nears. Without these three tentpole industry names, what will E3 have to offer as an alternative? While no one can truly say what games will shine until journalists hit the show floor and play each one for themselves, there remains some clear moves to be made that could salvage this year of E3.
The Impact of ReedPop
To understand the changing landscape of E3, one must first be familiar with ReedPop, the new parent company behind the event. Though it has partnered with former organizer Entertainment Software Association, the baton is officially being handed over to ReedPop for this year’s expo. Since the new parent company comes from a background of putting on events such as New York Comic-Con, Star Wars Celebration, and the various PAX festivals, a clear divide in priority is apparent when comparing the ESA to ReedPop. One can expect E3 – in its new form – to be a newly formulated in-person experience that prioritizes accessibility to its media and attendees. For E3 to succeed without Nintendo, Sony, or Microsoft, the event itself, in-person, must be fun and worthwhile to attend in person, and ReedPop seems to be the company to effectively lead that transition.
A Distinct Spotlight
With the three major industry names dropping out of the show, an opportunity is clearly present for another publisher to shine in the now-vacant spotlight. However, it’s important to understand that the absence of the big three likely will result in a lack of major new announcements at E3 overall. This opportunity for takeover from companies such as Square Enix, Capcom, SEGA, even Team Cherry with Hollow Knight: Silksong is not necessarily within the context of announcing new games, but rather, deliberately increasing the excitement surrounding previously announced games.
E3 used to be the major event where games were not only announced but also followed up on by games writers. In the modern age, that entails real-time streaming that takes place on location at events like E3. There’s a clear indication that currently unknown or smaller titles that garner the most attention while play-testing will benefit from a distinctive spotlight. Though the lack of new games may be realistic when imagining E3 2023 as an event, the result doesn’t have to be a watered-down show for the attendees or worldwide viewers.
Player 1 Still Needed
But let’s face it – E3 still needs a major brand to lead the promotional charge in 2023 and encapsulate the true spirit of the expo. Leaving the big thtree out, there remain a few options for publishers that could potentially fill the void. Though they’ve had a troubled recent history with ups and downs, Konami has an opportunity to shine at this year’s E3. It remains one of the last publishers to treat E3 as its preferred avenue for breaking news each year, and this particular showcase is shaping up to be a premier opportunity to make a unique and lasting impact. While Konami may be a bit of an optimistic stretch in terms of leading the E3 charge, Ubisoft certainly has the capability to deliver a strong showcase. The publisher confirmed its attendance recently, which sets up an unlikely spotlight on the respected triple A publisher. Assassin’s Creed Mirage stands out as a reliable upcoming release for Ubisoft to depend on. Plus, they’re coming in with compelling new titles such as Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora and Skull and Bones, which, ideally, will be slated for release shortly after the event. With all this in mind, Ubisoft – if any publisher at E3 – is most likely to drop a major surprise announcement. Don’t be shocked if Ubisoft drops a couple of major, unexpected bombs on the gaming world this summer!
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