The gaming industry's biggest event, the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3), is opening on June 14 in Los Angeles. Inaugurated over 21 years ago, the E3 used to be a big deal for gaming companies. However, many have observed that's not the case anymore.
Some industry leaders are actually going to skip this year's E3 event. What's not going to be at the E3 and why are companies passing up the chance to make their presentations this time around?
Electronic Arts Not Going To Be At E3
Electronic Arts (EA) was one of the first publishers to publicly expressed it will not have a booth at this year's E3. The announcement came as early as January, per Polygon. Instead, it will hold its own event at the Club Nokia, also in Los Angeles, from June 12 to June 14.
The gaming publisher, which carries popular titles like "Madden," "NBA Live," "The Sims," "Mass Effect" and "Destiny," used to have one of the largest booths at the E3, but it has chosen to mount its own presentations and exhibitions separately and ahead of the expo for the first time this year. Tickets to EA's event have started selling May 26 and are now sold-out.
Tickets for EA PLAY are now sold out. Please join us at https://t.co/1V5O7ZKV9A from 6/12 - 6/14 to go behind the scenes to the event.
— Electronic Arts (@EA) May 27, 2016
Activision Blizzard Not Going To Be At E3
Another big gaming publisher, Activision Blizzard, has announced in March that it will not be at the E3. The company was initially looking forward to presenting its upcoming game, "Call of Duty: Infinity Ward," at the E3, but Fortune reported that will not be the case anymore. The game publisher is not going to have a booth and will only rely on the console companies to show off "Call of Duty: Infinity Ward."
Disney, Wargaming Not Going To Be At E3
Venture Beat reported in March that Disney and Wargaming are also not going to present at the E3. In an email to the news outlet, Wargaming said their decision to skip this year's expo is because their goals are not in line with E3, which is more catered to retail products. Wargaming is a free-to-play gaming company.
On the other hand, Disney has chosen to drop the event because it will be holding its own expos during the summer. It will be expensive to do both as E3 booths reportedly cost millions.
Nintendo NX Not Going To Be At E3
While Nintendo will have a booth at the E3, the company announced they won't be displaying or presenting their latest console, the rumored Nintendo NX. This is more of a company strategy and has little to do with the actual expo. For the three days of the E3, Nintendo will only be presenting "Legend of Zelda," which can also be followed online via the Nintendo E3 site.
