You would think that with the bad press that Sony has been getting lately that they would at least try to have some kind of presence at this years free virtual E3. I know they have skipped the last couple years .... but it would be nice to join with the other studios this year... to show a untied approach of coming back together..
E3 2021 Plans Announced: Xbox and Nintendo Involved, No Sign of Sony
Nintendo, Xbox, Capcom, Konami, Ubisoft, Take-Two, Warner Bros, and Koch Media confirmed.
The Electronic Software Association has announced its plans for the first digital-only E3, which will include Nintendo and Xbox, but currently does not include Sony.
Taking place from June 12-15, E3 2021 is confirmed to include appearances from Nintendo, Xbox, Capcom, Konami, Ubisoft, Take-Two Interactive, Warner Bros. Games, Koch Media.
Sony is conspicuous by its absence on that list, and we've contacted the company for comment. Other major missing companies include EA (which has recently preferred to host its own EA Play events during E3's timing), Square Enix, Sega, Bandai Namco, Tencent, 505, and Activision Blizzard.
The ESA makes clear that the list of partners marks "early commitments", so other publishers and developers could come onboard at a later date. However, before the show's pandemic-related cancellation, Sony had confirmed that it
had no plans to attend E3 2020.
After announcing that the show would
return as a digital-only event, the E3 website promises "live press conferences and a four-day long video stream," and says the show will be "a reimagined and hyper-engaged digital experience."
Concrete details about the show remain thin on the ground, but ESA president Stanley Pierre-Louis used a press release to say: “We are evolving this year’s E3 into a more inclusive event, but will still look to excite the fans with major reveals and insider opportunities that make this event the indispensable center stage for video games.”
What we know for sure is that the event will be entirely free. After previous reports that parts of E3 2021 could be put behind paywalls, the ESA told IGN that "
E3’s 2021 digital show is a free event for all attendees".
The ESA has announced its plans for the first digital-only E3, which will include Nintendo and Xbox, but currently does not feature Sony.
www.ign.com