Nintendo officially confirmed that it would not be attending E3 2023. The news comes three months before the major gaming trade show that was once the annual epicenter for gaming’s biggest news and reveals. E3 has had a rocky few years, and has fallen out of favor with gaming’s biggest names, Nintendo included.
In 2019, the organization that runs E3, the Electronic Software Association, or the ESA, caused a stir when it accidentally made the private information of over 2,000 games journalists easily accessible as a spreadsheet on its website that anyone could download. The ESA’s inability to secure information about its attendees coincided with major publishers like Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft determining they didn’t need the E3 infrastructure provided by the ESA to promote their upcoming slate of hardware and software. These publishers’ plans to take the independent route were expedited when the COVID-19 pandemic led to the ESA canceling E3 2020 and 2022, with 2021’s show being online only. Nintendo has not participated in an E3 since 2021.
IGN recently reported that Nintendo, along with Microsoft and Sony, would not be participating in E3 2023. Today’s news coming directly from Nintendo confirms it and makes it the first of the big three publishers to confirm IGN’s report. A Nintendo spokesperson contacted by IGN stated that this year’s E3 did not fit into the company's plans, and therefore pulled out of the event. Though, the spokesperson did not rule out attending future events.
A lack of major releases to promote is cited in IGN’s report as the primary reason for Nintendo’s absence from this year’s E3. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom will be released before the June event, and reports of Metroid Prime 4’s troubled development mean Nintendo’s heaviest hitters will be off the table.
The ESA has been trying to get E3 back on its feet and back into its place of prominence but has had trouble securing big-name publishers. In addition to Nintendo, Microsoft, and Sony skipping this year’s show, IGN reports that the ESA has had trouble luring other large publishers. Thus far, Ubisoft is one of the few major publishers that has confirmed its participation. Konami is also rumored to debut a new Castlevania game and a remake of Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater at E3. What isn’t known yet is if Nintendo, Microsoft, and Sony will offer an alternative to the E3 press conferences of old in lieu of their absence.
Source: IGN