Nintendo has confirmed that it will not be attending E3 2023, the biggest gaming event of the year. This comes after recent rumors that neither Sony nor Nintendo would be part of the event.
In a statement to GameSpot, Nintendo explained, “We approach our involvement in any event on a case-by-case basis and are always considering various ways to engage with our fans. We have no plans to participate in E3 this year.”
This is not the first time that Nintendo has skipped E3. The company has been opting for online presentations called Nintendo Directs since 2013, where it showcases its upcoming games and announcements. However, it is unclear whether Nintendo will hold a Nintendo Direct to match E3 2023, as it has in previous years.
E3 2023 is currently slated for June 13 to June 16 in the Los Angeles Convention Center. It is expected to feature some of the biggest names in gaming such as Ubisoft, Bethesda, EA and Microsoft. There will also be other showcases such as Geoff Keighley’s Summer Games Fest, which promises to deliver “a spectacular lineup of world premieres and announcements from the video game industry.”
So what does this mean for Nintendo fans and games? On one hand, it could mean that Nintendo has nothing major to reveal at this time, or that it prefers to have more control over its own messaging and timing. On the other hand, it could also mean that Nintendo is saving its best surprises for later in the year, or that it has something so big that it deserves its own spotlight.
Some of the games that fans are eagerly anticipating from Nintendo include The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2, Metroid Prime 4, Bayonetta 3 and Splatoon 3. There are also rumors of a new Switch model with improved graphics and performance.
Whatever the case may be, Nintendo fans will have to wait and see what the company has in store for them in 2023.