Hiku said:
VideoGameAccountant said:
That could be a possibility if they weren't also skipping PSX this year. It sounds more likely they aren't doing E3 for the same reason they aren't doing PSX: they don't have any more titles to show.
I think shikamaru's assessment was right that a lot of these games are going to be available on PS5. Death Stranding most definitively is and I expected that the minute they showed off walking gameplay and no release date. I wouldn't doubt that Days Gone may be as well. Not sure about TLOU2.
All in all, these announcements suggest that Sony isn't doing events because they don't have any titles and a lot of what is left is being moved to the PS5. Keep in mind game development, especially on the AAA consoles, has been getting longer and longer. So long that Sony would show off games at multiple E3s before being released. If Sony just releases these titles on PS4 and leaves nothing for PS5, then the system will basically have nothing but filler for a good 3-4 years after release. Moreover, Nintendo showed this does work as they did with Zelda. With increased competition from Nintendo and Microsoft and the economy being strong, my guess is PS5 will be released before March 31st 2020 and likely be shown off in late 2019.
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To me it would seem very unlikely that Sony would not be able to acquire enough material for an event for over a full year. So if they skip PSX due to lack of content, then the reason for E3 should not be the same. And that seems reflected in their contrasting statements.
They cite a lack of relevant news to warrant a PSX show, but for E3 they were specifically talking about exploring new ways to reach their audience instead.
PSX, which also hosts the Capcom Cup Street Fighter V finals, is also an expensive event. Especially compared to something like a Nintendo Direct.
That the content they have to display this year didn't warrant the cost of the PSX sounds plausible considering they attended E3. However, if they want to make their PSX more eventful, moving their otherwise E3 announcements to PSX would be one way to go about it. But that would not be possible this year, since they did attend E3 2017. They could only make PSX more stacked starting from 2018.
That's assuming they will do a PSX again, which I'm not sure about either.
One thing we can be sure of is that all these companies have increasingly questioned if the millions in expenses of attending E3 are worth it, after we left the age where most people got their gaming information from magazines and TV.
I'm not disagreeing that several of these upcoming Sony first party titles will be either cross generational, or outright moved to PS5. I suspect that will happen as well. But I cannot see them not having enough content to show at E3 a full year later, especially when they skip PSX. And when they have such strong third party support, and when they can show off new cross generational games, which there will no doubt be many of considering PS4's very large install base. Like how Metal Gear Solid V was presented before PS4 was announced.
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I don't see how it couldn't be the same reason. The PS4 is at the end of it's life and we've seen every game Sony will release on it. What would E3 be again? More Last of Us? More Death Stranding? More Days Gone? There aren't any other games left to warrant E3 just as there isn't enough to warrant PSX. Additionally, it may also be for the simple reason that these games are now releasing on the PS5, so they'll likely go dark until then.
Sony's game division has been doing well with some hit titles and the improving US economy. If anything, it's much better than it was during the PS3 years when the division was tanking. But now Sony is going to pinch pennies? Additionally, you mention that companies are questioning the cost of E3, but have they really? Microsoft still holds huge events when they have less than Sony, and the only thing Nintendo has backed off on is the stage event. Nintendo still takes up a large space at E3 which is where I'm sure the lion's share of the cost comes from (think about setting these up, hiring people to run it, taking it down and the bill they pay the ESA for doing it). Again, Sony has never questioned it before, even when they had real financial difficulties with actual fear of bankruptcy, they still attended E3.
I think the different statements are just PR talk. Sony not doing their own little event is one thing but skipping out on the biggest press event for video games is a much bigger deal. Saying "We aren't going to E3 because no games" is a bad look during the transition period of a new consoles. I think that unique event where they communicate with their fans is the reveal of the PS5.
Last edited by VideoGameAccountant - on 18 November 2018
