E3 2023 Faces Major Setbacks as Sega, Tencent, and Other Publishers Withdraw
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Published on: March 29, 2023
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E3 2023 Faces Major Setbacks as Sega, Tencent, and Other Publishers Withdraw
The Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) has long been one of the gaming industry's most anticipated annual events, serving as a platform for leading developers and publishers to unveil new titles, hardware, and innovations.
However, E3 2023 is facing increasingly significant challenges following a series of high-profile departures from major industry players, casting doubt on the viability of this year’s showcase.
Earlier this week, Ubisoft announced its decision to withdraw from E3 2023, joining Nintendo and Microsoft, both of whom had already opted to forgo participation this year.
According to an IGN report, additional third-party publishers have also confirmed their absence, which threatens the event’s traditional draw and relevance.
Sega officially stated it would not participate in E3 2023, but emphasized its commitment to providing updates on both announced and unannounced projects in the future.
The company indicated that while it would miss this year’s event, fans can expect more news about upcoming games on platforms like Nintendo Switch and other consoles.
Similarly, Tencent, a key force in the global video game market, confirmed via a spokesperson that its studio Level Infinite—known for titles such as Honor of Kings and PUBG Mobile—would not attend E3 this year.
This further diminishes the list of potential showstoppers for the expo.
In a response to IGN, Devolver Digital clarified that it would not have a physical presence at E3 2023, continuing its trend of eschewing the main convention floor.
However, the publisher reaffirmed its commitment to its separate digital showcase, Devolver Direct, scheduled for June.
This event will provide news and announcements about upcoming projects, broadcast via streaming platforms for direct fan engagement.
Bandai Namco also responded to inquiries regarding its presence at E3, confirming that it will attend Geoff Keighley’s Play Days event, which runs independently from E3.
However, the publisher did not comment on whether it would participate in E3 itself.
This wave of withdrawals has generated further speculation about E3’s fate.
According to one well-informed source cited by IGN, there appears to be little chance for the event to proceed as planned, summarizing the sentiment by stating that, "there's no possible way this show can happen." This comes at a pivotal time for the global gaming industry, as companies increasingly turn to digital showcases and independent announcements instead of traditional trade show formats.
E3’s event organizer, ReedPop, faces mounting pressure as publishers and key partners exit.
As the landscape of industry events shifts to accommodate evolving marketing strategies and consumer engagement methods, the future of E3 as an industry-defining event remains uncertain.
For ongoing updates on E3 2023, Devolver Direct, and publisher showcases for the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, Xbox, and PC platforms, stay tuned to trusted sources.
