While it wasn't the only company that stood out this year - Activision sits too - there was no absence of E3 2019 more important than Sony. With no PlayStation press conference or floor display booth, it was a completely different kind of show. Many would argue that it was worse without them out there - and among those who argue as much as it is with Xbox chief Phil Spencer, who says E3 is not the same without Sony and Activision, and wants them back in the future.
Speaking on Giant Bomb's sister GameSpot's sister site live at E3, Spencer talked about the continuing importance of E3, and suggested that the profile be abused by Sony and Activision doesn't exist. "I hope Sony is here," Spencer said. "The E3 is not good when you're not here," Spencer said of Sony and Activision pulling out of the annual big game show.
Spencer said E3 is still important to the gaming world. It is a time in the year when the entire world watches games, and this is very important today when the industry is under criticism and judgment. One of the recent threats, Spencer said, is the World Health Organization's classification of gaming disorder as a recognized disease.
He said E3 is an important time of the year to show the world that games aren't just kids in a basement. Spencer said that without juggling like Sony and Activision, the E3 could be a huge success in terms of importance.
Spencer is a member of the board of directors of the Entertainment Software Association, the group that runs E3 each year, so it looks like he's totally interested in seeing the show continue and thrive. Other board members include Strauss Zelnick, CEO of Grand Theft Auto Take-Two, and Bethesda ZeniMax CEO Robert Altman.
Dates for E3 2020 have already been confirmed, again confirming that this year's show will not be the last. But where things go from there, as companies increasingly choose to host their events, remains to be seen.
Explaining why it did not reach E3 this year, Sony said it wanted to "innovate, think differently and try new ways to please players". Before the show, first details about the next-generation PlayStation 5. Death Stranding are shared too, revealing an extended trailer and release date. But then, it's unclear when we'll next get details about the other big first-party PS4 games, like The Last of Us 2 and Ghost of Tsushima.
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