PlayStation skipping E3 again ‘would be a huge mistake’, claims analyst

A key industry analyst has said that skipping E3 2020 would be “a huge mistake” for PlayStation.

Sony Interactive Entertainment was a surprise omission from 2019’s E3 event and it’s looking possible that the platform holder could skip the show again in the year of PS5.

According to VGC sources, Xbox’s events team is working under the assumption that PlayStation will not be at the Los Angeles show and is upping its plans accordingly.

UPDATE 13/01: PlayStation has officially confirmed it will not attend E3 2020, the second consecutive year the platform holder has skipped the LA event.

ORIGINAL STORY CONTINUES: Wedbush Securities analyst Michael Pachter also told VGC in a PS5 reveal investigation that he believes Sony will again opt out of the event.

“As far as I know, they don’t plan to attend,” he said.

“I think that’s a huge mistake, as their ‘focus on the consumer’ is not inconsistent with their attendance at the premier industry trade show. I hope they change their minds, but I am sceptical.”

SIE had already announced its position on E3 2019 before the calendar year had even began, but VGC understands E3 2020 planning has been affected by an unusually high turnover of staff, following the departure of organiser ESA‘s long-time CEO and other key personnel.

Sony has attended every E3 show prior to 2019 and it’s likey that the company would want to return under the appropriate conditions.

The ESA has recently approached Game Awards organiser Geoff Keighley to help with this year’s show.

Keighley is already a part of E3 with E3 Colosseum and the YouTube Live @ E3 show, and recently held a successful launch event for Gamescom in Germany.

Commenting on his involvement with E3 in August 2019, the Game Awards host said his philosophy across his events was always to try and bring everyone to the table.

“E3 has a lot of challenges it faces and I’m trying to help them navigate that, and help publishers navigate what the best approach to consumer events and trade shows is,” Keighley told GI.biz.

“E3 I think will be the first to admit they’re facing a bit of an identity crisis as to what the show is and who it’s for. We’ve offered to help them continue to navigate that, and I have a lot of ideas of where I would take E3 if we took a more active role in shaping what that show could be.

“But I think for E3, everyone has to come back to the table and be a part of it. You need everyone to participate, and I’m proud that The Game Awards and Gamescom [are events that] everyone actively participates in.

“I’m proud to be building events where we can get everyone together, and I’ve told the board of the ESA that we want to help everyone come together around a big industry event in the summer, whether that’s E3 or something new.”

• Related: E3 2020 could rebrand as ‘fan and influencer festival’