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[Lord Malachite]

IMO Sony skipping this year became kind of inevitable after their 2018 conference. In 2018, Sony made their final case for the PS4, basing it on 4 tentpole games (with a 5th at the show but not on stage)

Marvel's Spider-Man
Days Gone
Death Stranding
Ghost Of Tsushima
The Last Of Us, Part II

Since that time, both Spider-Man and Days Gone have released to success. This leaves Sony with only three games in their stable, all of which they've already shown off heavily and two of which still don't even have a release date--meaning that both Ghost Of Tsushima and TLOU2 are almost certainly TBD 2020. Building a 2019 conference on a "Hey guys here's the same games we showed off last year again. PlayStation! Woo!" was going to make them look like an anemic joke. There's no way Sony would have discussed PS5 either--they'll wait until Feb or March 2020 to do a reveal event on that. Sony just doesn't have anything left to show for PS4. Skipping the conference was their best option.

 

[CyberPanda]

Yes it was a good decision they skipped. Because E3 is getting worse year after year and they saved themselves a lot of money by skipping it.

 

[Northeastmonk]

It wasn’t important. IMO if they dominated the current console gen then it doesn’t matter. Then when they finally talk, it’ll matter.

E3 is an amazing time of year, but not everyone playing games can say they’re excited. You have games that are already out. We have what 1-2 years until this current gen is likely done?

Microsoft did something shocking to me. They showed off a lot of current gen games. I wasn’t exactly bummed out because all these games aren’t coming out on current hardware. Sony didn’t have to rehash another TLoU2 trailer. If they can repeat the PS4 legacy with the PS5 then I’m fine with them being silent.

I also don’t think Microsoft had enough exclusives to begin with. It was good to see them do what they did today. Phantasy Star Online 2 is what, FINALLY coming out in English? A lot of what Microsoft showed off was awesome, but why turn Sony into some sorta dog at a dog show trying to compete.

IMO Sony is essentially saying we don’t have to market ourselves until we’re blue in the face. I mean, I went to the E3 showings at the theaters. I got the lanyard and the Destiny alpha code. It was awesome, but it was also a lot of wishful thinking. Final Fantasy VII and ShenMue 3 announcements were HUGE! I honestly feel like Sony didn’t have to go. It’s not like all these games aren’t multi platform and that E3 will be bigger than when Sony actually says something. Maybe Sony is trying to break the mold and tell their fans to relax for the time being.

 

[HarryKS]

How is this a lack of respect?

It's the biggest show in the industry and you don't show up. At all. You don't even have a video scheduled for the week. It reflects poorly on them.

 

[Petrae]

It's the biggest show in the industry and you don't show up. At all. You don't even have a video scheduled for the week. It reflects poorly on them.

Sony’s social media team has been all over it, with promo announcements and signal-boosting important third-party announcements. The company doesn’t need to drop tens (if not hundreds) of thousands of dollars to show up just to appeal to “the community”— many of which aren’t even there.

Even if not exhibiting, Sony will assuredly still have employees on the show floor and will be conducting business with retail purchasers and other industry people behind closed doors.

There’s something very wrong if “the community” gets outraged or ridiculously feels slighted because a company decides to scale back its appearances because there’s not much new to show and dropping tons of cash isn’t completely justified.

PlayStation fans should understand that there’s really nothing new going on here and that the PS4 will continue to dominate through the end of the generation. The fight is over, and nothing can be gained from showing up to show the same handful of games. Again.

 

[Zerit0gi]

YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Nintendo WINS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[EDMIX]

I imagine it'd still be a small price to pay. All the multiplatform games are now being presented by Microsoft. Sony's going to be losing some mindshare I think.

huh? You already have a idea of how such a thing will turn out though, MS has been doing this for years and for years those versions have sold better on PS.

I watched MS press event too......for games I'm just buying for PS4. With how expensive gaming is, i don't think MS is really out here hoodwinking people into thinking those games are ONLY coming to XB, the community pretty much knows MS does this and I'm not sure its really helping MS that much tbh.

With them putting all their titles on PC day and date, it even questions why on earth they are even showing other publishers games if they are seeking to be multiplatform, it would be like EA spending all this money to show Ubisofts games or something. If anything it shows MS is more concerned about selling the service like you see with Google aka "here are a bunch of games you can find else where" Stadia. So it makes sense why Sony doesn't care. MS is basically no longer moving the same units, they are seeking to clearly move even less units making games on PC as well as console, thus them showing off 3rd party games while basically being a 3rd party isn't likely bothering Sony.

They are marking other folks games and the message is still coming across that such content can be found on PS4. Look at it like this...KH3 was shown at MS press event last year.

UK Sales Charts: Kingdom Hearts 3 Dominates on PS4

Sony's system accounts for 82 per cent of sales

www.pushsquare.com

So....if you are Sony, you really care if KH3 is at MS press event when 82% of its sales are on your platform? Sony might see it like "Thanks for putting the word out on how cool KH3 is, PS4 gamers greatly appreciate it".

 

[Klayzer]

Sony’s social media team has been all over it, with promo announcements and signal-boosting important third-party announcements. The company doesn’t need to drop tens (if not hundreds) of thousands of dollars to show up just to appeal to “the community”— many of which aren’t even there.

Even if not exhibiting, Sony will assuredly still have employees on the show floor and will be conducting business with retail purchasers and other industry people behind closed doors.

There’s something very wrong if “the community” gets outraged or ridiculously feels slighted because a company decides to scale back its appearances because there’s not much new to show and dropping tons of cash isn’t completely justified.

PlayStation fans should understand that there’s really nothing new going on here and that the PS4 will continue to dominate through the end of the generation. The fight is over, and nothing can be gained from showing up to show the same handful of games. Again.

Seems some people are outraged that Sony wasn't there for a few reasons:
- The annual nothing new to show crowd
- Too many cinematic style games
- Too much focus on VR crowd
- Why is Sony holding back crossplay crowd
- Not buying 3rd party because of censorship
- Boring SJW agenda propaganda

A lot of people are upset they weren't able to shoot their PS hot take guns for e3. Cut them some slack.

 

[bender]

I don't mind skipping E3 and going more of the Nintendo Direct route. That said, their State of Play showcases need a lot of work as the few they've done so far felt really flat.

 

[EDMIX]

It's the biggest show in the industry and you don't show up. At all. You don't even have a video scheduled for the week. It reflects poorly on them.

Not really. How many of us are at E3 right now? The majority of us watched E3 from Youtube, Twitch etc. Thus, it matters not when Sony shows some trailer of news or trailers for release dates etc. Even some the stuff we've seen from publishers this week isn't even AT E3 THE LOCATION so its just irrelevant based on how social media works. One of the worst things regarding it is titles many times get lost in translation and pretty much struggle to get attention. So you saw so many titles getting release dates and announcements outside of E3.

What does that actually REALLY tell you about the event?

Borderlands 3
Call Of Duty
Death Stranding etc either out right confirmed outside of E3, release dates given, trailers etc. So.....E3 isn't the end all be all and it makes sense for them to only show content on their time. I don't care if I don't get a trailer this week or news this week, I care that I get a game at all.

I don't play games because of them being announced during a certain week, at a certain location etc

I play them for fun. Nintendo has been doing well rarely even going to E3 lol so there goes that theory.

 

[majestix1988]

I think it's right on them due E3 mostly now it's showing trailers that not actually no gameplay yup their gameplay but it's just not actual gameplay mostly it's alpha been abused by EA's Anthem then Bethseda's Fallout 76 that building too much promises that never been achieved then some bad side of E3......

I feel they want same feeling like Tokyo Game Show where too much gameplay trailers and games are really played not to be teased on users

 

[Psykodad]

What headlines?

poor wording on my part, my bad.
Meant to topic titles for all the announcemens.

 

[EDMIX]

I don't mind skipping E3 and going more of the Nintendo Direct route. That said, their State of Play showcases need a lot of work as the few they've done so far felt really flat.

I have nothing against their State Of Plays, it exist for that exact purpose, to only show when they have something to say, consider those VR titles and "flat" titles would have been all they would have been showing at E3.

If its going to be flat, let it be a short youtube video, not this expensive stage and you and I expecting fireworks when its just not warranted. So I think they'll show stuff when stuff is actually viable to be shown, ie Death Stranding release date and new trailer, FFVII remake new trailer etc. They probably have The Last Of Us 2 footage, but why force the team to do it earlier? Let them make the game and give us a trailer when that team is ready to do so, we don't know what Naughty Dog and Sucker Punch are going thru to really ask BOTH or all of Sonys studios to have a trailer, news etc. So this format for now makes complete sense.

The Death Stranding release date trailer got over 5 million views in under 24 hours, its likely why Sony is seeking that style right now, they get the news out faster, with nothing else clogging the news and get all the gaming spotlight. That trailer is at like 7 million views in just a week.

 

[bender]

I have nothing against their State Of Plays, it exist for that exact purpose, to only show when they have something to say, consider those VR titles and "flat" titles would have been all they would have been showing at E3.

If its going to be flat, let it be a short youtube video, not this expensive stage and you and I expecting fireworks when its just not warranted. So I think they'll show stuff when stuff is actually viable to be shown, ie Death Stranding release date and new trailer, FFVII remake new trailer etc. They probably have The Last Of Us 2 footage, but why force the team to do it earlier? Let them make the game and give us a trailer when that team is ready to do so, we don't know what Naughty Dog and Sucker Punch are going thru to really ask BOTH or all of Sonys studios to have a trailer, news etc. So this format for now makes complete sense.

The Death Stranding release date trailer got over 5 million views in under 24 hours, its likely why Sony is seeking that style right now, they get the news out faster, with nothing else clogging the news and get all the gaming spotlight. That trailer is at like 7 million views in just a week.

Flat as in the presentation and format, not the games themselves. My wording was probably poor.

 

[gamerforever]

After what microsoft just showed it was absolutely the right decision. I don’t think sony have anything to worry about next gen, infact the lack of exclusives will push xbox owners to ps5. It seems microsoft are positioning themselves as pc gamers, which is dangerous.

 

[MayauMiao]

I ended up skipping e3 entirely without sony there.

Does anyone know of a good place to find ps4 related announcement vids all in one place?

The PlayStation youtube channel.

 

[Wink]

I think they should've shown. I understand it's not the most lucrative way to do things anymore, but showing up celebrating their line up and fans while competing with others shows that they care. It leads to mindshare and good vibes. Also Microsoft is really building up to attack next gen and take over the lead, Sony can't afford to rest on their laurels.

 

[Grinchy]

I think they should've shown. I understand it's not the most lucrative way to do things anymore, but showing up celebrating their line up and fans while competing with others shows that they care. It leads to mindshare and good vibes. Also Microsoft is really building up to attack next gen and take over the lead, Sony can't afford to rest on their laurels.

But what do they do when they show up? Show the same games from last year again? Show the multiplatform CG trailers that everyone with an IQ over 70 hates? I don't think it's worth millions of dollars for them to do that.

Something tells me that the Playstation brand lost 0 mindshare by not being at E3 this year. There's just no reason to be.

 

[Wink]

But what do they do when they show up? Show the same games from last year again? Show the multiplatform CG trailers that everyone with an IQ over 70 hates? I don't think it's worth millions of dollars for them to do that.

Something tells me that the Playstation brand lost 0 mindshare by not being at E3 this year. There's just no reason to be.

Bethesda did pretty much exactly that and still showed up. They made it a priority to come off as for the fans. I did say it's not a lucrative option, but your core players still get excited for E3, it's just that time of the year and if you want to carry on the for the players tagline not being in the mix for an event like this, while it might be financially wise and not detrimental to their current success, is just a bummer in my opinion. Even if you don't have the greatest conference, the cheers of a dedicated fanbase and the good vibes that come with that is not part of a state of play presentation.

 

[Psykodad]

So, imagine if they came and had very little to show. Glad they waited. Next year they will unload on all of us and there will be no survivors.

This.

I've been saying it for a while:

Next time Sony will be showing their big games, they'll be running upgraded PS5 visuals and people's minds will be blown.

Sony's making all the right moves. They just let people mock them and talk shit, while they're patiently waiting for the right time to strike back and melt brains.

 

[Typhares]

It's all about next year scarlett vs ps5. This year is E3 end of gen stuff which is fine but they can show that anytime they want.

 

[sublimit]

After last year's fiasco if they didn't have anything substantial to show again (which is the most likely scenario) then yes it was a good choice.

 

[AeonGaidenRaiden]

Absolutley great decision. MS totally missed the boat with creating a hype machine for the next xbox. Now they will butt again against SONY next E3. I dont really see what benefit Sony would have if they were here. If Xbox revealed something big or a glimps of thenew console/prototype, then yea but really nothing changed without them being there.

 

[Afro Republican]

With them putting all their titles on PC day and date, it even questions why on earth they are even showing other publishers games if they are seeking to be multiplatform, it would be like EA spending all this money to show Ubisofts games or something. If anything it shows MS is more concerned about selling the service like you see with Google aka "here are a bunch of games you can find else where" Stadia. So it makes sense why Sony doesn't care.

2001 wants their excuses back.

 

[Afro Republican]

Not really. How many of us are at E3 right now? The majority of us watched E3 from Youtube, Twitch etc. Thus, it matters not when Sony shows some trailer of news or trailers for release dates etc. Even some the stuff we've seen from publishers this week isn't even AT E3 THE LOCATION so its just irrelevant based on how social media works. One of the worst things regarding it is titles many times get lost in translation and pretty much struggle to get attention. So you saw so many titles getting release dates and announcements outside of E3.

What does that actually REALLY tell you about the event?

Borderlands 3
Call Of Duty
Death Stranding etc either out right confirmed outside of E3, release dates given, trailers etc. So.....E3 isn't the end all be all and it makes sense for them to only show content on their time. I don't care if I don't get a trailer this week or news this week, I care that I get a game at all.

I don't play games because of them being announced during a certain week, at a certain location etc

I play them for fun. Nintendo has been doing well rarely even going to E3 lol so there goes that theory.

Nintendo has been at almost every E3 with events, trailers, and even direct during or around E3. Also directs don't have anywhere near the press or consumer impact that their conferences used to half, the issue is that Nintendo doesn't really have anything to show to warrant a conference and that was admitted years ago. Lack of TP doesn't help with that either.

 

[Fbh]

After that MS conference, yeah.

MS didn't take advantage of their main competition not being there so I don't think Sony lost too much. And just having a conference where they talk about the same 3 games again and show a bunch of CGI trailer for third party stuff would have probably resulted in mostly negative or disappointed reactions.

 

[Afro Republican]

MS didn't take advantage of their main competition not being there.

Yes, they did, the average consumer is hyped. The mixed feelings seem to be concentrated in core gaming forums and sites.

 

[Garnox]

I think E3 is becoming a relic of the past. Very similar to how malls are collapsing, because why would businesses pay someone else to showcase their product, when they can “open their own storefront” and not have to pay out for a “rental space”?

So, I think Sony skipping out on E3 is just the beginning of the end for E3 as an expo. That or E3 is going to make some big changes to stay relevant. That’s just how business is run these days. Look no further than San Diego Comic Con and how they’re downward trending as more vendors pull out from them as well.

So smart decision by Sony as a whole. Nothing to do with competing against MS or Google, Sony gonna do Sony by their rules.

 

[NickFire]

Last couple weeks I expected some sort of big surprise from Sony because of MS hype train. With the gift of hindsight, I don't think it mattered one bit that they skipped. Could they have drummed up more hype for themselves? Probably. Does it matter? probably not.

 

[Three]

What headlines?

Exactly

 

[MDSLKTR]

Sony did a masterful chess move leading to e³ with the wired article, state of play formula (FF7 teaser, commitment to vr), revealing death stranding release date and marketing the new CoD and avoiding the destiny 2 cross save controversy. I see a publisher that is confident in every move they do unlike MS with yesterday's disaster.

 

[Akhe]

Sony did a masterful chess move leading to e³ with the wired article, state of play formula (FF7 teaser, commitment to vr), revealing death stranding release date and marketing the new CoD and avoiding the destiny 2 cross save controversy. I see a publisher that is confident in every move they do unlike MS with yesterday's disaster.

unlike MS Bethesda with yesterday's disaster.

 

[FranXico]

Sony did a masterful chess move leading to e³ with the wired article, state of play formula (FF7 teaser, commitment to vr), revealing death stranding release date and marketing the new CoD and avoiding the destiny 2 cross save controversy. I see a publisher that is confident in every move they do unlike MS with yesterday's disaster.

Calling that a disaster is reaching.

 

[Fbh]

Yes, they did, the average consumer is hyped. The mixed feelings seem to be concentrated in core gaming forums and sites.

Sure, the average consumers were hyped by what they saw yesterday....... they are probably also hyped by Death Stranding and FF7 Remake.
After this E3 I don't expect to see a significant increase in hype for Xbox and a decrease in hype for Playstation. So no, an average show dominated by third party stuff and a next gen "reveal" that amounted to "we too!" is not what I'd call "taking advantage of their main competition not being at the show"

 

[mekes]

I imagine since they didn’t want to present a show that they either have an alternative lined up or the timing didn’t make sense with current gen coming to a close. Either which way, we end up with what they will offer as an end result.

As a fan it would have been nice to have the Sony presser. E3 as an event suffers for it, not so much Sony imo.

 

[Afro Republican]

they are probably also hyped by Death Stranding and FF7 Remake.

Yeahhh... you seem to be mixing up forum goers(and 90's anime fans) with the average consumer here.

 

[Fbh]

Yeahhh... you seem to be mixing up forum goers(and 90's anime fans) with the average consumer here.

Yeah because only forum goears and 90's anime fans are excited about the new game from Kojima and a remake of one of the most popular games ever.

I mean, of course neither of them are going to come close to doing Fifa or COD or Fortnite number.... neither is anything MS showed last night

 

[TuiskuSuomaa]

Why didn't Sony announce the trailer of death stranding on e3?

 

[tr1p1ex]

Sony wins E3....by not showing up!

 

[Afro Republican]

Yeah because only forum goears and 90's anime fans are excited

Which I never said.

The average consumer on average does not give a shit about either of those two games. You are confusing your core gaming circles for the average consumer. There's always going to be a small selection that will play them but it's not any real significant amount.

It's like the people thinking the average consumer cares about Persona, isn't actually a thing, doesn't mean that "zero" cared about it just most of them don't. Average consumer liked the press conference, the average consumer is on trending announcements from the conference, forum goers are mixed, yet they aren't the target (well not the primary one).

also goears...

 

[Klayzer]

Which I never said.

The average consumer on average does not give a shit about either of those two games. You are confusing your core gaming circles for the average consumer. There's always going to be a small selection that will play them but it's not any real significant amount.

It's like the people thinking the average consumer cares about Persona, isn't actually a thing, doesn't mean that "zero" cared about it just most of them don't. Average consumer liked the press conference, the average consumer is on trending announcements from the conference, forum goers are mixed, yet they aren't the target (well not the primary one).

also goears...

Enlighten us Mr. Expert analysis guy. What Microsoft game from the showing has the "average consumer" trending the most?

 

[AlexxKidd]

Enlighten us Mr. Expert analysis guy. What Microsoft game from the showing has the "average consumer" trending the most?

Only Microsoft could find a way to lose when there's no competition.

 

[Afro Republican]

What Microsoft game from the showing has the "average consumer" trending the most?

"Microsoft game"? Is that all they showed at the conference? Take your fanboy googles off, I never mentioned Sony, the point was the average consumer will be talking about the big games (general) shown at this E3, and that the mixed conference reactions are mostly on core gaming centric sites and forums.

This isn't hard.

 

[Klayzer]

"Microsoft game"? Is that all they showed at the conference? Take your fanboy googles off, I never mentioned Sony, the point was the average consumer will be talking about the big games (general) shown at this E3, and that the mixed conference reactions are mostly on core gaming centric sites and forums.

This isn't hard.

I didn't mention Sony either. So take your fanboy glasses off. I'll repeat the question: What Microsoft game has the "average consumer" trending? This isn't hard.

 

[Kerotan Frog]

I miss Sony. They honestly show the most interesting selection of titles. No Ghost of Tsushima, Last of Us II, or PS5 news this week..

 

[Radical Dreamer]

Only Microsoft could find a way to lose when there's no competition.

what's with these russian comments lol

 

[Fbh]

Which I never said.

The average consumer on average does not give a shit about either of those two games. You are confusing your core gaming circles for the average consumer. There's always going to be a small selection that will play them but it's not any real significant amount.

It's like the people thinking the average consumer cares about Persona, isn't actually a thing, doesn't mean that "zero" cared about it just most of them don't. Average consumer liked the press conference, the average consumer is on trending announcements from the conference, forum goers are mixed, yet they aren't the target (well not the primary one).

also goears...

The average consumer that plays FIFA, COD, Madden and maybe Battlefield doesn't watch E3 and doesn't give a shit about 95% of what Microsoft showed. I mean hell, FFXV shipped over 8 million units but according to you that's a franchise only forum goers and "core gamers" play and care about.

So again, how did MS really take advantage of Sony not being in this E3? What were the big 8+ million seller games for "average consumers" which they pushed and which will translate into increased Xbox sales in coming months as opposed to non changing or decreasing Ps4 sales?

 

[keLetoN]

Personally, I don't mind them skipping. I get it's kind of empty without them, but I can barely keep up with everything announced during E3 the past decade or so. I think it's better to just announce games/hardware in their own timeframe, thus keeping the interest solely on them, not the 100s of other games that have to be clapped for on stage.

 

[Lemondish]

Bethesda did pretty much exactly that and still showed up. They made it a priority to come off as for the fans.

You're right, all you need for a successful conference is a heartfelt appeal to the fanbase and a single guy right next to the microphone screaming YEAHHHHHH at every bloody reveal.

 

[MiyazakiHatesKojima]

Absolutely.

They shot with all of their cylinders these past few years and would've came this year empty handed.