Microsoft has confirmed that it will not be coming to the show floor at E3 2023, which will take place at the Los Angeles Convention Center. The company has already announced that its digital Games Showcase stream will take place on June 11, just two days before E3.
In a statement issued to IGN, Microsoft clarified that it will be co-streaming this presentation as part of E3, but will not have a physical booth at the event. “We can’t wait to host our Xbox Games Showcase on June 11 and will share more details later.” Reads the company’s statement “We also look forward to co-streaming our event as part of E3 Digital and will not be on the E3 show floor.”
This isn’t the first time this is happening because Microsoft did not attend the show floor at the last physical E3 event in 2019, or in 2018 either. While the company hosted an E3 press conference in those years, it did not have any booths at the LA Convention Centre, instead opting to turn the Microsoft Theater (where it hosted its conference) into its own showroom.
However, according to an earlier IGN report, Xbox could partner with E3’s organizer for a separate, dedicated event away from the LACC during E3 week. Ubisoft is currently the only major publisher to publicly commit to attending the physical E3 show. Nintendo has already confirmed that it will be skipping this year’s event.
Microsoft Confirms It Won’t Be Joining E3 2023
In an update published last week, the show’s new organizer ReedPop claimed that unnamed AAA companies, in addition to indie darlings and tech and hardware firms have committed to “making their return” to the LA Convention Center. The full roster of exhibitors will be announced in the lead-up to the expo, providing participating companies the opportunity to make their own individual announcements beforehand.
E3 2023’s Digital Week kicks off on Sunday, June 11, with outside digital events including The PC Gaming Show, Future Games Show, Guerilla Collective, and Black Voices in Gaming falling under this banner. Following Microsoft’s latest statement, the Xbox showcase can also be added to this list.
