June 20th 2024.
Last year, Gamescom was swarming with over 320,000 visitors, making it one of the most popular gaming events in the world. However, this year, both Nintendo and PlayStation have decided to skip the event in Germany, adding to the trend of publishers avoiding physical events.
It's no secret that Sony has been acting rather strangely over the past couple of years. From avoiding communication with fans to announcing very few new games, they have certainly become more reclusive in the industry. However, their withdrawal from physical events began even before the Covid pandemic. They were notably absent from E3 2019 and their support for the event had already been dwindling prior to that. They did make an appearance at Gamescom 2019, which is often referred to as the European equivalent of E3. However, it is important to note that Gamescom is primarily a consumer show, rather than an industry one.
While most major publishers have returned to Gamescom since then, Sony has continued to stay away. In fact, they have now confirmed that they will not be attending the event in 2024 either. This news may not come as a surprise to many, but it is disappointing for fans who were hoping for another opportunity to hear from Sony directly and perhaps even get some new game announcements.
Joining Sony in their absence is Nintendo, which is rather unusual. Initially, it was believed that they had nothing new to share, but their recent summer showcase was filled with exciting announcements that could have been promoted at Gamescom. However, there is speculation that Nintendo may hold a grudge against the event as there were rumors last year about them showcasing their upcoming Switch 2 console to developers at Gamescom. Nintendo went as far as denying these rumors, which is not something they typically do.
Despite their absence, Nintendo is in a unique position with the impending release of their new console. It is expected to be announced this year and released in the first half of next year, which is why it is surprising that they are skipping Gamescom.
On the other hand, Sony's decision to stay away is more difficult to understand. Gamescom has now become the largest video game event in the world, not just in Europe. Some speculate that they simply do not want to spend the money on a large stand at the event, which is one of the reasons why many publishers have grown disenchanted with E3. However, coupled with their lackluster State of Play showcases, it has made them appear distant and uncommunicative.
While the summer State of Play was met with disappointment due to its brevity, it did reveal two new first-party titles. One of them, the live service game Concord, is set to release on August 23, which happens to be the same time as Gamescom. It would have been the perfect opportunity to showcase this game and create some positive buzz, but unfortunately, that will not be happening now.
Another highly anticipated title, a new Astro Bot game, was also revealed during the State of Play. However, after its release on September 6, Sony does not have any other first-party titles with a specific release date scheduled. There are a few titles, such as Lego Horizon Adventures and the Until Dawn remake, that are expected to release sometime this year, but no concrete dates have been announced.
Gamescom would have been the ideal place to showcase Concord and generate excitement among fans. However, for now, that opportunity has been lost. For fans who wish to submit letters or features to Inbox, they can now do so easily through the Submit Stuff page on the website. Additionally, readers can sign up for exclusive gaming content and get updates on the latest releases before they are even announced on the site.
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