Last year, the organizers for E3 announced the return of a physical event for the show in 2023, the first time in four years following the COVID-19 pandemic. E3’s new organizer ReedPop said that unnamed “AAA companies, in addition to indie darlings and tech and hardware firms” had committed to “making their return” to the LACC. Reports suggested that Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft would skip E3; with Nintendo and Microsoft confirming later that they would not be attending. Publisher Ubisoft said that they would attend E3 if it happens but that is no longer the case. Talking with VGC, the company said that it has decided to “move in a different direction” and will not be attending the show. Ubisoft will instead be holding another Ubisoft Forward live event which will take place on June 12 in Los Angeles.

Ubisoft has backed out of E3 2023, weeks after announcing it would attend the expo.

The company will instead hold its own Ubisoft Forward Live event on June 12 in Los Angeles.https://t.co/1P2TFvmruH pic.twitter.com/DrcLY2W6SM

— VGC (@VGC_News) March 27, 2023

“E3 has fostered unforgettable moments across the industry throughout the years,” a spokesperson told VGC. “While we initially intended to have an official E3 presence, we’ve made the subsequent decision to move in a different direction, and will be holding a Ubisoft Forward Live event on 12th June in Los Angeles. We look forward to sharing more details with our players very soon.”

E3 2023 will be different from past shows. There will be dedicated days and areas for business and consumers. The first two days will be for business only. The third day will be split for both, and the fourth day is purely just for consumers.

In addition to the physical show, E3 2023 will also have a “Digital Week” which is set to kick off on Sunday, June 11. E3’s digital week will consist of outside digital events including The PC Gaming Show, Future Games Show, Guerilla Collective, and Black Voices in Gaming falling under this banner.

In its latest update, ReedPop said “The full roster of exhibitors will be announced in the leadup to the expo, providing participating companies the opportunity to make their own individual announcements beforehand.”

With three months to go until E3 2023, no major company has been confirmed as officially attending.