The PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X showcases may occur earlier than the dates of the cancelled E3 2020, with some sources claiming it could happen in May.
After the cancellation of E3 2020 (both physically and digital events), there has been great upheaval in the video games industry. Niko Partners Senior Analyst Daniel Ahmad claims that this will lead to the announcements being spread out- both prior and after the original E3 2020 dates.
He also proposes that the “first proper next gen console/games showcase” will be revealed earlier as well.
“With E3 cancelled, a lot of the planned reveals / announcements have been moved out of that single week.
Some are now much earlier, others much later. Some still during E3 week ofc.
The first proper next gen console/games showcase is much earlier too.”
However, he does add a caveat to his last statement. “We are living through an unprecedented situation,” Ahmad explains, “and this is the one time where external factors such as COVID-19 could actually change plans right at the last minute. But we’ll see.”
Video Games Chronicle (VGC) reports that “One person with knowledge of Sony’s plans” claimed to them that Sony was planning to (in VGC’s words) “hold its significant PlayStation 5 reveal” in May of this year. Unbacked rumors also claim that Microsoft are also planning an E3 showcase in May, along with more information on the Xbox Series X, “which matches with what VGC has been told.”
So far, we have had few details about the PlayStation 5 [1, 2, 3, 4], and the Xbox Series X [1, 2]. Not to mention some of this information has come via leaks.
We only know what the PlayStation 5 Dualsense controller looks like so far, rather than the console as a whole. Bloomberg’s claims that the console’s production will be “limited” in its first year due to difficulties in acquiring the components and assembly thanks to the coronavirus pandemic may also indicate why Sony has only revealed the controller thus far.
In addition, Sony have recently released their IR schedule (Investor Relations). Therein, Sony announce their FY2019 Earnings Announcement will happen on May 13th. In addition, they will host their Corporate Strategy Meeting on May 19th. Both events are meetings, as indicated with them being “held via live webcast.”
It is unlikely the meeting itself will be where the console will be revealed, as DualShockers explains. While it possible, they state “the meetings have almost always centered around reaffirming their general brand strategy and how well each of their business segments are performing.”
As such, the meeting may offer insight into how PlayStation as a brand is doing, the brand’s strategy going forward, how the PlayStation 4 will be phased out as the PlayStation 5 is introduced, production costs, and the projected sales of the PlayStation 5.
While far from concrete, it is possible Sony could reveal the PlayStation 5 prior to that meeting, in early May. This would allow for questions from their investors in their next earnings meeting.
Even if all of the above is true for here and now, the upheaval caused by the coronavirus pandemic is sure to continue to throw even the best laid plans into disarray on a daily basis.
Image: PlayStation Blog, Official Xbox website
