Citing the success of its Nintendo Direct events, and a desire to focus its presentations for different sections of the market, boss Satoru Iwata has said at today's investor Q&A that instead of staging a single major press conference intended for everyone, the company will instead hold a number of smaller events at E3, such as one for distributors and one for Western press, which will be behind closed doors.
"We [have] decided not to host a large-scale presentation targeted at everyone in the international audience where we announce new information as we did in the past", Iwata said during the meeting. "Instead, at the E3 show this year, we are planning to host a few smaller events that are specifically focused on our software lineup for the U.S. market."
Iwata himself won't be making the presentations.
As for how information is going to be distributed to the consumer/fan at home, Iwata says the company is still looking at the best way to do this, and will announce more concrete plans at a future date. Japanese fans following at home will get their own Nintendo Direct during E3.
Given the fact the company released its new console last year, and that this year's E3 will be dominated by Sony and Microsoft's newer machines, it's perhaps understandable, if also a little sad. Some of my - and yours, Im sure - best E3 memories are of the big Nintendo conferences, whether for good or bad.
Hopefully these smaller events can include some form of executive cosplay. Or manic drums.
You can find Nintendo's comments on the matter in their entirety below:
