Nintendo is bucking tradition and skipping out on a larger presentation at this year's E3, instead focusing on smaller, closed-door events at the show.
The company's CEO Satoru Iwata made the announcement through a financial briefing released Thursday. Traditionally, Nintendo, along with Sony and Microsoft, produced large presentations before E3 where it addressed reporters, investors and industry members about its upcoming hardware and software launches. The presentations were also streamed online for fans.
Iwata said Nintendo will now focus on two smaller closed-door events: one for distributors and one for Western gaming media.
"At E3 this year, we are not planning to launch new hardware, and our main activity at E3 will be to announce and have people experience our software," Iwata's statement said. "We will use E3 as an ideal opportunity to talk in detail mainly about the Wii U titles that we are going to launch this year, and we also plan to make it possible for visitors to try the games immediately."
This news comes a day after Nintendo released its financial earnings, showing the new Wii U console had not sold nearly to expectations and had hurt sales. That briefing said the company was going to focus on releasing high-quality games in the next few months to try and turn around the Wii U's downward sales momentum.
Nintendo has also recently focused on direct-to-consumer web presentations, called Nintendo Direct, where the company announced software titles for both the Wii and the Nintendo 3DS. Last year, one such presentation even upstaged Nintendo's E3 presentation, giving vital details about the then-yet-to-be released Wii U to fans along with the press.
Iwata said Nintendo is considering another Nintendo Direct for fans around this year's E3, along with a presentation for Japanese gamers and investors.
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