For gamers, the Electronic Entertainment Expo is considered the biggest annual draw as it encapsulates the offerings from almost every publisher and developer in the gaming industry. And with just a mere couple of months remaining before it commences in Los Angelos, video game fever is at an all-time high. However, one major publisher will be jumping ship to another event. Thq Nordic has announced that they will be skipping e3 2018 so they can watch the World Cup instead.
E3 or World Cup?
The Austria-based publisher released the news via a blog post titled "THQ Nordic to swap participation at E3 for the 2018 FIFA World Cup," detailing their absence from the event complete with an apology and plans.
The group stated that they would instead be attending a 'Pub in Santa Monica, where they show all matches live' to Watch The World Cup unfold in Russia. "It is with great regret that we at THQ Nordic must report that we will be unable to miss a single moment of this great sporting event," reads the post.
A risky situation?
The publisher's absence means that all of their upcoming games including Biomutant, Darksiders 3, Wreckfest, and Fade to Silence will also skip E3 this year. THQ Nordic will instead be showcasing these titles at later events including the Gamescom event in Cologne, Germany followed by the PAX West event in Seattle soon afterward.
It's especially disappointing as the E3 event brings out the most highly anticipated games across many genres and showcases them in front of a massive crowd that can provide overwhelming critique.
THQ Nordic's titles would have undoubtedly benefited from the E3 coverage despite facing fierce competition from an overwhelming sea of titles. Both decision and the excuse could drum up some unwanted criticism, impacting the reception and momentum of these upcoming titles.
Same old, same old!
It's not uncommon for titles or even its publishers to completely skip events like E3, and THQ Nordic are no exception.
Last year, THQ Nordic failed to showcase Darksiders 3 at the Gamescom event in Europe. However, there was no explanation given for this particular decision which left many Darksiders fans bewildered.
Hopefully, a majority of THQ Nordic's diverse fanbase will not be swayed by the publisher's abrupt decision concerning this year's biggest gaming event. E3 is scheduled to take place at the Los Angelos Convention Center from June 12 to 14, 2018.
