Squid of Man

A "senior industry source", who conveniently does not wish to be named, says EA have been in meetings with the ESA, the event organisers, for a while now in an effort to drive the price of attendance down.

Gamesindustry says this is no surprise, with these comments only supporting conversations between senior EA staff at this year's show, where there was the suggestion key projects and announcements were being withheld because E3 "is no longer the correct venue for that type of unveiling."

GI are also reporting that other publishers have expressed similar doubts, saying they'd rather place more emphasis on retail shows in an effort to woo back an increasingly disenchanted retail sector.

Now that we have names and reasons popping up behind the planned move, E3 as we know it is gone. Even if it survives these kicks to the teeth, it will be...well, a slimmed-down trade show. E3 was E3 because it was the epicentre of the gaming universe. If companies are going to hold back products from the showroom floor, or withdraw from the show altogether, it may as well fade away quietly into the night, because without the "romance" of being the single show where all the cool shit was revealed, it's just another trade show.

A final confirmation on the state of the show has been delayed, and is expected in another 24 hours. I imagine some of you will picture Kiefer Sutherland racing against the clock in an attempt to somehow save the show from it's imminent demise.