No Nintendo at GamesCom, Microsoft "finalising "
Another big hitter steps down following SEGA and Capcom - but EA and Sony open the show
Nintendo will not be hosting a press conference at GamesCom this year, the company has confirmed to GamesIndustry.biz.
As with 2009, Nintendo will host a stand but is not planning any further announcements. The reveal of the 3DS price and release date is currently scheduled for 29 September.
However, Sony will host a pre-show conference on 17 August. Move is the most likely focus, although speculation continues to mount about a much-rumoured touchscreen follow-up to the PSP. Sony is in the habit of revealing new hardware at GamesCom - last year it removed the veil from the PS3 Slim.
Meanwhile, Microsoft has told VG247 that it is currently "still finalising" its plans for the show. No conference has been announced as yet, although it revealed the divisive pricing model for Kinect two weeks ago.
Microsoft will, however, host an event known as a 'Play Day' on 17 August.
Definite no-shows at Cologne include Capcom, which blamed German sensitivity to Dead Rising 2's violence, and SEGA, citing a "commercial decision."
Publisher EA is staging its own pre-show conference, however, with Crysis 2 and Dragon Age 2 expected to be key titles.