Rockstar Won't Be At E3; Game Reveal Purportedly On Hold

Posted by BradNicholson (812 posts) - 2 years, 11 months ago

Rockstar, the publisher behind the recently released Red Dead Redemption, and upcoming titles like Max Payne 3 and L.A. Noire, is not planning to be at E3 in Los Angeles later this month; instead, it's reportedly opting to show off some of its new goods, like Max Payne 3 and L.A. Noire, to press at a later date.

"In the end, we feel we simply don't have enough time to show as much as we would like in the time available," a spokesperson told CVG, adding that the two aforementioned were once slated to be shown at the event. Rockstar confirmed-confirmed their lack of a "presence" at the show to VG247 as well.

It should be noted that Rockstar rarely goes to E3 in a public, official capacity. Their new games, however, are often shown during the event. It's weird that they even had plans to attend E3, but the rumors swirling around may be shedding a little light on that mystery.
== TEASER ==
Purportedly Rockstar had plans to show a title of the unannounced variety at the event, which may possibly explain why it would attend. Nuts writer Rory Buckeridge (via VG247) helped restart the long-running new game reveal rumor by tweeting that Rockstar actually "pulled" the "launch."

As MTV Multiplayer notes in their story about all of this, at least one analyst, EEDAR's Jesse Divnich, expected a Grand Theft Auto V reveal--several months ago, that is. In a conversation with Game Informer online in December 2009, Divnich said, "I think we're going to hear about another Grand Theft Auto [at E3]. I think there won't be any playable stuff," he added, saying the reveal would amount to a teaser. At the time, he expected the next GTA to drop in 2011.

Things have changed since Divnich originally dropped those thoughts. Max Payne 3 didn't hit as expected, and Red Dead Redemption blew our socks off. In a conversation with me this afternoon, the analyst gave me an update, stating that the possible PR from a Grand Theft Auto reveal wasn't a "necessity" for gamers to remember what Rockstar does. But it's also still possible that an announcement could be made.

"In late 2009 I assumed that Red Dead Redemption and Max Payne 3 would be out on retail shelves by E3, and L.A. Noire would be pending release, making a Grand Theft Auto announcement expected as many would be wondering about their ‘next’ big project. Since then the gaming landscape has changed.

"With Rockstar having two major games still in development, Max Payne 3 and L.A. Noire, Rockstar is more likely to keep consumers focused on those pending releases this E3, rather than a Grand Theft Auto announcement," Divinich said. "Today, Rockstar is so much more than just the developers behind the Grand Theft Auto series; they now have several incredibly successful properties such as Red Dead Redemption, and have more in the works with L.A. Noire and The Agent. While I wouldn’t count out a Grand Theft Auto announcement, I also wouldn’t consider such PR a necessity to remind gamers of Rockstar’s existence. I think Red Dead Redemption proved to everyone that Rockstar is far from being a one-franchise publisher."

So where are we? Rockstar won't be attending E3 officially, and while it's still possible that a Grand Theft Auto or some other new game could be revealed at the Los Angeles-based event, it's not something Rockstar needs to do... but it would be nice.

#1 Posted by BradNicholson (812 posts) - 2 years, 11 months ago

Rockstar, the publisher behind the recently released Red Dead Redemption, and upcoming titles like Max Payne 3 and L.A. Noire, is not planning to be at E3 in Los Angeles later this month; instead, it's reportedly opting to show off some of its new goods, like Max Payne 3 and L.A. Noire, to press at a later date.

"In the end, we feel we simply don't have enough time to show as much as we would like in the time available," a spokesperson told CVG, adding that the two aforementioned were once slated to be shown at the event. Rockstar confirmed-confirmed their lack of a "presence" at the show to VG247 as well.

It should be noted that Rockstar rarely goes to E3 in a public, official capacity. Their new games, however, are often shown during the event. It's weird that they even had plans to attend E3, but the rumors swirling around may be shedding a little light on that mystery.
== TEASER ==
Purportedly Rockstar had plans to show a title of the unannounced variety at the event, which may possibly explain why it would attend. Nuts writer Rory Buckeridge (via VG247) helped restart the long-running new game reveal rumor by tweeting that Rockstar actually "pulled" the "launch."

As MTV Multiplayer notes in their story about all of this, at least one analyst, EEDAR's Jesse Divnich, expected a Grand Theft Auto V reveal--several months ago, that is. In a conversation with Game Informer online in December 2009, Divnich said, "I think we're going to hear about another Grand Theft Auto [at E3]. I think there won't be any playable stuff," he added, saying the reveal would amount to a teaser. At the time, he expected the next GTA to drop in 2011.

Things have changed since Divnich originally dropped those thoughts. Max Payne 3 didn't hit as expected, and Red Dead Redemption blew our socks off. In a conversation with me this afternoon, the analyst gave me an update, stating that the possible PR from a Grand Theft Auto reveal wasn't a "necessity" for gamers to remember what Rockstar does. But it's also still possible that an announcement could be made.

"In late 2009 I assumed that Red Dead Redemption and Max Payne 3 would be out on retail shelves by E3, and L.A. Noire would be pending release, making a Grand Theft Auto announcement expected as many would be wondering about their ‘next’ big project. Since then the gaming landscape has changed.

"With Rockstar having two major games still in development, Max Payne 3 and L.A. Noire, Rockstar is more likely to keep consumers focused on those pending releases this E3, rather than a Grand Theft Auto announcement," Divinich said. "Today, Rockstar is so much more than just the developers behind the Grand Theft Auto series; they now have several incredibly successful properties such as Red Dead Redemption, and have more in the works with L.A. Noire and The Agent. While I wouldn’t count out a Grand Theft Auto announcement, I also wouldn’t consider such PR a necessity to remind gamers of Rockstar’s existence. I think Red Dead Redemption proved to everyone that Rockstar is far from being a one-franchise publisher."

So where are we? Rockstar won't be attending E3 officially, and while it's still possible that a Grand Theft Auto or some other new game could be revealed at the Los Angeles-based event, it's not something Rockstar needs to do... but it would be nice.

#2 Posted by BlueStriped (98 posts) - 2 years, 11 months ago

:(

#3 Posted by fwylo (3556 posts) - 2 years, 11 months ago

Isn't it history that they don't reveal at E3 anyways?

#4 Posted by kishan6 (1908 posts) - 2 years, 11 months ago

i think we have seen enough rockstar for about another 5 years ..............
im good with this

#5 Posted by Venatio (4425 posts) - 2 years, 11 months ago

Of course they wont be at E3

#6 Posted by DiGiTaL_SiN (1779 posts) - 2 years, 11 months ago

I do not care for the direction Max Payne is headed.

#7 Posted by Dany (7877 posts) - 2 years, 11 months ago

Max Payne 3 was recently released!!!???

#8 Posted by Rhaknar (5791 posts) - 2 years, 11 months ago

well that blows

#9 Posted by gosukiller (2324 posts) - 2 years, 11 months ago

Rockstar doesn't need E3, never did. People get hype about their games wherther they are at E3 or not (and isn't E3 expensive as hell for these companies?).

#10 Posted by Valkyr (657 posts) - 2 years, 11 months ago

Not another Rage based sandbox please

#11 Posted by Blueman (753 posts) - 2 years, 11 months ago

I hope Agent shows up at Sony's conference.

#12 Posted by Oni (1924 posts) - 2 years, 11 months ago

That Max Payne 3 screenshot still depresses me. Let's hope they went radically back to the drawing board on that game

#13 Posted by PapaLazarou (702 posts) - 2 years, 11 months ago

This E3 looks to be the same lacklusterfest.

They're all blowing their loads way before E3 starts leaving no surprises or dropping out like Rockstar and Portal 2.

#14 Posted by LiquidS (961 posts) - 2 years, 11 months ago

Shitty news but an interesting read.

#15 Posted by lilmrpimp (3 posts) - 2 years, 11 months ago

Oh well guess we'll have to deal with all the other games at E3

#16 Posted by Rhaknar (5791 posts) - 2 years, 11 months ago

techincally GTA5 can still be announced, since it would most likely be announced at either the sony or MS press conferences, in trailer form. Just because Rockstar isn't showing games at the show doesn't mean this announcement can't happen (I guess)

#17 Posted by TeenageJesusSuperstar (140 posts) - 2 years, 11 months ago

A+ for captioning Brad

Online

#18 Posted by captain_clayman (3164 posts) - 2 years, 11 months ago

oh well?

#19 Posted by Olivaw (1197 posts) - 2 years, 11 months ago

Aww.

Well, maybe this year they will finally reveal more about Agent, or maybe announce something new and even more different!

#20 Posted by Brunchies (2484 posts) - 2 years, 11 months ago

I'm not surprised at all by this since Rockstar does this almost every year, oh well E3 won't be that great anyway unless the Last Guardian shows up.

#21 Posted by Blair (2368 posts) - 2 years, 11 months ago

@Dany said:

" Max Payne 3 was recently released!!!??? "

Yeah. Same with L.A. Noire. What's up with that?

#22 Posted by Jayzilla (2388 posts) - 2 years, 11 months ago

i just figure if the game isn't coming out in 2010-2011 then why make an announcement? Make the announcement next year when it's relevant.

#23 Posted by Yummylee (18153 posts) - 2 years, 11 months ago

I could with having a new GTA to anticipate, though learning something about The Agent would be mighty sweet too.

#24 Posted by Seppli (7685 posts) - 2 years, 11 months ago

You smell clean.

Online

#25 Posted by Jayross (2368 posts) - 2 years, 11 months ago

Rockstar, the publisher behind the recently released Red Dead Redemption, Max Payne 3, and L.A. Noire

You make it sound like all of those games were recently released. Just opinion, but it could be phrased better.

#26 Posted by fillmoejoe (1467 posts) - 2 years, 11 months ago

I wish they'd give more info on The Agent.

#27 Posted by Cybexx (905 posts) - 2 years, 11 months ago

I don't really think this is News, Rockstar has never really attended E3 and never announced anything at it. The only exception is when Microsoft paid them 50 million for the GTAIV DLC, so they were obligated to attend their Press Conference.

Rockstar can make their announcements any time of the year and people will pay attention. This way they also don't need to divert their team to creating an E3 demo which cuts into development time of the main game.

I personally really like Rockstar's attitude towards PR cycles around their games. They don't try to continually build up interest for their games over years, they wait till they are ready to show something and they just show enough to get you interested. They are not putting out trailers based around the marvels of their shotgun for example. GTAIV and Red Dead had longer than usual PR cycles for them because the games got delayed after they showed the first trailer, which hasn't happened to them before.

#28 Posted by berva (100 posts) - 2 years, 11 months ago

I care very much for the direction Max Payne is heading, in fact I'm quite disappointed I wont get to see it at this years E3.

#29 Posted by ApocalypseLater (87 posts) - 2 years, 11 months ago

Damn. I really wanted a reveal of Agent.

#30 Posted by Dustpan (1683 posts) - 2 years, 11 months ago

Rockstar is too cool for E3.

#31 Posted by WiqidBritt (545 posts) - 2 years, 11 months ago

I'm pretty sure Rockstar has never officially been at E3

#32 Posted by GIVEMEREPLAY (821 posts) - 2 years, 11 months ago

So the news is that there won't be future news? What the fuck is going on with the news on this site?

#33 Posted by Mijati (764 posts) - 2 years, 11 months ago

@Jayross: Yep, that's horribly worded.

#34 Posted by dexterslu (290 posts) - 2 years, 11 months ago

I'm shocked no one is mentioning Bully 2 that the composer of the original game leaked...

#35 Posted by DukeTogo (1505 posts) - 2 years, 11 months ago

Every time I saw Rockstar at E3, they had some section of the floor cordoned off in big trailers with banners for what they were showing, but never letting anyone outside of invited VIPs to look at it. Probably the only time I saw Rockstar actually in a regular booth was in 96 when they were showing the first GTA. Once GTA III became huge, they started to do E3 the way they've been doing it since, playing it really close to the chest. This makes sense that they finally said screw it and just didn't show.

The last E3 I saw them at was when they announced The Warriors for PS2. It was a badge of honor to be seen walking around the show floor with a Rockstar Games The Warriors swag bag.

#36 Posted by Jimbo (8865 posts) - 2 years, 11 months ago

Agent was announced at Sony's E3 event last year wasn't it? My guess is we'll finally see some of that - probably at the same event.

I don't know if it makes sense to start talking about more GTA at all before Mafia 2 comes out.

#37 Posted by MJHAYLETT (364 posts) - 2 years, 11 months ago

Too Cool 4 School eh Rockstar. Hope somebody somewhere shows Agent. Just an ickle bit.

#38 Posted by masternater27 (872 posts) - 2 years, 11 months ago

I just want to say that I really enjoy the new guys following up on stories instead of just reporting them with a statement like " Rockstar wasn't available at press time" or whatever. Following up with the analyst is great!

#39 Posted by outerabiz (573 posts) - 2 years, 11 months ago

@Blueman said:

"
I hope Agent shows up at Sony's conference.
"

yup i wanna see whats up with that as well

#40 Posted by FluxWaveZ (17862 posts) - 2 years, 11 months ago

BULLY 2! Damn...

Online

#41 Posted by c1337us (5751 posts) - 2 years, 11 months ago

As much as I would like to consume every scrap of content I can get from E3. This is not going to make me cry into my pillow tonight as I go to sleep. I can live with this decision quite comfortabley.

#42 Posted by SPACETURTLE (1622 posts) - 2 years, 11 months ago

@FluxWaveZ said:

" BULLY 2! Damn... "

What this gentleman said

#43 Posted by blaakmawf (540 posts) - 2 years, 11 months ago

Excellent captions.

#44 Posted by Fezz (440 posts) - 2 years, 11 months ago

I was actually expecting Bully 2 to be announced, but I guess that won't be happening.

#45 Posted by DukeT (108 posts) - 2 years, 11 months ago

Hmmm... oh, wait, Rockstar is my favorite studio, and I will buy anything they release regardless of when and where they announce it. So, I couldn't give a shit about E3...

#46 Posted by Fjordson (2437 posts) - 2 years, 11 months ago

Don't care a whole lot about Max Payne 3, but I'm really hoping for some kind of reveal on GTA V or some new info on Agent.

#47 Posted by Death_Unicorn (2812 posts) - 2 years, 11 months ago

I love all this news.

#48 Posted by Mijati (764 posts) - 2 years, 11 months ago

I hate to criticise things like this, but ugh that first paragraph still annoys me.

"and upcoming titles like Max Payne 3 and L.A. Noire, " could be removed completely from the first paragraph as both those titles are mentioned later on in the same sentence.

No offence to the new guys posting the news here, there's just something about all these news articles that makes this site lose it's identity. I never came to this site for news and still don't, however I did enjoy reading the Giant Bomb Staff's view on the news and things they found wanting to post. There's god knows how many gaming news sites that report on this stuff all the time and all this news being posted here as well just gets rid of the unique feel this site had.

Maybe I'm the only one that has these views, but these articles are almost putting me off the site completely for everything other than the Quicklooks and Bombcast.

#49 Posted by AllanIceman (1279 posts) - 2 years, 11 months ago

RockStar never shows anything at Electronic Three. Other that at the press events and maybe a Decorated bus or something.

#50 Posted by Milkman (13982 posts) - 2 years, 11 months ago

Rockstar has never really attended E3 so this isn't all that big of a deal.

Rockstar Games

Rockstar Games publish many original (and sometimes controversial) franchises from their various studios around the world. They are most famous for their work on the Grand Theft Auto series.

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