Nintendo has confirmed its E3 2014 plans via press release and will host a Digital Event under the name “Play Nintendo” on June 10. Last year, Nintendo hosted a Nintendo Direct to reveal upcoming software and hardware releases, and this year will continue that front but with a small reinvigorated twist.
The publisher will launch a series of new channels for the biggest gaming event of the year which will communicate directly to fans, media, analysts, investors and business partners. News will be unveiled in the special Digital Event, along with the Super Smash Bros. tournament – featuring in-depth game demos from the Nintendo booth, as well as an opportunity to play Super Smash Bros. for Wii U at Best Buy.
Nintendo of America’s president and COO Reggie Fils-Aime said the following in support of the Digital Event: “We demonstrated last year that we are never afraid to reinvent a proven tactic or to break completely new ground if we believe it will provide the best experience for our fans, followers and partners. So, whether you’re attending E3 in person or joining online, there’s an amazing lineup of games, experiences and events coming your way.”
At E3 2014, Nintendo will offer four unique experiences, all under the unifying banner of “Play Nintendo.” You can check out the details from the press release below.
Super Smash Bros. Invitational
- 2014 will see the arrival of not one, but two new Super Smash Bros. games: Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Super Smash Bros. for Wii U. To commemorate this occasion, Nintendo is inviting 16 highly skilled Super Smash Bros. players to the NOKIA Theatre L.A. LIVE in Los Angeles to compete in a Super Smash Bros. for Wii U tournament. Thousands of fans in the audience and countless more watching a live stream online will see new Super Smash Bros. characters clash with existing favorites in action for the first time. More important than declaring a winner, however, this event is a celebration of all things Super Smash Bros., and a great way for new and veteran fans to take part in a tribute to this legendary franchise. More information about the 16 invited participants in the tournament, the identity of the announcers, and how fans of the franchise can view the tournament in person and via webcast, will be communicated shortly.
Nintendo Digital Event
- Every year, Nintendo looks for the best way to show its games and share its news with fans, media and other key audiences. In 2013, Nintendo decided to forgo a traditional press conference and use a video – in that case a Nintendo Direct – to share its news from E3. The company is building on that approach at E3 2014 with the “Nintendo Digital Event,” a new kind of video program that will reveal and provide further detail about the gaming experiences on the way for Nintendo platforms in 2014 and beyond. The Nintendo Digital Event will air at 9 a.m. PT on Tuesday, June 10.
Nintendo Treehouse: Live @ E3
- This year, Nintendo will offer fans a deeper look at Nintendo’s biggest games of E3, with information directly from the source. The “Treehouse,” the Product Development department at Nintendo of America, will provide in-depth game demos live and unscripted from Nintendo’s booth. This new program will be live streamed during all hours of the E3 show. Fans can get settled in, open their browsers and experience the Nintendo games at E3 like never before.
Super Smash Bros. Smash Fest @ Best Buy
- In 2013, Nintendo broke new ground by expanding its E3 activities outside of the walls of the Los Angeles Convention Center and letting fans play some of the games being played on the show floor at participating Best Buy stores. The partnership between Nintendo and Best Buy continues in 2014 and will mark the first time around the world that fans have had the opportunity to get their hands on Super Smash Bros. for Wii U.
