The new, bigger E3 is a little smaller today, as Atari has confirmed that it is no longer exhibiting at the show.
Ghostbusters publisher Atari was scheduled to show games to attendees of this year's E3 at the LA Convention Center's Booth 501 and Meeting Room 304ABC, from June 2 to June 4.
Whoever will be in those spots during E3, it won't be Atari.
"Atari has made the proactive decision to attend but not exhibit at this year's E3 event," a company spokesperson told Kotaku yesterday. "Although we feel E3 benefits the entire games business, we are very focused around other selling and marketing initiatives for our upcoming Ghostbusters, Champions Online and other to be announced titles."
An Atari rep confirmed today that the company won't be using those meeting rooms or exhibition space. The rep did not directly answer questions about how Atari's revised plan affects the release of the Q Games projects announced in December. They are among the few upcoming Atari games not scheduled to be out by the end of June, the month of E3.
E3 is expected to host more than 200 exhibitors this year.
Atari remains a member of the Entertainment Software Association, which coordinates the E3 show annually. The ESA deferred any comment about Atari's move to the games publisher.
Atari's presence at E3 had become iconic, as massive banners featuring the world-famous Atari logo would drape the tallest section of the L.A. Convention Center. The visual was absent from recent years' smaller E3s including the 2008 show which took place at an L.A. Convention Center naked of any massive gaming signage.
Atari's move this week would appear to put the return of that famous sign in doubt.