The Electronic Entertainment Expo—better known as E3—has been a mecca for gamers and the gaming press for over twenty years now: if your studio had a big announcement to make, you did it at E3. But starting in 2012, Nintendo broke trend by saving their biggest and best announcements for themselves, releasing video announcements directly to fans, through the aptly named Nintendo Direct. Now EA is following suit by pulling back their E3 presence, and announcing EA Play, their very own, open-to-the-public expo in Los Angeles and London, that will be the new home of their annual press conference and take place just a few days before E3.

The juggernaut studio is behind the Madden, Mass Effect, Battlefield, Star Wars, FIFA, Need for Speed, Dragon Age, and Sims franchises. While this could be seen as a sign that E3 will be torn asunder by big studios pulling out of the expo, it could also be viewed as a great opportunity for indie game developers to regain a stronger presence on the expo floor, otherwise crowded by the intimidating “megastudios.”

Join Jessica Chobot for our take on the pros and cons of direct-to-fan gaming announcements and what they mean for the future of E3, on today’s Nerdist News!

Thanks for watching today’s show! Check out the latest episode of The Dan Cave, where Dan Casey is breaking down everything you need to know about Beowolf, in anticipation of the new show from Esquire Network.

Let us know in the comments what you think EA’s new expo means for the future of E3!