Microsoft opts out of Gamescom 2016 press conference in favour of small fan event

Fans will be able to get hands on with upcoming games

. (FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/Getty Images)

Microsoft has announced that it won’t be holding a press conference at this year’s Gamescom in Cologne.

After making some huge hardware and feature announcements at this year’s Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) in June, it's not all that surprising that Microsoft has decided to opt for something smaller and more fan-focused for the August event.

This is quite a different move for Microsoft compared to last year, where the company made some huge announcements at Gamescom whilst Sony opted to pass on its PlayStation press conference to wait for Paris Games Week.

Sony has yet to confirm its press conference plans for this year’s Gamescom, though it will be hosting a booth on the show floor.

The news was announced by the General Manager for Xbox Games Marketing, Aaron Greenberg, who said that rather than a large press briefing, Microsoft would be hosting a “new and more more intimate” experience called Xbox FanFest.

The FanFest, which will still be hosted at Gamescom, will give Xbox fans the opportunity to get hands-on with upcoming 2016 and 2017 titles.

Between August 18th and 21st, anyone visiting the Xbox booth will get the chance to play titles such as Gears of War 4, Forza Horizon 3, Halo Wars 2, ReCore, Sea of Thieves, We Happy Few, Everspace and Cuphead.

Greenberg said that more information on the FanFest would be released soon, and he also announced for anyone attending the trade show that the Microsoft Gamescom booth location has moved and will instead be found Hall 8 in the Koelnmesse hall, near the north entrance.