EA’s pre-E3 event kicks off June 7, won’t have traditional press conference

Electronic Arts will return to Los Angeles ahead of E3 2019 for its annual EA Play event, but the publisher’s independent show will be quite different this year — EA is foregoing a traditional press conference in favor of a series of live streams.

EA Play 2019 will “see less talk and more play,” Electronic Arts said in an announcement. The three day event will kick off on Friday, June 7 with a new style of presentation.

“We’re skipping the press conference this year and are replacing it with multiple live streams that will air during the first two days of the event,” EA said, “bringing you more of what you’ve told us you want — more gameplay and insights from the teams making the games.”

EA Play’s fanfest, where the public can get hands-on time with new and upcoming games, will run Saturday, June 8 to Sunday, June 9. EA Play 2019 will take place at the Hollywood Palladium, as it has in years past. The event will be free to attend.

E3 2019 itself will take place Tuesday, June 11 through Thursday, June 13, at the Los Angeles Convention Center.

Electronic Arts’ announced slate includes it annual sports franchises, as well as Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order (which will debut at Star Wars Celebration in April), and new entries in the Need for Speed and Plants vs. Zombies franchises.