Microsoft drops out of Gamescom and Tokyo Game Show this year

Microsoft will not have a presence at Gamescom 2012 in Cologne, Germany, or the 2012 Tokyo Game Show, company spokesman Larry Hryb announced today.

"As you saw at E3, we have a solid line-up of games launching this holiday, along with other entertainment experiences," Hryb wrote on his Major Nelson blog. "We've changed our approach a little, though. This year, Xbox will be focusing on smaller, more localized promotions and experiences for press, partners, retailers and customers around the world. Which means that as you might have seen on some of the news sites today, we won't be taking part in gamescom or Tokyo Games Show this year."

Microsoft is likely battening down the hatches as it focuses on its next-gen hardware and Windows 8 operating system, but the company could also be shying away from events like these as a whole. During this year's CES, Microsoft said it would not be returning for CES 2013.

"Both are still important shows for the industry, and we do wish the organizers well," Hryb added.

Nintendo also announced in April that it would not be attending Gamescom, though the company has historically not had too strong of a presence at the event to begin with. Sega and THQ will not have booths either, though THQ will have some minimal presence at the event.