E3 09 set for June?

Reports on the web this morning claim that E3 has been confirmed for the first week of June 2009.

Shacknews points out that US TV games show X-Play yesterday reported "the old E3 is making a comeback", with the 2009 version of the show taking place from Tuesday June 2nd to Thursday June 4th at the LA Convention Centre.

"A broader range of industry guests will be invited," claimed reporter Blair Herter, hinting that there will be a chance for consumers to once again make it into the show – something that contributed to the downsizing of the original expo after its series of big showings culminating in its final show in 2006.

For 2007 and 2008, the event was a smaller-scale limited-attendance affair, but proved unpopular with many in the industry.

Key to the reborn E3 is the potential for wider consumer involvement, it seems – either via two days opening the expo up to the public after the three trade-only days or, at the very least, more relaxed attendee criteria.

Herter told viewers: "While the event won’t technically be open to the public with ticket sales, this does mean that more people will have a shot at attending, and yes, I’m talking about you."

Meanwhile, a separate report from Newsweek’s Level Up blog corroborates the June dates, but suggests that the event will in fact run until Saturday June 6th, with the event’s final days open to the public. According to that report, organiser the ESA is looking to cap the number of attendees at 40,000.