Although last year’s E3 was originally thought to be all about the games, most attendees found the event to be a little lackluster. In the past, the launch of a new console was typically followed by an E3 overwrought with new games, but since these new machines were still in their relative infancy most developers weren’t ready to break out the big guns.

Luckily, this year’s E3 looks to be jam-packed, with several publishers even going the extra mile of planning their own standalone press conferences in addition to their regular show floor presence. Square Enix, for example, has taken the normal Nintendo Tuesday time slot for its own press conference.

Shortly after the Square Enix Press Conference announcement broke, fans begun to take stock of the publisher’s upcoming products and what might be featured at the event. Most assumed that Deus Ex: Mankind Divided and Rise of the Tomb Raider were safe bets for their Western-leaning appeals, and there was hope that Square Enix Japan might bring Final Fantasy 15 and Kingdom Hearts 3 along for the ride as well. At least they hoped Square Enix would.

Turns out, Square Enix will not be bringing Final Fantasy 15 to their E3 2015 press conference. Instead the publisher plans to prepare a full FF15 presentation for August’s Gamescom event in Germany.

News of Final Fantasy 15’s E3 2015 no-show comes by way of Game Director Hajime Tabata, who acknowledged that most will be expecting a big reveal at this year’s event. However, as Tabata explains in his regular Active Time Report briefing, "E3 doesn't give us sufficient time to fully prepare [to release pertinent information about the game]. So I have been discussing with our marketing teams, and we've actually been considering Gamescom in August, instead of E3, as the target for the next major reveal."

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Now, Tabata does not mention Kingdom Hearts 3 during the presentation, but if Final Fantasy 15 is not making the trip we doubt Square’s other highly anticipated RPG will either. There might be a trailer or something along those lines, but a full presentation appears very unlikely.

However, even though players might not see more of Final Fantasy 15 until August, there is a second hands-on opportunity in their future. According to Square Enix, the plan is to release a “2.0 version” of the Final Fantasy 15: Episode Duscae demo that incorporates fan feedback. That way, fans can see how their immediate reaction is impacting development and better get a sense for Final Fantasy 15’s evolving combat.

But, since Final Fantasy 15 is still in a flexible state, we doubt the proposed 2015 release date for the game is still in the cards. Square Enix assured gamers that Final Fantasy 15 would be ready for fall 2015, but that seems less and less likely. Chances are when the game does show up at Gamescom, Square Enix will simultaneously deliver a new release window. Perhaps spring 2016.

Are you disappointed that Final Fantasy 15 won’t show up at E3 2015? Do you think Kingdom Hearts 3 will?

Source: Active Time Report (via Gamespot)