Pikmin Pose

Nintendo's plans for E3 have become a little clearer today, after the surprising recent announcement that the company is skipping its annual major presentation — all while Sony and Microsoft merrily carry on. While we're still not sure what the big N plans to amuse the wider public with — assuming it plans to do so at all — we do now know of a media event that will incorporate a presentation and "unique" hands-on time.

It's all about Wii U, unsurprisingly, with the event being called the Wii U Software Showcase. Taking place on 11th June, shortly before the expo opens to the public, Shigeru Miyamoto and Reggie Fils-Aime will provide opening remarks for 30 minutes, before an hour that's scheduled for gameplay demos, hands-on time and Q & A. It's taking place at the Nintendo booth itself, so essentially sounds like a preview look at what's on offer in the show — Nintendo's previously confirmed that new Mario Kart and Super Mario 3D titles will be playable, while a first look at the next Smash Bros. was also promised during the recent Wii U Direct broadcast.

We can expect plenty of coverage out of that event, but now the curiosity turns to whether Nintendo will broadcast any Nintendo Direct streams during E3 to keep fans at home excited and in the loop. We'll find out soon enough.