Now also Sony plans to announce their next generation playstation, aka PS3, on May 16th. Microsoft already announced earlier this week that they plan to announce their next Xbox, aka Xbox 360 or Xbox 2, also on May 16th.

So why the heck is there a E3 show in the first place, if they biggest announcements for this years E3 are already happening before?

Gamesindustry.biz reports that Sony will present the PS3 on a sound stage in Sony Pictures' complex in Culver City, just outside Los Angeles, at 15.00 PST on Monday, May 16th.
Microsoft will show their Xbox 360 three hours later (smart move by Sony) in downtown Los Angeles.
At least both announcements are in the area of LA where the E3 is. So I guess several journalists have to change hotel reservations and fly in Sunday the 15th to cover those two announcements ahead of the E3 Expo , which starts on May 18th.[via I4U]