Sony, Microsoft schedule E3 conferences

Yes, it's that time of year again. E3 is nearly upon us and two of the big three have today got things rolling, confirming exactly when they'll be taking to the stage to show off their latest and greatest.

Microsoft is first up on Monday 4th June at 10.00am Los Angeles time. That means 6.00pm in the UK.

Sony's event is on the same day but gets going a bit later - 6.00pm LA time. That's 2.00am here, so put coffee on the shopping list.

Nintendo is yet to announce when its show will get started, though it traditionally takes place on the Tuesday morning.

Exactly what they'll all be announcing is anyone's (educated) guess, though both Sony and Microsoft have insisted that they won't be unveiling new console hardware. Believe them?

Of the supporting players, Ubisoft is the only publisher to announce details of its showcase. That goes down at 3.00pm (11.00pm UK time) on the Monday.