Due to the turbulent waters surrounding E3 this year, there's a kind of death watch on as to who else would leave the Entertainment Software Association and join the likes of Activision and LucasArts before the event actually starts.

Crave Entertainment, the studio behind Jade Cocoon, was the latest one to leave the ESA. Without proper clarification, it was pretty easy to assume their reasons for leaving. However, it seems that their exit wasn't due to the politics surrounding E3.

According to the studio's president, Michael Maas, Crave left because the company is being sold. The studio will, as a matter of fact, still be presenting at E3. Maas further clarifies Crave's stand regarding the issue:

Crave’s departure from ESA at this juncture is not a statement against the value provided by our longstanding membership, but rather was motivated by our need to focus on the impending sale of our company.

As much as their reasons may not be spurred by political reasons, their departure still decreases the ranks of the ESA. Will E3 be successful enough to bring studios back to the fold? Only time will tell.