Despite ESA’s best efforts to continue with E3 2020 in the wake of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, last year’s physical show was finally canceled – and plans for an alternative online event, originally scheduled for June, was finally abandoned in favor of a ‘rethought’ show this year. Everyone has been a bit quiet on the update front ever since, but now the ESA has come forward to confirm that its plans for an E3 in 2021 not yet available.
Dates for E3 2021 have been earmarked since April last year, and although a physical event has not yet been officially ruled out, a VGC report, based on pitch documents seen by the publication, indicates that a digital event that taking place on 15 and 17 June now is the ESA’s favorite approach in 2021.
According to VGC, the ESA is proposing an E3 2021 consisting of a preview evening on June 14, an awards show, two-hour sessions of gaming partners and smaller streams of publishers, influencers and media partners. It will be supplemented with media previews for key titles a week in advance, scheduled meetings between developers and media with remotely streamed playable demos, plus consumer demos on all platforms.
Eurogamer Next-Gen News Cast – Will PlayStation Studios release more games on Xbox?
In a statement issued by VGC in response to its report, the ESA maintained that it was holding ‘good talks’ with publishers, developers and companies’ on’ transforming the E3 experience for 2021 ‘, with’ precise details’ which was promised soon.
However, it is currently unclear how many publishers were interested in adopting ESA’s proposed digital E3 (which members have yet to vote on), especially as a significant number of companies – including Sony, Nintendo, Microsoft, Square and Ubisoft – have all been successful. offered their own digital opportunities after the cancellation of E3 last year.
In fact, VGC mentions at least one major publisher indicating that it will hold its own show again in 2021, rather than paying the ESA to be involved in a digital E3. In addition, Geoff Keighley, who left E3 and then launched his Summer Game Fest series of digital announcements and launched in 2020, told VGC that he plans to have the showcase coming again this year.
Following VGC’s report, the ESA issued an additional (and unexplained Metal-Gear-Solid theme) statement on Twitter, which confirms: “We have worked hard on this year’s event and we can not wait to give the full picture of the E3 2021 experience.” Interested parties are advised to “keep an eye out here for more great news from us!”