The Entertainment Software Association announced E3 is returning for 2021 and will run from June 12 through June 15.
E3 2021 is a digital-only event in keeping with COoVID-19 safety precautions.
The ESA plans on digital press conferences and virtual showcases from a number of major publishers.
They want it to be the cornerstone gaming event of the year as it was in previous years.
However, details are still scarce on what E3 2021 will be like and what else it offers digital attendees aside from streaming press conferences like traditional E3s did in previous years.
Whatever the case, we do know E3 2021 will not cost anything to view, unlike earlier rumors suggested.
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When is E3 2021?
E3 2021 runs from June 12 through June 15.
It’s a digital event, so there’s no need to book tickets.
E3 2021 Publishers
These are the confirmed E3 2021 publishers:
- Nintendo
- Xbox
- Konami
- Capcom
- Warner Bros.
- Take-Two
- Ubisoft
- Koch Media
- XSEED JKS
- Bandai Namco
- Square Enix
- Sega
On April 15, Ubisoft announced a Ubisoft Forward event for June 12.
There's no word on what we can expect from any of these, though the Xbox and Bethesda showcase will be one seamless presentation, and there's a chance we'll see Elden Ring footage after more than 700 days.
However, some publishers, including Double Fine, are promising more news on their games in the coming months, timing which would fit well with E3 2021.
These publishers won’t be showing up:
- Sony
- EA
- Activision Blizzard
How Will E3 2021 Be Different?
Since this is the first digital E3, we don’t yet know what its structure is like.
The ESA was short on details in the original announcement.
However, ESA CEO Stanley Pierre-Louis said they want to “excite the fans with major reveals and insider opportunities that make this event the indispensable center stage for video games.”
What those insider opportunities are remains uncertain for now.
Will There Be E3 2021 Demos?
Possibly.
Earlier in 2021, we covered Video Games Chronicle's reporting on the ESA’s internal communications where the organization was discussing the possibility of a Steam Game Fest-type show, with demos and other hands-on experiences.
The E3 2021 announcement makes no mention of demos, though more information is likely in the coming weeks.
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[Source: GamesIndustry.biz]
For more articles like this, take a look at our E3 2021 and Gaming News page.