Xbox, Nintendo, & More Will Be Part Of E3 2021's Digital Event
The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) plans to host E3 2021 as an all-virtual event this summer from June 12 through June 15; publishers such as Nintendo, Ubisoft, WB Games, and Xbox have already signed on to participate. Early details about this year's E3 showcase originally emerged in February, with the event's organizer, the ESA, teasing its intentions for digital-only festivities.
Details have since remained scant, though documents recently filed by the City of Los Angeles, where E3 usually takes place, indicated the ESA would forgo an in-person gathering for the second year in a row due to ongoing health-related concerns. Amid the organization's long-running silence regarding E3 2021, rumors and bits of speculation have bubbled to the surface every so often. One such rumor made the rounds just last week, alleging that certain aspects of the showcase, namely game demos, would be locked behind a paywall. The ESA quickly debunked the paid-for content claims, insisting that "no elements at E3 2021" will require paid access.
Today, the ESA confirmed E3 2021 as an all-digital event that will run from June 12 to June 15. Several publishers are already committed to this reimagined version of the show, including Capcom, Koch Media, Konami, Nintendo, Take-Two Interactive, Ubisoft, Warner Bros. Games, and Xbox. According to the ESA, more companies should jump aboard at a later date. Viewers can expect developers to share news and showcase their latest projects, while the ESA works with various media partners to ensure the content is amplified around the world and made "available to everyone for free." While details are scarce, the organizer additionally announced plans to return E3 to its usual in-person model for the summer of 2022. The organizer noted as much in a press release, which featured the following statement from ESA CEO and President Stanley Pierre-Louis:
“For more than two decades, E3 has been the premier venue to showcase the best that the video game industry has to offer, while uniting the world through games. We are evolving this year’s E3 into a more inclusive event, but will still look to excite the fans with major reveals and insider opportunities that make this event the indispensable center stage for video games.”
This announcement clears up much of the confusion, but some questions still linger. Chief among them is how exactly fans will partake in the online festivities. Will the organizer partner with Twitch and YouTube akin to E3 rival Summer Games Fest, or might the ESA have something else up its sleeve? This much and more should receive clarification in the weeks and months ahead.
Interestingly, a fair few big-name companies have yet to pledge their support for E3 2021. PlayStation and Electronic Arts count among the most notable of the bunch, though it's worth noting that both have distanced themselves from the event in recent years.
E3 2021 is scheduled to take place from June 12 to June 15.