author: Bart Swiatek
E3 2021 Likely to Take Place Online
Everything indicates that the next edition of E3 will be held as an exclusively online event. The information comes from anonymous developers with whom the organizers shared their plans.
IN A NUTSHELL:
- The classic, physical E3 will most likely not take place this year;
- Instead, a three-day ndigital event is planned;
- The organizers' plans have not yet been officially presented and require the approval of individual ESA members.
For many years E3 has been known as the gamer holiday - for a few days in June everyone followed the successive conferences and enjoyed (or not) the announcements of new games. Last year changed everything, because due to the coronavirus pandemic the event could not take place. It looks like the traditional E3 will not take place in 2021 either. - Instead of a physical trade show, there will most likely be a digital event (via Video Games Chronicle).
Several anonymous developers told VGC editors that, to their knowledge, the classic event will not return this year. Documents sent to them by E3 organizers (ESA - Entertainment Software Association) show that a three-day event is planned for June 15-17. This would include multiple two-hour streams, an awards ceremony, and smaller broadcasts.
The plans presented to the devs are not yet official, as they require the approval of ESA members, i.e., among others, large publishing companies. It's hard to say whether they will actually be interested in such an event. It's worth remembering that last summer many of these companies organized their own successful events (and some large publishers, such as Sony, EA and Activision, decided to abandon E3 even before the pandemic).
The organizers themselves have so far only said that this year's event will be "transformed". More details should be coming soon.
“We can confirm that we are transforming the E3 experience for 2021 and will soon share exact details on how we’re bringing the global video game community together. We are having great conversations with publishers, developers and companies across the board, and we look forward to sharing details about their involvement soon," said an ESA spokesperson.