Rumors of the return of E3 are now being confirmed by the ESA. From June 1
The Electronic Entertainment Expo (or “E3”) is the largest annual event in the gaming industry. But like most in-person events, E3 was canceled last year to protect employees and attendees from COVID-19. It was the first time that an E3 event had been canceled in the expo’s 25-year history. Without E3 2020, some developers had no place to announce their new games, leading to a few one-off events and new traditions, such as Geoff Keighley’s Summer Game Fest (returning in June).
At the time of writing, the E3 2021 lineup includes Nintendo, Xbox, Capcom, Konami, Ubisoft, Take-Two Interactive, Warner Bros. Games and Koch Media. The ESA emphasizes that these companies confirmed their turnout early and that the final line-up will appear much larger. That said, Sony is unlikely to attend the event given its decision to skip both E3 2019 and E3 2020 (Sony turned down E3 2020 a few months before governments actually recognized COVID-19).
WELCOME BACK! It has been hard to wait in silence as we get ready for today, but we’re excited to officially announce our plans for June 12-15!
Sign up below for updates and get hyped for the return of the most exciting show in video games: # E32021https: //t.co/QOa74rVCXB
– E3 (@ E3) April 6, 2021
Details for E3 2021 are still scarce, although ESA suggests the event will be more “inclusive,” with a mix of developers big and small. In its press release, the ESA appears excited about the online event, which could reach “more people than ever” through an endless, free live stream.
While an online-only E3 can be a bummer for some people, it seems like this is just a temporary setback. The ESA plans to host a personal E3 at the Los Angeles Convention Center in 2022, where longtime friends, fans, journalists and developers will reunite after a two-year hiatus. Sign up for the E3 mailing list for more info about E3 2021.
Source: ESA via The Verge
