E3 2021 Pushes Through Online Event After Last Year’s Cancellation

It looks like 2021 is going to be exciting for gaming fans all around the world since the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) is making a comeback after its unexpected cancellation last year.

VGC: ESA is planning a digital E3 for 2021

"The ESA’s intention is to hold multiple two-hour keynote sessions from games partners, an awards show, a June 14 preview night and other smaller streams from game publishers, influencers and media partners."https://t.co/NGzKiCjiqN pic.twitter.com/swrf3upuqc

— Nibel (@Nibellion) February 8, 2021

In light of the E3 cancellation last year, other popular game studios stepped up and decided to mount their own game conference. We’ve seen EA and Ubisoft run their own digital events and it became successful.

Probably the most unique marketing strategy that we got to see from last year was Devolver Digital creating a game called Devolverland Expo wherein they showcased their upcoming game titles.

Notable titles that were mentioned in the event were Serious Sam, Shadow Warrior 3, and the surprise hit Fall Guys that also got nominated in the recent Steam Awards.

What to Expect on This Year’s E3?

The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) has laid its proposals which will include three days of live stream coverage this coming June 15-17 as per VGC. The ESA intends to hold two-hour keynote sessions from games partners and an awards show.

A sample schedule suggests that there will be a 12-hour live broadcast that will run from 10AM to 10PM EST with regional replays scheduled around Europe, China, and the Middle East.

There hasn’t been any news on which game publishers are planning on signing up for E3 2021’s digital event. 

However, one major games company that VGC did not disclose mentioned that they would continue to run its own separate digital showcase instead of paying a six-figure sum required to join E3 2021.

Despite the plans already laid out, these still require the approval of the ESA, which is made up of the industry’s largest gaming companies who have significant influence over the direction of the show.

Geoff Keighley, their long-term partner, has decided not to return in this year’s E3 due to disagreements with the direction and decided to launch his Summer Game Fest in 2020.