The level of participation in this year’s E3 (Electronic Entertainment Expo) was very much an open question after the ESA (Entertainment Software Association) chose not to host the event in 2020. New online ventures like Geoff Keighley‘s Summer Game Fest and IGN‘s Summer of Gaming took on similar roles for the video game industry. Summer Game Fest is returning this year which is notable since Keighley has historically been a fixture of E3. Now his event will be competing with an online-only E3 2021 for viewers and mindshare.

E3 has struggled in recent years due to publishers choosing to skip the event and following a 2019 scandal when ESA accidentally doxxed a group of over 2000 attendees comprised of journalists and streamers. Organizers say they’ve tightened security since then, but that damage was already done.

After E3’s recent hardships, the attendance of large publishers Nintendo, Xbox, Capcom, Konami, Ubisoft, Take-Two Interactive, and Warner Bros is welcome news for anyone hoping the show stays relevant and comes back as a live event in 2022. Publishers had more control over their messaging last year when they hosted their own online showcases last year, but spreading big video game announcements over an entire summer didn’t elicit the same kind of excitement as a 4-day span of E3 presentations. Keighley already said that Summer Game Fest will be condensed to a single month, but even that time span lacks the punch of one long weekend packed with announcements. We’ll have to see which shows viewers choose to tune into.

E3 2021 takes place June 12 – June 15.

E3 2021: GAME ON.

Video game industry showcase returns virtually in 2021 with confirmed partners Nintendo, Xbox, Capcom, Konami, Ubisoft, Take-Two Interactive, Warner Bros. Games and Koch Media to participate

LOS ANGELES – April 6, 2021 – It’s “Game On.” for E3, as The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) officially unveils plans for a reimagined, all-virtual E3 2021 that will engage video game fans everywhere. With early commitments from Nintendo, Xbox, Capcom, Konami, Ubisoft, Take-Two Interactive, Warner Bros. Games and Koch Media, and more to come, E3 2021 will take place June 12 through June 15.
Developers will be showcasing their latest news and games directly to fans around the world. The ESA will be working with media partners globally to help amplify and make this content available to everyone for free.
“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,” said Stanley Pierre-Louis, President & CEO of the ESA. “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.”

While maintaining E3’s longstanding position as a central destination for industry networking — where new partnerships and connections between video game publishers, developers and media are made — the digital format for E3 2021 means more people than ever can participate.

The ESA looks forward to coming back together to celebrate E3 2022 in person. In the meantime, see you online this June!
The E3 2021 EPK can be found here: https://e3expo.com/press-kit-21x
About E3
E3 is the world’s premier event for computer and video games and related products. The show is owned and operated by the ESA, the US trade association dedicated to serving the business and public affairs needs of the companies developing and publishing interactive games for video game consoles, handheld devices, personal computers, and the internet. For more information, visit www.e3expo.com or follow E3 on Facebook @E3Expo or Twitter @E3.

About the ESA

The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) serves as the voice and advocate for the U.S. video game industry. Its members are the innovators, creators, publishers and business leaders that are reimagining entertainment and transforming how we interact, learn, connect and play. The ESA works to expand and protect the dynamic marketplace for video games through innovative and engaging initiatives that showcase the positive impact of video games on people, culture and the economy. For more information, visit the ESA’s website or follow the ESA on Twitter @theESA.