The global pandemic generated by the coronavirus caused the cancellation of numerous events during 2020. One of the most significant it was E3 2020, the largest video game fair in the world, which closed its doors in Los Angeles for the first time since its inauguration.
The plan of the THAT (Entertainment Software Association), organizer of the event, was to hold the same event digitally, although this possibility was also canceled subsequently. However, it seems that this idea is gaining strength again.
According to the documents of the E3 2021 sent to major publishers and viewed by VGC, ESA projects an online fair that would last between June 15 and 17. The documents that the media has had access to point to several two-hour sessions with game presentations, an awards ceremony, a preview gala on the 14th and different broadcasts dedicated to smaller industry agents and influential personalities.
The information goes on to say that during the last week there would be a great media coverage in different publications, as well as demos released on different platforms, as proposed by ESA. Moreover, according to VGC, the necessary infrastructure would be enabled to be able to remotely broadcast demos to the media through thousands of scheduled meetings, having access to developers.
Despite all these intentions, this set of ideas must be approved by ESA members, which is made up of members of the world’s leading video game companies.
Geoff Keighley, promoter of Game Awards and a regular contributor to E3, has confirmed to VGC that the video game macro party will return in 2021, although he also stated that he will focus on the Summer Game Fest. Keighley yes surprised last year with his abandonment by ensuring not to feel “comfortable”.
VGC has also consulted different studies about their participation this year and several of them confirmed that they would continue betting on the formula of getting away from the event and directing your own coverage to the public. Apparently, you need to enter a six-digit number to be able to join E3.
ESA, for its part, has issued a statement to VGC clarifying that will soon share exact details about this year’s E3 program and claimed he was having “great conversations” with developers and publishers, but did not confirm who had signed up for the event. Other publishers consulted by VGC have confirmed that they were already preparing in the sense that the ESA points out, without a physical event.
