Slated to return for the first time since 2019, this year's E3 showcase is shaping up to be very different, bringing together notable publishers such as Microsoft, Nintendo, and Ubisoft for an all-digital event. Today, the team behind the latest iteration of the seminal gaming convention revealed exactly how this major shift in presentation will be handled, announcing that it will have an online portal and app.
Confirmed via the official E3 website, the online portal was created by Game Cloud Network, HCL Technologies Ltd, and Revyrie Inc., with the company hoping it will serve as a "key hub" for fans. Media access to the online portal will open on June 7 and public access will follow on June 12, with visitors able to register to attend the event for free later this month.
As for what fans will find when logging into the online portal, E3 promises to have virtual booths, communal lounges, hosted events, online forums, and more. There will even be leaderboards, which the company claims will "show elements that can be collected and displayed," seemingly incentivizing visitors to interact with as many different elements of the event as possible. Essentially, the digital counterpart aims to offer all the attractions associated with E3 without the need to gather in a packed convention hall.
The app and the online portal will also both feature the live E3 broadcast, which will come loaded with showcases from the various publishers confirmed to be appearing at the event. According to the press release, there will be special overlays featuring on the broadcast, which will be interactive. Although E3 doesn't go into too much detail about how these will be implemented, it hints that they'll incorporate "viewer polls, featured tweets, and more." The app will even feature some useful tools for media representatives, confirming video conferencing capabilities and a calendar tool that can be used to schedule appointments.
It's definitely a new way to experience E3 but one that's sure to be far more accessible for fans around the world. Although the likes of Sony and EA won't be joining the festivities this year, E3 already has a stacked roster of companies ready to show off what they've been working on. Microsoft and Nintendo are likely the biggest names slated to attend, although Ubisoft, Capcom, Square Enix, Take-Two, Bandai Namco, Epic Games, SEGA, THQ Nordic, and Warner Bros. will all be making an appearance too. The showcase is sure to offer new details on some of gaming's biggest upcoming releases as well as a host of other fun surprises.
E3 is slated to take place from June 12 - June 15.