It turns out that the Electronic Entertainment Expo is not down for the count in 2021. The event, also known as E3, is aiming to reinvent itself as a digital show as a way to continue running even during the pandemic.
The gaming expo has been around for decades, a way to reveal upcoming games and gaming technology. Originally only for industry insiders, E3 began opening its doors to the public in 2017. However, three years later in 2020, E3 was canceled due to the coronavirus. After the failure to get a show running, the ESA committed to bringing a new type of show for June 2021.
A new report showcases the upcoming proposals to make ESA's 2021 version of E3 possible. Instead of taking place in a convention center, the show will run over three days in a live-stream format. Some of the highlights for this series include 2-hour keynote sessions from partners, an awards show, and a preview night. There will also be announcements in the week before as well as demos for various gaming platforms.
Fans of the E3 should take note that these plans are still under consideration for approval by ESA members. What is also unknown at this time is which publishers and developers are going to appear for the show. Despite the changes, being part of the schedule still requires partners to dish out a six-figure sum. With many of the main publishers like Sony dropping out, the list of potential groups is ambiguous. On top of this, Geoff Keighley will once again pass on the E3 this year, likely in favor of the Summer Game Fest.
With the pandemic remaining a serious threat to daily life, it is good to see the ESA reimagining E3. Even with major publishers leaving the show, it still is a significant event for new reveals. As long as the changes gain approval, a digital show could be one way to continue the tradition. Gamers should be happy to hear the possibility of demos coming to their favorite platforms as well. Even if they cannot play them on the show floor, enjoying these experiences from the couch will be no problem.
It is possible that the coronavirus situation could be the final nail in the coffin for E3. Big name publishers like Nintendo, Sony, and EA were avoiding the show even before the pandemic and are not seeing much impact from a year without it. The teams willing to shell out a massive amount of cash for a spot may be shrinking over time. That said, it is still fairly probable that huge swaths of players will stop in to view a digital E3 later this year.