Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, E3 and other major conventions for the video game industry had to shut down for public health. Last year, E3 2020 was canceled along with various other events, while some switched to an online format for fans to enjoy. Now E3 will be doing something similar in 2021.
E3 will be an online show this year from June 12 - June 15, and people will be able to engage in various online activities. The new online portal for E3 2021 was created by Game Cloud Network, HCL Technologies Ltd, and Revyrie Inc. People will be able to attend virtual booths, see livestreams, and more during the gaming event.
According to a recent press release, E3 2021 will also be hosting virtual leaderboards for attendees on the new E3 online portal and app. It will come with "gamified show elements" for attendees to collect and display, which is meant to encourage online interaction. The E3 portal will also have lounges, where attendees can customize their own profiles to hang out in the online social spaces.
The ESA President and CEO, Stanley Pierre-Louis, stated that the new E3 online portal and app are meant to deliver an interactive experience for people that goes beyond live streaming. Pierre-Louis explained that it is "designed to run parallel to the four-day broadcast". He said it will lay the foundation for interactive E3 elements going forward beyond this year's virtual event.
The press release provided some details on how the E3 online portal and app will operate. Registration for access to the online portal for E3 2021 will be free and starts later in May. The public version of the E3 portal will include access to virtual Exhibitor Booths featured on the show. They will operate as hubs within the online portal for major announcements and details on each exhibitor's game. There will also be Forums, special boards dedicated to discussion among the online attendees.
There will be an online calendar tool for scheduling appointments, and includes video conferencing and chat features, too. The E3 online portal and app will have the official E3 live broadcast, which will feature new game developer conference presentations, publisher showcases, industry panels, and some special guest appearances. The broadcasts will also come with interactive viewer polls, tweet highlights, and more.
Some of the events so far include Ubisoft Forward on June 12, 12 PM. The PC Gaming Show will return in June along with the Future Games Show with events in June and August. The ESA also recently revealed the companies showing up for E3. The list includes Square Enix, Sega, Bandai Namco, XSEED, Gearbox Entertainment, Freedom Games, and Devious Eye Entertainment attending the E3 2021 online show.
There will be a five-day long media access week with the online portal and app starting on Monday, June 7, and then public access will start on Saturday, June 12. Fans can also catch the E3 2021 broadcast on E3's Twitch, YouTube, and other social channels.
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Source: E3