E3 2021 is still happening, affirmed the Entertainment Software Association in a recent post to Twitter.
E3 exists #thankstovideogames–and we know that we will be back. pic.twitter.com/50a6hkAWQa
— E3 (@E3) July 8, 2020
“Following increased and overwhelming concerns about the COVID-19 virus, we felt this was the best way to proceed during such an unprecedented global situation. We are very disappointed that we are unable to hold this event for our fans and supporters,” said the organisation when it announced that the event would be cancelled due to the risk of coronavirus. Originally, the event would have focused on “experience hubs,” and doing away with the industry-only image of E3 to become a “fan, media and influencer festival.”
E3 2021 is set for June 15 to June 17, presumably still hosted in the Los Angeles Convention Center. Though companies like Activision, EA, Ubisoft, and Bethesda held their own off-site conferences before E3 2019 kicked off, and Sony skipped it in its entirety, the ESA is confident that the event will take place once more. It shared a short promotional video to the E3 Twitter account, and promised that, “thanks to video games,” E3 will be back.
Events like the Guerrilla Collective, Wholesome Games Show, and Summer of Gaming have stepped up to present games in an alternative format, and publishers and developers have been holding their own shows. Whether this town is big enough for E3 and these new styles of show is yet to be seen.
