The first details surrounding E3 2021 are out now, and they signal a fully digital event. The report comes from Video Games Chronicle, which obtained pitch documents for the show that were sent to video game publishers.
According to the report, E3 will take place from June 15 to June 17 as originally planned, with a preview night on June 14. The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) plans to hold several two-hour presentations from its partners, as well as additional streams from developers and influencers.
Game demos are a major part of the ESA’s plan. The proposal says that demos would be released on consumer platforms alongside the event. As part of the plan, media would gain access to remote demos as the ESA prepares to host thousands of one-on-one meetings during the three-day event.
Under the current proposal, daily broadcasts would run from 7 a.m. PT to 7 p.m. PT. The streams would start with a preshow and then feature a two-hour “exclusive press conference by a console platform holder,” with third-party programming filling out the rest of a day.
VGC says that multiple publishers have stated that they are not preparing for a physical event this year. In a statement sent to Digital Trends, the ESA reaffirmed that the event would be a reimagined this year, but didn’t commit to an all-digital show.
“We can confirm that we are transforming the E3 experience for 2021 and will soon share exact details on how we’re bringing the global video game community together,” says the ESA. “We are having great conversations with publishers, developers, and companies across the board, and we look forward to sharing details about their involvement soon.”
Last year’s E3 was canceled outright amid tgrowing concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic. The ESA did not hold a digital replacement. Instead, events like Geoff Keighley’s Summer Games Fest filled the gaps with smaller, more spread-out streams.
