The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) has announced that E3 is returning in 2021 as an all-digital event. Here’s a look at the game developers and publishers confirmed to be in attendance.
After taking a year off due to the global coronavirus pandemic, the ESA has confirmed that the video game industry’s most high-profile event will return this summer.
E3 2021 will be an online-only event that is free to attend for the general public. At the moment, little is known about the precise structure of the show, but the ESA promises it will include “major reveals and insider opportunities.”
E3 also returns to a crowded field of digital consumer events. Geoff Keighley’s Summer Game Fest is back for a second year, and it’s likely we’ll see other events from media organisations like IGN and Future.
Of the major publishers who have confirmed a presence at E3 2021, the most notable is Microsoft. The company has held the expo at arms-length in recent years by moving the Xbox booth from the LA Convention Center to the nearby Microsoft Theater.
Nintendo – always one of E3’s big draws – is also taking part. Nintendo of America president Doug Bowser tweeted to say that: “It’s going to be great to get the video game industry back together with our fans this June. We’ll make the virtual format fun and engaging.”
Other publishers officially onboard include Ubisoft, WB Games, Gearbox, and Capcom. We expect that any announcements from Bethesda will come via the week’s Xbox showcases.
It also appears that Sony will not be at E3 for the third year in succession and Electronic Arts will hold its own EA Play event in July.
We’ll update this list as more companies announce their plans.
E3 2021 Date and Times
- Dates: June 12 – 15, 2021
- Times: TBC
E3 2021 Confirmed Exhibitors
(Last updated: May 11, 2021)
- Bandai Namco
- Binge
- Capcom
- Devious Eye Entertainment
- Freedom Games
- Gearbox Entertainment
- Koch Media
- Nintendo
- Sega
- Square Enix
- Take-Two Interactive
- Turtle Beach
- Ubisoft – Ubisoft Forward digital briefing confirmed for Saturday, June 12, 8 pm BST / 3 pm EDT
- Warner Bros. Games
- Verizon
- Xbox
- XSEED Games / Marvelous USA
The ESA has also announced plans to hold E3 2022 as a physical expo, but we imagine digital content will continue to play an important part in all future events.
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