Will still signal-boost individual publisher streams
Back in March, the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) announced that it was canceling this year’s E3 event due to the ongoing COVID-19/coronavirus pandemic. Originally, there were murmurings that a digital, online-only E3 would be held in its stead, but now it appears that the ESA has decided against holding such an event.
Speaking with PC Gamer, a representative of the ESA said that while E3 itself would not be taking place, the group would be helping to advertise individual live streams held by developers and publishers in order to show off their upcoming games and hardware.
“Given the disruption brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, we will not be presenting an online E3 2020 event in June,” begins the statement. “Instead, we will be working with exhibitors to promote and showcase individual company announcements, including on E3expo.com, in the coming months. We look forward to bringing our industry and community together in 2021 to present a reimagined E3 that will highlight new offerings and thrill our audiences.”
Several companies have already announced intentions to hold their own online presentations, including Microsoft, Ubisoft, and Devolver Digital, though no dates have been released for these broadcasts. It stands to reason that other major players, such as Sony and Nintendo, will also schedule presentations of their own.
E3 is expected to return in June 2021 with a new “re-imagined” event.
E3 2021 dates announced but still no online experience [PC Gamer]
