E3 2021 Canceled, Digital Replacement in the Works

E3 2021 Canceled, Digital Replacement in the Works

A not-so-shocking development.

pocru by pocru on Mar 01, 2021 @ 07:46 AM (Staff Bios)
Comment(s)
Despite the Entertainment Software Association’s best, but terribly conceived plans to host a E3 event in 2020, they eventually bowed to the overwhelming pressure of the pandemic and canceled those plans, instead announcing their intention to hold an entirely digital event. Those plans never really materialized, and in their stead, developers went forward with their own special events: Nintendo had a mini-direct, Ubisoft had Ubisoft Forward, and EA also did something that I’ve honestly completely forgotten about.

Well, 2021 is here, and while the pandemic might have a vaccine, we’re still a long way from being able to meet in large groups again — which is why it’s not surprising to hear that the ESA has already canceled their 2021 E3 plans, and are once again planning to do it digitally this go round.

We don’t know any details about this digital show: based on the document confirming the cancellation of the live show, they plan on renting out an arena and doing presentations to an empty stadium. Which is as good a way to host E3 as any — the only thing that’s really missing is the atmosphere, the demos, the backroom deals, the swag, and the hype. Which, to be fair, 99% of the people in the gaming community were missing out on that stuff anyway, so, no love lost there.

The real question is, now that developers have already cut their teeth putting on their shows outside of E3, how many of them will actually go back to that platform? After all, studios were jumping ship well before the 2020 pandemic, and the events of that year have certainly made it easier. It’s not even like E3, as a name, has that much sway to it anymore: Nintendo has proven people will get every bit as hyped for a much simpler, and cheaper, livestream.

I guess time will tell.

Comments

Comment on this Article in our Forum

More GamerzUnite News

Are We Being Controlled in a PC Game by Aliens?

Are We Being Controlled in a PC Game by Aliens?

New UFO Film proposes we might!

February 19 @ 02:23 PM
Explore an Eerie Archipelago in Dredge

Explore an Eerie Archipelago in Dredge

A fishing adventure gone bad...

February 11 @ 03:07 PM
Automation Goes Too Far in The Last Worker

Automation Goes Too Far in The Last Worker

A bleak future for anyone looking for a job...

September 2 @ 01:11 AM
Alien Infestation takes over in From Space

Alien Infestation takes over in From Space

Liberate the Earth in this fun new action-shooter...

August 27 @ 09:50 PM
August 27 @ 09:14 PM
Join GamerzUnite and Unite with other Gamerz.
A Piece of Our Mind

Every Single Detail We Found in the Starfield Gameplay Reveal

Video Games Shouldn't Need Wiki Pages

PopSlinger Review: It Goes Down Rough, Really Rough

Halo: Infinite Highlights Everything Wrong with Gaming Today

Echo Generation Review: Not Exactly a Blockbuster