ESA Will Go Virtual for E3 Video Game Fair 2021 Due to COVID-19 Pandemic

Sieeka Khan, Tech Times 12 February 2021, 03:02 am

(Photo : Youtube/ All Good Things) E3 video game fair

The Electronic Entertainment Expo, or E3, was one of the massive events in the gaming community that was cancelled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, the organizers of the video game fair will push to continue with the plan, but this time it will be a bit different.

The expo will be virtual and the organizers are now waiting for game publishers to jump on board with their plan.

E3 Video Game Fair going virtual

The Entertainment Software Association made a proposal that shows plans for a three-day livestream E3 that will take place from June 15 to June 17, 2021, according to Video Games Chronicles on February 8.

The association then later confirmed that it is making changes to the event this year, but did not specifically say if it is going to be entirely online.

The ESA stated that they can confirm that they are transforming the E3 experience for 2021 and they will share any additional details on how they are going to bring the global video game community together this year. They are continually talking to publishers, developers and companies and they look forward to sharing more details in the future.

Also Read: E3 2020 Canceled: Yup, It's Happening and Coronavirus Might Not Be The Reason Why

The show itself would consist of numerous keynote sessions from game companies, an awards show, a preview event and streams conducted by developers, publisher, influences and others.

To go along with the livestreams, the ESA proposes that the demos for the games showcased would be available on different gaming platforms.

The plans for a virtual E3 would require approvals from the members of the ESA, and this will include prominent companies within the gaming industry.

The cancellation of E3 2020 came in March as the coronavirus pandemic was spreading across the United States.

Even without the video game fair, companies such as Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo released digital events last year to showcase their upcoming games and their next-gen consoles.

COVID-19 pandemic affecting gaming events

As for the ESA, this is the first time that they will hold the E3 Video Game Fair online. However, E3 Video Game Fair is not the only event that will go virtual in 2021 due to the continuous spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Activision Blizzard is planning to host an online-only BlizzCon from February 19 to February 20, 2021, according to The Verge.

Blizzard Entertainment was then forced to cancel its yearly BlizzCon fan convention in 2020 because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, but the company has announced an online-only version of the show. In 2021, BlizzConline will take place from February 19 to February 20, 2021.

BlizzCon is a gaming event is usually held in November every year and it is an in-person fan event. It is where Blizzard typically makes some of the biggest announcements for its stable of popular franchises, including "World of Warcraft," "Starcraft," "Overwatch," "Hearthstone," and "Diablo."

The moved BlizzCon event will then provide the company a chance to offer updates on some of its previously announced titles from the events from 2020, including "Overwatch 2" and "Diablo 4."