E3 2021 Canceled, Digital Replacement in the Works

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.