E3 is coming back in 2021, virtually

After skipping 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the E3 Expo is returning for 2021, and it’s going to be entirely online.

Taking place from June 12th through June 15th for the general public, E3 has “early commitments” from Nintendo, Xbox, Capcom, Konami, Ubisoft, Take-Two Interactive, Warner Bros. Games, and Koch Media. A press release promises that there will be “more to come” as the event approaches.

It appears, at least for now, that Sony is once again skipping E3 in favor of its own PlayStation State of Play event, though nothing has been confirmed. Activision and EA are also missing from the list, though the latter has already confirmed that it’s hosting another virtual EA Play this summer.

“For more than two decades, E3 has been the premier venue to showcase the best that the video game industry has to offer, while uniting the world through games,” Electronic Software Association (ESA) president and CEO Stanley Pierre-Louis said in the press release. “We are evolving this year’s E3 into a more inclusive event, but will still look to excite the fans with major reveals and insider opportunities that make this event the indispensable center stage for video games.”

The release also mentioned that the ESA “looks forward to coming back together to celebrate E3 2022 in person,” so reports about the trade expo’s death when 2020’s event was cancelled appear to be a bit premature.

This year, however, E3 will be made up of “live press conferences and a four-day long video stream.” Fans can register early to receive notifications and updates about the event as we get closer to June.