It’s almost that time of year! The summer gaming events are upon us once again, and this year the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) is back. After the pandemic canceled last year’s event, E3 2021 is building anticipation amongst fans, hoping it brings news about beloved titles and platforms. You can also look forward to this year’s Summer Game Festival. Both events are coming in June.
The E3 event of 2021 is coming back, and fans are hoping it’s better than ever. Due to complications of the COVID-19 pandemic, E3 2020 had neither an in-person nor a virtual event. Luckily, this year fans can look forward to an exclusively digital, completely free gaming phenomenon. The event will run from June 12 through June 15.
Right around the same time, you can attend the month-long Summer Game Festival 2021 event, which will also be free and digital. The pandemic didn’t stop this event last year as it ran for a full four months. This year, the festival will show more original content than it did in 2020. It has no set dates so far.
Both events are sure to have plenty of developers, creators and big names in the industry. From livestreams, demos and presentations, these gaming events are some of the biggest that come all year. They’re arriving this year a few months after other big presentations like the Nintendo Direct and the PlayStation State of Play.
Historically, these events are popular places for big announcements or trailer releases. In 2019, Nintendo released the first teaser for the highly-anticipated sequel to “The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.” With some luck, fans could see some more news about the franchise, and other massive titles, this June at either of the events.
While details are still scarce for both events, you can be sure that there will be plenty to look forward to. Still, some fans theorize that the recent changes and cancellations to these events could be the start of a dying trend.
The Future of Gaming Events
The complete cancellation of E3 last year following low participation of big names and the shortened time frame of the Summer Game Festival call into question the future of gaming events. Are they on their way out?
The most probable answer is not just yet. These events are still central focuses within the gaming industry, where fans and companies join to share news and enthusiasm. Ubisoft, a big name in the field, will be joining the E3 2021 lineup on June 12.
Still, there are theories circulating that E3 may struggle to get the other big names in gaming to show up to the event. After the cancellation of E3 back in 2020, many platforms and companies have turned to hosting their own exclusive events. The Nintendo Direct in February of this year was the first since September 2019.
With the Zelda 35th anniversary happening this year, Nintendo could be hosting their own gaming events in the third or fourth quarters instead of working with E3 or Summer Game Festival. If big companies like Nintendo do show up, there’s no guarantee about major title releases either.
However, these events likely aren’t going to disappear because of the events of the past couple of years. Both of these festivals have long-standing reputations that draw in massive crowds. In addition, the gaming industry is seeing rapid expansion, with an annual growth rate of 11% from this year through 2025. So, video game events, in general, aren’t going anywhere, they’re just going to evolve as companies and platforms grow.
Gaming Events Galore
Regardless of what happens in the future, this June will be massive for the gaming industry. You’ll find countless exciting events to attend, starting with E3 2021 and Summer Game Festival.
To sign up, go to the corresponding websites and enter your information. As the dates get closer, you’ll be able to receive reminders and see the schedule and watch all the livestreams and trailers from any location.
What announcements are you most looking forward to?