The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) announced today that the E3 Entertainment Expo will be making a digital comeback in 2021, confirming previous rumors that plans were in the works for a new format. Nintendo, Microsoft, Capcom, Ubisoft, and a few other major developers are already confirmed as participants.
Scheduled for Saturday, June 12 through Tuesday, June 15, the virtual-only stage will allow the ESA to host the event worldwide, promising to “engage everyone, everywhere.” The ESA has also publicly stated that E3 2021 will be a “free event for all attendees,” quelling worries that some exclusive content could be locked behind a paywall.
The official website notes the event will feature a four-day-long video stream with scheduled live conferences, though the “digital experiences” have yet to be defined. It also has a sign-up section for co-streaming, but details for who and what that will entail are also largely unknown at this point.
As for what will be showcased at E3 2021, nothing has been confirmed yet, but Skyward Sword HD is slated for release on the Nintendo Switch in July, and Nintendo has already stated they will deliver more Breath of the Wild 2 news sometime this year. It’s possible we will see a special Nintendo Direct during the event (Breath of the Wild 2 was first announced during E3 2019).
E3 has typically been a media-only event, limiting access to those exclusively in the gaming/media industries. It wasn’t until 2017 that the event was opened to the public, and anyone lucky enough to purchase a ticket could traverse the show floor. Now, this year’s digital format will undoubtedly grant additional access to those who could not make the trip to Los Angeles.
Fear not—Zelda Universe will continue to keep you updated as more Zelda news surfaces, E3 and otherwise.
