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E3 2021 is officially underway, but it looks a little different than in previous years. The gaming conference is online-only, running from June 12 to June 15, with publishers and developers hosting their own live streams as part of the event.
Following the cancelation of E3 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, it remained unclear whether E3 2021 would still go ahead in some form. A digital event was set to take place in 2020 but, due to a lack of support, the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) decided to scrap the event altogether â with Geoff Keighleyâs Summer Games Fest taking center stage for gaming announcements instead.
But this year is different and weâve seen a few conferences already, with showcases from the likes of Xbox and Nintendo still to come. With all these conferences, it can be hard to keep track of who is streaming when. So weâve put together this handy guide to all the biggest gaming conferences happening in June and July, so you can keep track of each one. Read on for everything we know so far about E3 2021.
[ul]
[li]New games 2021: game release dates for console and PC[/li][li]New PS5 games: upcoming PS5 game release dates[/li][li]New Xbox Series X games: upcoming Xbox Series X/S game release dates[/li][/ul]
[HEADING=2]Key announcements so far[/HEADING]
[IMG alt=âE3 2021â]https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/QY...7ouVUnifAe.jpg
(Image credit: ESA)
[ul]
[li]Elden Ring trailer revealed with a January 2022 release date: FromSoftwareâs enigmatic action RPG finally shows its face.[/li][li]Back 4 Blood open beta announced: we wonât have to wait long for the Left 4 Dead successor.[/li][li]Far Cry 6 villain is âa heroâ says Giancarlo Esposito: the Breaking Bad actor shines some interesting context on his Far Cry 6 character.[/li][li]Overwatch 2âs fan-favorite characters have a brand-new look: Baptiste and Sombra are treated to some gorgeous new designs.[/li][li]Metal Slug Tactics mixes XCOM gameplay with arcade pixel art shooting: get your heavy machine guns loaded for this turn-based spin on the classic SNK series.[/li][li]Call of Duty Season 4 kicks off very soon: Warzone will receive a new injection of high octane content soon.[/li][li]Death Stranding Directorâs Cut is coming to PS5: as announced by a cheeky trailer with some not-so-subtle references to Kojimaâs past works.[/li][li]Borderlandâs Tiny Tina is finally getting her own game: fans of Borderlands 2âs Assault on Dragon Keep DLC will want to keep an eye on this one.[/li][li]Battlefield 6 is officially called Battlefield 2042: DICEâs anticipated shooter returns to a near-future setting.[/li][li]The Sims 4 Cottage Living expansion announced: The Sims goes rural with its first foray in countryside living.[/li][li]Xbox Game Pass could soon be built into your smart TV: you may no longer need an Xbox console to access its best feature.[/li][li]Xbox Series X game drought could soon be over - hereâs why: Microsoft wants to keep a steady stream of games releasing soon.[/li][li]New Xbox console hardware is in the works, confirms Microsoft: Xbox looks to what the future holds after Series X/S.[/li][li]Microsoft wants to turn your old laptop into an Xbox Series X console: Cloud gaming could be coming to PC sooner than we thought.[/li][li]Xbox Series X games on PC are a hit, as Microsoft throws shade at PS5: Microsoft and Xbox continue to gain traction with consumer-friendly practices.[/li][li]Payday 3 and Painkiller are coming â but from a new publisher youâve never heard of: a new publishing label, Prime Matter, will be taking the reigns.[/li][li]Rainbow Six Extraction gets a September 2021 release date: the monster-filled take on the tactical shooter will release this year![/li][li]Confirmed: Far Cry 6 DLC will bring back fan-favorite villains: Far Cry has some great villains, the Far Cry 6 season pass will let you play as them.[/li][li]Assassinâs Creed Valhallaâs new expansion tackles major Viking history battle: the Creed series is making a return trip to France in the age of the Viking.[/li][li]Ubisoft and Nintendo are teaming up for another Mario + Rabbids game: the tactical take on Nintendoâs mascot hero is headed to space for this sequel.[/li][li]Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora is the first real surprise of E3 2021: a big budget Avatar game, hitting consoles and PC just in time for the new films.[/li][/ul]
[HEADING=2]What weâve seen so far[/HEADING]
Below, weâve rounded up the biggest showcases that have happened so far and what was announced:
[HEADING=2]June 3[/HEADING]
[HEADING=1]Warhammer Skulls Showcase - June 3[/HEADING]
Games Workshopâs annual event, previously called Skulls for the Skull Throne, has been rebranded to Warhammer Skulls. This week-long Warhammer event was kicked off with a showcase live on June 3.
The showcase included 14 big announcements including the reveal of Warhammer 40,000: Chaos Gate - Daemonhunters and updates for Total War: Warhammer 3 and Vermintide 2. You can watch the full showcase above.
[HEADING=2]June 5[/HEADING]
[HEADING=1]Indie Live Expo - June 5[/HEADING]
The Indie Live Expo took place on June 5 and is Japanâs largest indie game festival. This showcase (obviously) focused on indie titles, with 300 games showcased over the streamâs nearly six-hour running time. You can catch up on the full showcase above.
[HEADING=1]Guerrilla Collective Day One - June 5[/HEADING]
[IMG alt=âGuerrilla Collectiveâ]https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/2Y...J72tUGn6WD.jpg
(Image credit: Guerrilla Collective)
The Guerrilla Collective is a digital games festival that primarily focuses on indie titles. This was the first of two Guerrilla Collective events, which seen a myriad of announcements on games including Omno, Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night and Aeon Drive.
This stream was followed by the Black Voices in Gaming stream, which showcased games created by Black developers and titles featuring a Black protagonist.
[HEADING=2]June 9[/HEADING]
[HEADING=1]Battlefield 6 reveal - June 9[/HEADING]
EA DICE revealed the new Battlefield, called Battlefield 2042, with an official reveal trailer on June 9. Battlefield 2042 features huge maps, dynamic weather and three multiplayer modes. You can read all about it right here.
[HEADING=2]June 10[/HEADING]
[HEADING=1]Summer Game Fest Kickoff Live! - June 10[/HEADING]
Summer Game Fest kicked off on June 10 with the Summer Game Fest: Kickoff Live showcase. The showcase was packed with announcements, trailers and reveals and, while not all of them were particularly awe-inspiring, there were some standouts.
The biggest âsurpriseâ of the night was the reveal of a full-length Elden Ring trailer, which gave us our best look yet at the collaboration between George R.R. Martin and FromSoftware and a release date: January 21, 2022. Elden Ring looks to be the natural progression of the Dark Souls series, featuring FromSoftwareâs iconic melee combat while adding in a giant open world and horseback traversal. It will be available on last-gen consoles as well as PS5 and Xbox Series X/S via a free upgrade.
There was also the official announcement of the Borderlandâs spin-off, Tiny Tinaâs Wonderlands, which is a standalone title based around (you guessed it) Tiny Tina. This standalone title is releasing in early 2022 and has a star-studded cast that includes Andy Samburg and Will Arnett.
Metal Slug Tactics followed up with a gorgeous anime trailer, taking the revered arcade shooter to a turn-based setting. Elsewhere, the newly announced Planet of Lana looked phenomenal, presenting a gorgeous world contrasted with monstrous creatures. We also got the news that a Death Stranding Directorâs Cut is coming to PS5, with a full reveal to take place âin just a few weeksâ.
We also heard more about Call of Duty Warzone: Season 4, got a glimpse of Overwatch 2âs redesigned characters and Giancarlo Esposito even popped by to taught about his role in Far Cry 6.
Overall, while there wasnât the breadth of big announcements that we hoped for, the Elden Ring reveal more than made up for.
[HEADING=2]June 11[/HEADING]
[HEADING=1]Koch Primetime Gaming Stream - June 11[/HEADING]
The Koch Media conference was a bit dull but we knew that would potentially be the case when the company told fans not to expect Metro, Dead Island or Saints Row at its showcase.
Instead, Koch announced a new publishing label: Prime Matter. One of the first games announced for Prime Matter is Payday 3, which will be developed in partnership with Starbreeze Studios.
There arenât any further details for the game at this time except that Payday 3 is being aimed for a 2023 release window on consoles and PC.
[HEADING=1]IGN Expo - June 11[/HEADING]
[IMG alt=âIGN Expoâ]https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Qt...cGqxzX2vxg.png
(Image credit: IGN)
The IGN Expo featured further details on Gearboxâs Tiny Tinaâs Wonderlands plus exclusive reveals of Doki Doki Literature Club Plus, World War Z: Aftermath, AudioClash: Battle of the Bands, Core Keeper, Bramble: The Mountain King and more.
[HEADING=1]Guerrilla Collective Day Two - June 12[/HEADING]
[IMG alt=âGuerrilla Collectiveâ]https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/MP...eR77Aq5aVa.jpg
(Image credit: Guerrilla Collective)
The second day of Guerrilla Collective featured games including Among Us, Akatori, Aragami 2, BPM: Bullets Per Minute, Demon Turf, Ghostrunner and more.
[HEADING=1]Ubisoft Forward - June 12 [/HEADING]
[IMG alt=âAvatar: Frontiers of Pandoraâ]https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/6K...kYgaoc6NBV.png
(Image credit: Ubisoft)
Ubisoftâs pre-show event featured updates on live games such as For Honor, Trackmania, The Crew 2, Brawlhalla and Watch Dogs: Legion. But the main event from the publisher offered world premiere gameplay and trailers for Rainbow Six Extraction as well as further details on Far Cry 6. In addition, there was news on Riders Republic and a new Assassinâs Creed Valhalla DLC pack.
But the big news was left for the end: Ubisoft showed off a trailer for a gorgeous new Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora game, set in the world of James Cameronâs Avatar movies.
[HEADING=1]Gearbox Entertainment - June 12[/HEADING]
[IMG alt=âborderlands 3â]https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/in...YvVbhTdaoZ.jpg
(Image credit: 2K Games)
It was a relatively quiet showing from Gearbox, letting us see a little bit more from Tiny Tinaâs Wonderlands, revealing Homeworlds 3 is in the works and showcasing some Godfall DLC.
But the most exciting part of the brief event was a behind the scenes look at the Borderlands movie during the conference - with director Eli Roth and star Kevin Hart talking to Gearbox boss Randy Pitchford about how production on the still-shooting film is going.
[HEADING=2]E3 2021 schedule[/HEADING]
Below, weâve rounded up all the confirmed dates and times for E3 2021âs conferences. We will continue to update this article as more conference details are confirmed.
[HEADING=2]June 12[/HEADING]
[HEADING=1]Wholesome Direct - June 12[/HEADING]
[IMG alt=âWholesome Directâ]https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/2q...NRWLsAhQSU.png
(Image credit: Wholesome Games)
Date and time: June 12 at 10am PT / 6pm BST / 1pm ET (or June 13 at 3am AEST)
How to watch: YouTube
What weâre expecting: Wholesome Direct is an independent showcase ran by Wholesome Games that aims to âspotlight uplifting and thoughtful indie gamesâ. This yearâs event is set to showcase an hour of exclusive footage, new game reveals, developer interviews and announcements from 75 titles.
TechRadarâs Take: In a particularly dark year for many of us, Wholesome Direct couldnât come at a better time. If you want to watch a stream that showcases games with only good vibes, then this is the one for you.
[HEADING=2]June 13[/HEADING]
[HEADING=1]Xbox and Bethesda Games Showcase - June 13[/HEADING]
[IMG alt=âE3 2021 Xbox Bethesda Showcaseâ]https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/xY...MynkwjwYNL.jpg
(Image credit: Microsoft)
Date and time: June 13 at 10am PT / 6pm BST / 1pm ET (or June 14 at 3am AEST)
How to watch: Twitch, YouTube, Twitter and Facebook
What weâre expecting: This showcase will be around 90 minutes long and is featuring games from Xbox Game Studios and Bethesda Softworks.
TechRadarâs Take: Weâre hoping E3 2021 will see Microsoft giving us a solid release date for Halo Infinite as well as officially announcing a new Forza Horizon game is in the works. Weâre also hoping to hear more about Fable, which was confirmed to be in the works last year. Weâre also hoping Bethesda will give us more details on Starfield and The Elder Scrolls 6, and set the record straight about whether both games will be Xbox platform exclusives.
[HEADING=1]Square Enix Presents - June 13[/HEADING]
[IMG alt=âSquare Enix Presentsâ]https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/6G...v4m8TjrfS.jpeg
(Image credit: Square Enix)
Date and time: June 13 at 12:15pm PT/ 3:15pm ET/ 8:15pm BST (or June 14 at 5:15am AEST)
How to watch: Square Enixâs Twitch and YouTube channels
What weâre expecting: This stream is going to last around 40 minutes and Square Enix has even given a vague list of what we can expect to see during the presentation, including the announcement of a new game from Eidos-MontrĂ©al, an update on Babylonâs Fall, fresh details on Marvelâs Avengerâs upcoming expansion and a deep dive on Life is Strange: True Colors.
TechRadarâs Take: There have been rumors of a new Marvel Xcom game and weâre hoping for these to be confirmed during Squareâs conference. In addition, weâre hoping for a release date for the Life is Strange Remastered Collection.
[HEADING=1]Warner Bros Games - June 13[/HEADING]
[IMG alt=âBack4Bloodâ]https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/db...PQC9uGJnFb.jpg
(Image credit: Turtle Rock studios)
Date and time: June 13 at 2pm PT / 5 pm ET / 10pm BST (or June 14 at 7am AEST)
How to watch: Twitch
What weâre expecting: The publisher has confirmed that Back 4 Blood is the only game that will be featured at this event.
TechRadarâs Take: While this event will only feature Back 4 Blood, weâre still hoping that Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, Gotham Knights and Hogwarts Legacy pop up during another E3 2021 conference - maybe the Summer Game Fest Kickoff Live event? Weâre hoping to finally get a look at gameplay for Hogwarts Legacy and Suicide Squad - with maybe even rough release windows thrown in?
[HEADING=1]PC Gaming Show - June 13[/HEADING]
[IMG alt=âPC Gaming Showâ]https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/aa...gMtUCCTDsL.jpg
(Image credit: Future)
Date and time: June 13 at 10:30pm BST / 5:30pm ET / 2:30pm PT (or June 14 at 7:30amam AEST)
How to watch: Twitch
What weâre expecting: The PC Gaming Show will see Sean âDay9" Plott, Frankie Ward and Mica Burton hosting E3âs biggest celebration of PC games to date, with 39 new trailers, game announcements, and interviews beamed to audiences around the world.
TechRadarâs Take: Our friends at PCGamer have been hard at work bringing you another fantastic PC Gaming Show which will be packed to the brim with reveals and deep dives into the best PC games on the horizon.
[HEADING=1]Future Games Show - June 13[/HEADING]
[IMG alt=âFuture Game Showâ]https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/f3...jLodAGGa8M.jpg
(Image credit: Future)
Date and time: June 13 at 4pm PT / 7pm ET /12am* Midnight BST (or June 14 at 9am AEST)
How to watch: Twitch, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and GamesRadar
What weâre expecting: The Future Games Show returns on June 13, as part of a double-header show alongside the PC Gaming Show. The Future Games Show will see a range of announcements and reveals on games across all platforms and genres, from AAA to indie.
TechRadarâs Take: We canât wait to see what our friends at GamesRadar have in store for this special E3 edition of Future Games Show. What we do know that the show will be packed with over 40 games across all major console and PC platforms, from publishers including SEGA, Private Division, Team17, XSEED Games and more. You donât want to miss it.
[HEADING=2]June 14[/HEADING]
[HEADING=1]Take-Two Interactive - June 14[/HEADING]
[IMG alt=âGTA 5â]https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/MC...fMR7esetNF.jpg
(Image credit: Rockstar Games)
Date and time: June 14 at 10:15am PT / 1:15pm ET / 6:15pm BST (or June 15 at 3:15am AEST)
How to watch: Twitch
What weâre expecting: Take-Two hasnât confirmed what we will see at its conference but weâre expecting details on the enhancements and new features coming to GTA 5 on PS5 and Xbox Series X and news about upcoming GTA Online updates.
TechRadarâs Take: Weâre not necessarily expecting Take-Two to announce GTA 6 (though, who knows), but itâs likely weâll see an update on some 2K sports titles and maybe find out more about BioShock 4 or those Marvel XCOM and Borderlands spin-off rumors (though we may see the latter at the Gearbox conference).
[HEADING=1]Capcom - June 14[/HEADING]
[IMG alt=âresident evil village key artâ]https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/v4...bCKvXhDvN7.png
(Image credit: Capcom)
Date and time: June 14 at 2:30 pm PT / 5:30 pm ET / 10:30 pm BST (or June 15 at 7:30am AEST)
How to watch: Twitch
What weâre expecting: Capcom has confirmed that its showcase will feature Resident Evil Village, Monster Hunter Rise, Monster Hunter Stories 2 and The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles. Weâre expecting the Resident Evil Village news to be about the gameâs delayed ReVerse multiplayer mode, while we could see DLC for Monster Hunter Rise. Itâs likely news on the latter two titles will be updates on their development ahead of their releases in July.
TechRadarâs Take: We still donât know about Capcomâs sci-fi adventure Pragmata, which was announced last year, so weâre hoping for a better look at it at E3 2021. Weâre also hoping to see more of Dragonâs Dogma 2 and Street Fighter 6.
[HEADING=1]Razer - June 14[/HEADING]
Ultra-exciting announcements are on the horizon and weâre unveiling them during the Razer E3 Keynote on June 14th 3PM PDT. If you think you know what weâve got up our sleeves, make a guess here https://rzr.to/Keynote2021 and stand a chance to win a Razer Orochi V2. https://twitter.com/Razer/status/1400965641658585089/photo/1June 5, 2021
See more
Date and time: June 14 at 3pm PT / 6pm ET / 11pm BST (or June 15 at 8am AEST)
How to watch: Twitch, YouTube and Facebook
What weâre expecting: The company has said it will be announcing some new products and giving viewers chances to win Razer prizes.
TechRadarâs Take: Weâre excited to see what Razer has in store for us at E3 2021. Weâre sure there are going to be some mouth-watering (and wacky) products on show.
[HEADING=2]June 15[/HEADING]
[HEADING=1]Nintendo Direct - June 15[/HEADING]
[IMG alt=ânintendo direct e3 2021â]https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/FU...2MiYMuw7PQ.png
(Image credit: Nintendo)
Date and time: June 15 at 5pm BST / 9am PT / 12pm ET (or June 16 at 2am AEST)
How to watch: Twitch
What weâre expecting: We know there wonât be any hardware at Nintendoâs E3 2021 Direct, with the publisher confirming its showcase will be focused exclusively on Nintendo Switch software. This conference is going to run for around 40 minutes, with a three-hour gameplay session happening afterward.
TechRadarâs Take: Weâre hoping Nintendo will use E3 to give us a release date (and more details) on Breath of the Wild 2, gameplay footage of Splatoon 3 and Bayonetta 3, and maybe a closer look at the PokĂ©mon Diamond and Pearl remakes and PokĂ©mon Legends: Arceus.
[HEADING=1]Bandai Namco - June 15[/HEADING]
[IMG alt=âElden Ringâ]https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Vz...r3sCbjCnjG.jpg
(Image credit: FromSoftware)
Date and time: June 15 at 10:25pm BST / 2:25pm PT / 5:25pm ET (or June 16 at 7:25am AEST)
How to watch: Twitch
What weâre expecting: Weâre also not sure what Bandai Namco will be showing, though Scarlet Nexus is a possibility ahead of its release. Itâs safe to say Elden Ring fans will have everything crossed that the game might make an appearance, but nothing is certain.
TechRadarâs Take: While Bandai Namco is most likely to give us an update on Tales of Arise and Scarlet Nexus, whether weâll see Elden Ring remains to be seen. Since its reveal at E3 2019, we havenât heard much about the FromSoftware/George R.R. Martin collaboration - and fans are getting impatient. Weâre hoping we see even a glimpse of Elden Ring during Bandai Namcoâs conference on June 15 - the final day of E3 - what a closer that would be.
[HEADING=1]E3 2021 Awards Show - June 15/16[/HEADING]
[IMG alt=âE3 2021â]https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/AV...7QtPhuvZSQ.jpg
(Image credit: ESA)
Date and time: June 15 at 4:45pm PT / 7:45pm ET (or June 16 at 12:45am BST / 9:45am AEST)
How to watch: Twitch, Twitter, Facebook and YouTube
What weâre expecting: The E3 2021 Awards show will be wrapping up E3 2021. Selecting from titles shown across the four-day show, âeditors from IGN, GameSpot, PC Gamer, GamesRadar, IGN China and GameBonfire will determine the winners for the Official E3 2021 Awards Show.â
TechRadarâs Take: The E3 Awards show highlights the most anticipated games from the event, but itâs also set to be packed with announcements and reveals, so itâs worth watching.
[HEADING=2]June 16 - June 22[/HEADING]
[HEADING=1]Steam Next Fest - June 16 to June 22[/HEADING]
[IMG alt=âSteamâ]https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/fV...aLjpZk2JJe.jpg
(Image credit: Steam/Valve)
Date and time: Kicks off on June 16 at 10am PT / 1pm ET / 6pm BST (or June 17 at 3am AEST) and lasts until June 22
How to watch: Steamâs YouTube channel
What weâre expecting: Steam Next Fest (formerly Steam Game Festival) is a multi-day celebration of upcoming Steam games, featuring hundreds of demos.
TechRadarâs Take: While weâre not expecting any big announcements at Steam Next Fest, itâs worth keeping an eye on the demos made available during the festival.
[HEADING=2]July 6[/HEADING]
[HEADING=1]Nacon Connect - July 6[/HEADING]
Save the date, #NaconConnect is back on July 6, 2021!With new gameplay, exciting announcements, special guests and epic collaborations. See you there! https://twitter.com/Nacon/status/1400074911486558208/photo/1June 2, 2021
See more
Date and time: July 6 at 6pm BST/ 10am PT / 9pm ET (or July 7 at 11am AEST)
How to watch: Naconâs Twitch and YouTube channels
What weâre expecting: French publisher Nacon has announced its own show, Nacon Connect, which promises ânew gameplay, exciting announcements, special guests and epic collaborationsâ.
TechRadarâs Take: Itâs possible we could see an update on Lord of the Rings: Gollum here, given that the game is co-published by Nacon and Daedalic Entertainment.
[HEADING=2]July 22[/HEADING]
[HEADING=1]EA Play Live 2021 - July 22[/HEADING]
[IMG alt=âea play live 2021 logoâ]https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/jn...gFsNG7E45j.png
(Image credit: Electronic Arts)
Date and time: July 22 (time TBC)
How to watch: TBC
What weâre expecting: Electronic Arts (EA) has confirmed that it will be skipping E3 and will instead hold its own summer games showcase, called EA Play Live. The event will be held on July 22, 2021. So far we know that Battlefield 2042âs third multiplayer experience will be revealed at the event. More details are set to follow, but you can check out the eventâs website here.
TechRadarâs Take: For the last few years, EA has opted to hold its own event, but itâs usually fallen around the same time as E3. Itâs surprising, then, that the companyâs event will take place over a month later than E3 2021, which runs from June 12 to June 15. In addition to Battlefield 2042 news, weâre also expecting EA will share more on FIFA 22 and Madden 22.
[HEADING=2]What is E3 2021?[/HEADING]
[IMG alt=âE3 2021â]https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/WX...sFNyXwUVsS.jpg
(Image credit: ESA)
The E3 name stands for âElectronic Entertainment Expoâ, and itâs been running in some form since 1995. Hosted by the Entertainment Software Association, E3 is a three-day convention to celebrate and showcase all things gaming, usually to publicize upcoming games and consoles â with a smattering of panel discussions and keynotes alongside the excitement of the show floor.
E3 2021 will be the 26th time the event is held, with the ESA cancelling E3 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. But this year, rather than being held as an in-person event at the Los Angeles Convention Center (its home since 2009), E3 2021 is an entirely digital event.
[HEADING=2]When is E3 2021 and how much will it cost?[/HEADING]
[IMG alt=âE3â]https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/pi...G7BWGJcfw8.jpg
(Image credit: logoboom/Shutterstock)
E3 2021 will take the form of an all-digital event that will run from June 12 to June 15, 2021. The ESA has confirmed that the event will consist of live press conferences and a four-day-long video stream. Digital attendees will also be able to keep track of everything thatâs going on through the E3 app.
Despite speculation that parts of the event would be behind a paywall, the ESA has confirmed that E3 2021 will be entirely free for attendees.
[HEADING=2]Who is attending E3 2021?[/HEADING]
[IMG alt=âE3 2021â]https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9F...TzqpjpkJPP.jpg
(Image credit: Microsoft)
Xbox, Nintendo, Capcom, Ubisoft, Take-Two, Warner Bros., EA, Koch Media, Square Enix, Sega, Bandai Namco, Gearbox and Xseed Games are all confirmed to be making an appearance at E3 this year, however, Sony is noticeably absent from the ESAâs list of commitments - instead, taking part in Summer Game Fest.
One company that was scheduled to be present was Konami, which pulled out of the event âdue to timing.â The company announced via Twitter that: âWe want to reassure our fans that we are in deep development on a number of key projects, so please stay tuned for some updates in the coming months.â
Itâs an impressive show of support for E3 2021, with many speculating that the online-only event would be largely ignored by the biggest companies in the industry. Having Xbox and Nintendo in attendance is a boon to the ESA, whose event was seen by many as âthe Christmas of gaming announcementsâ has diminished in recent years.
In a press release, ESA CEO Stanley Pierre-Louis said: âFor 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. We are evolving this yearâs 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.â
[HEADING=2]E3 2021 vs Summer Games Fest[/HEADING]
[IMG alt=âSummer Game festâ]https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/wL...E3pKRnVWpk.jpg
(Image credit: Summer Game Fest)
Summer Game Fest was set up by The Game Awards host Geoff Keighley and made its debut in 2020 â filling in the gap left by E3 2020. Last yearâs Summer Game Fest was an online season of events bringing together 16 of the industryâs largest publishers, including Microsoft, Sony, Activision, Valve, Bethesda and Blizzard in a four-month cavalcade of news, trailers and game demos.
From May until August, the Summer Game Fest partnered with these publishers to release updates on game projects and announce new titles across social media platforms, as well as providing playable demos for attendees â Microsoft shared a staggering âbetween 75 and 100â game demos in total.
This yearâs Summer Game Fest will apparently be more âcondensedâ, according to Keighley. The event still spans June and July, having kicked off on June 10 with a world premiere showcase.
This will be the first year we see E3 and Summer Game Fest taking place in the same timeframe, so it will be interesting to see which publishers and developers choose to showcase as part of E3 and which choose to do so at Summer Game Fest - and which decide to partake in both.
[HEADING=2]E3 2021: what happened at E3 2019[/HEADING]
[IMG alt=âE3 2021â]https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Ph...MN5w5pt6PT.jpg
(Image credit: CD Projekt Red)
Given that E3 2020 was canceled, the last E3 to take place was E3 2019. Even without Sony on show, there was still plenty to make 2019 a great year for E3. We had that wonderful Keanu Reeves appearance, and the news he was appearing in Cyberpunk 2077 (as seen above), new specs for the Xbox Series X, and that brilliant BOTW 2 teaser. We also got a full unveiling of Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order and updates on Apex Legends Season 2 from EA, and the announcement that Dark Souls dev From Software and Game of Throneâs George R R Martin were collaborating on the upcoming game Elden Ring.
Square Enix had one of the better press events weâve yet to see at E3 2019, packing in tons of new information on Marvelâs Avengers, Final Fantasy VII Remake and the remastered version of Final Fantasy 8.
It wasnât all good news, though, with Animal Crossing: Horizons getting delayed, and the long-awaited Dragon Age 4 not getting so much as a mention. Ubisoft also didnât show off a new Splinter Cell game (cowards!) or its much-delayed Beyond Good and Evil 2 â though it did find time for Just Dance 2020, and the announcement trailer for Gods and Monsters.
Hereâs a full list of everything that was announced at E3 2019:
Nintendo
[ul]
[li]The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2 (new game and trailer)[/li][li]Luigiâs Mansion 3 (new trailer and release window)[/li][li]Animal Crossing: New Horizons (new trailer, but delayed)[/li][li]Pokemon Sword and Pokemon Shield (new release date)[/li][li]The Legend of Zelda: Linkâs Awakening (new release date)[/li][li]Super Mario Maker 2 (new trailer)[/li][li]Astral Chain (new trailer)[/li][li]Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order (new trailer)[/li][li]Cadence of Hyrule ~ Crypt of the NecroDancer Featuring The Legend of Zelda[/li][li]Fire Emblem: Three Houses[/li][li]Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age - Definitive Edition[/li][li]Dragon Quest Builders 2 (coming to North America via Nintendo)[/li][li]No More Heroes 3 (announced for a 2020 release date window)[/li][li]Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020[/li][li]Resident Evil 5 and Resident Evil 6[/li][/ul]
Microsoft
[ul]
[li]Halo Infinite (release window, coming to Xbox Project Scarlett)[/li][li]Gears 5[/li][li]Blair Witch[/li][li]Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga (Xbox One and PC)[/li][li]Bleeding Edge[/li][li]Battletoads[/li][li]Age of Empire II: Definitive Edition (PC)[/li][li]Wasteland 3[/li][li]Microsoft Flight Simulator (PC first, Xbox One later)[/li][li]Minecraft Dungeons[/li][li]Spiritfarer (coming to Xbox Game Pass)[/li][li]12 Minutes (Xbox One and PC)[/li][li]Forza Horizon 4: Lego Speed Champions Expansion[/li][li]Crossfire X[/li][li]Gears Pop![/li][/ul]
Take-Two Interactive/2K Games
[ul]
[li]Borderlands 3[/li][li]The Outer Worlds[/li][/ul]
Electronic Arts and EA Sports
[ul]
[li]Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order (PC, Xbox One, PS4)[/li][li]Apex Legends Season 2 (PC)[/li][li]Battlefield 5: Chapter 4 (PC, Xbox One, PS4)[/li][li]The Sims 4 Island Living (PC)[/li][li]FIFA 20 (PS4, Xbox One, and PC) [/li][li]FIFA 20 Legacy Edition (Nintendo Switch)[/li][li]Madden 20 (PS4, Xbox One, and PC)[/li][/ul]
CD Projekt Red
[ul]
[li]Cyberpunk 2077[/li][li]The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt - Complete Edition[/li][/ul]
Konami
[ul]
[li]Contra Rogue Corps (Xbox One PS4, PC and Switch)[/li][li]Contra Anniversary Collection[/li][/ul]
Bethesda
[ul]
[li]Deathloop (Platforms unknown) (Trailer)[/li][li]Doom Eternal (Xbox One PlayStation 4, PC and Nintendo Switch)[/li][li]The Elder Scrolls: Blades (debuting on Nintendo Switch; iOS, Android updates)[/li][li]Fallout 76: Nuclear Winter (Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and PC sneak peek)[/li][li]Ghostwire: Tokyo (Platforms unknown)[/li][li]Wolfenstein: Youngblood (PS4, Xbox One and PC)[/li][li]Wolfenstein: Cyberpilot (VR)[/li][li]Commander Keen (iOS and Android)[/li][/ul]
Square Enix
[ul]
[li]Final Fantasy 7 Remake (PS4)[/li][li]Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles (PS4, Nintendo Switch and mobile)[/li][li]Final Fantasy 8 Remastered[/li][li]Final Fantasy 14: Shadowbringers (PC)[/li][li]Circuit Superstars (Square Enix Collective, developer Original Fire)[/li][li]War of the Visions: Final Fantasy Brave Exvius[/li][li]Romancing Saga 3[/li][li]Scarlett Grace[/li][li]Dragon Quest Builders 2[/li][li]The Last Remnant Remastered (coming to Nintendo Switch)[/li][li]Trials of Mana: Collection of Mana (coming to Switch)[/li][/ul]
Ubisoft
[ul]
[li]Ghost Recon Breakpoint (Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and PC)[/li][li]The Division 2 (Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and PC)[/li][li]For Honor (Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and PC)[/li][li]Watch Dogs Legion (Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PC, Stadia) (game play available)[/li][li]Assassinâs Creed Odyssey (game update)[/li][li]Roller Champions (PC download available now, other platforms unknown)[/li][li]Gods & Monsters (Xbox One,PlayStation 4, PC, Stadia and Switch)[/li][/ul]
Sega
[ul]
[li]Panzer Dragoon: Remake (Nintendo Switch)[/li][li]Phantasy Star Online 2 (Xbox One)[/li][li]SEGA Genesis mini console coming September 2019 with mini games like Mega Man:The Wily Wars, Earthworm Jim, Sonic the Hedgehog 1 & 2, Ecco the Dolphin and 35 more classic games.[/li][/ul]
Bandai Namco
[ul]
[li]Tales of Arise[/li][li]Dragonball Z: Kakarot[/li][li]Code Vein[/li][li]The Dark Pictures Anthology: Man of Medan[/li][li]RAD[/li][/ul]
Various
[ul]
[li]Elden Ring (via FromSoftware)[/li][li]Dying Light 2 (from Techland)[/li][li]Way to the Woods (Team 17)[/li][li]Dauntless (coming to Nintendo Switch via Phoenix Labs)[/li][li]The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance Tactics (En Masse Entertainment)[/li][li]Dead by Daylight (coming to Nintendo Switch via Koch Media)[/li][li]New Super Luckyâs Tale (coming to Nintendo Switch via Playful Corp.)[/li][li]Empire of Sin (John Romero multi-console game)[/li][li]Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair (Playtonic)[/li][li]Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin (via Edelweiss and XSEED Games)[/li][/ul]
[ul]
[li]PS5 vs Xbox Series X: which console should you choose?[/li][/ul]
Continue readingâŠ[/IMG]
Following the cancelation of E3 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, it remained unclear whether E3 2021 would still go ahead in some form. A digital event was set to take place in 2020 but, due to a lack of support, the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) decided to scrap the event altogether â with Geoff Keighleyâs Summer Games Fest taking center stage for gaming announcements instead.
But this year is different and weâve seen a few conferences already, with showcases from the likes of Xbox and Nintendo still to come. With all these conferences, it can be hard to keep track of who is streaming when. So weâve put together this handy guide to all the biggest gaming conferences happening in June and July, so you can keep track of each one. Read on for everything we know so far about E3 2021.
[ul]
[li]New games 2021: game release dates for console and PC[/li][li]New PS5 games: upcoming PS5 game release dates[/li][li]New Xbox Series X games: upcoming Xbox Series X/S game release dates[/li][/ul]
[HEADING=2]Key announcements so far[/HEADING]
[IMG alt=âE3 2021â]https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/QY...7ouVUnifAe.jpg
(Image credit: ESA)
[ul]
[li]Elden Ring trailer revealed with a January 2022 release date: FromSoftwareâs enigmatic action RPG finally shows its face.[/li][li]Back 4 Blood open beta announced: we wonât have to wait long for the Left 4 Dead successor.[/li][li]Far Cry 6 villain is âa heroâ says Giancarlo Esposito: the Breaking Bad actor shines some interesting context on his Far Cry 6 character.[/li][li]Overwatch 2âs fan-favorite characters have a brand-new look: Baptiste and Sombra are treated to some gorgeous new designs.[/li][li]Metal Slug Tactics mixes XCOM gameplay with arcade pixel art shooting: get your heavy machine guns loaded for this turn-based spin on the classic SNK series.[/li][li]Call of Duty Season 4 kicks off very soon: Warzone will receive a new injection of high octane content soon.[/li][li]Death Stranding Directorâs Cut is coming to PS5: as announced by a cheeky trailer with some not-so-subtle references to Kojimaâs past works.[/li][li]Borderlandâs Tiny Tina is finally getting her own game: fans of Borderlands 2âs Assault on Dragon Keep DLC will want to keep an eye on this one.[/li][li]Battlefield 6 is officially called Battlefield 2042: DICEâs anticipated shooter returns to a near-future setting.[/li][li]The Sims 4 Cottage Living expansion announced: The Sims goes rural with its first foray in countryside living.[/li][li]Xbox Game Pass could soon be built into your smart TV: you may no longer need an Xbox console to access its best feature.[/li][li]Xbox Series X game drought could soon be over - hereâs why: Microsoft wants to keep a steady stream of games releasing soon.[/li][li]New Xbox console hardware is in the works, confirms Microsoft: Xbox looks to what the future holds after Series X/S.[/li][li]Microsoft wants to turn your old laptop into an Xbox Series X console: Cloud gaming could be coming to PC sooner than we thought.[/li][li]Xbox Series X games on PC are a hit, as Microsoft throws shade at PS5: Microsoft and Xbox continue to gain traction with consumer-friendly practices.[/li][li]Payday 3 and Painkiller are coming â but from a new publisher youâve never heard of: a new publishing label, Prime Matter, will be taking the reigns.[/li][li]Rainbow Six Extraction gets a September 2021 release date: the monster-filled take on the tactical shooter will release this year![/li][li]Confirmed: Far Cry 6 DLC will bring back fan-favorite villains: Far Cry has some great villains, the Far Cry 6 season pass will let you play as them.[/li][li]Assassinâs Creed Valhallaâs new expansion tackles major Viking history battle: the Creed series is making a return trip to France in the age of the Viking.[/li][li]Ubisoft and Nintendo are teaming up for another Mario + Rabbids game: the tactical take on Nintendoâs mascot hero is headed to space for this sequel.[/li][li]Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora is the first real surprise of E3 2021: a big budget Avatar game, hitting consoles and PC just in time for the new films.[/li][/ul]
[HEADING=2]What weâve seen so far[/HEADING]
Below, weâve rounded up the biggest showcases that have happened so far and what was announced:
[HEADING=2]June 3[/HEADING]
[HEADING=1]Warhammer Skulls Showcase - June 3[/HEADING]
Games Workshopâs annual event, previously called Skulls for the Skull Throne, has been rebranded to Warhammer Skulls. This week-long Warhammer event was kicked off with a showcase live on June 3.
The showcase included 14 big announcements including the reveal of Warhammer 40,000: Chaos Gate - Daemonhunters and updates for Total War: Warhammer 3 and Vermintide 2. You can watch the full showcase above.
[HEADING=2]June 5[/HEADING]
[HEADING=1]Indie Live Expo - June 5[/HEADING]
The Indie Live Expo took place on June 5 and is Japanâs largest indie game festival. This showcase (obviously) focused on indie titles, with 300 games showcased over the streamâs nearly six-hour running time. You can catch up on the full showcase above.
[HEADING=1]Guerrilla Collective Day One - June 5[/HEADING]
[IMG alt=âGuerrilla Collectiveâ]https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/2Y...J72tUGn6WD.jpg
(Image credit: Guerrilla Collective)
The Guerrilla Collective is a digital games festival that primarily focuses on indie titles. This was the first of two Guerrilla Collective events, which seen a myriad of announcements on games including Omno, Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night and Aeon Drive.
This stream was followed by the Black Voices in Gaming stream, which showcased games created by Black developers and titles featuring a Black protagonist.
[HEADING=2]June 9[/HEADING]
[HEADING=1]Battlefield 6 reveal - June 9[/HEADING]
EA DICE revealed the new Battlefield, called Battlefield 2042, with an official reveal trailer on June 9. Battlefield 2042 features huge maps, dynamic weather and three multiplayer modes. You can read all about it right here.
[HEADING=2]June 10[/HEADING]
[HEADING=1]Summer Game Fest Kickoff Live! - June 10[/HEADING]
Summer Game Fest kicked off on June 10 with the Summer Game Fest: Kickoff Live showcase. The showcase was packed with announcements, trailers and reveals and, while not all of them were particularly awe-inspiring, there were some standouts.
The biggest âsurpriseâ of the night was the reveal of a full-length Elden Ring trailer, which gave us our best look yet at the collaboration between George R.R. Martin and FromSoftware and a release date: January 21, 2022. Elden Ring looks to be the natural progression of the Dark Souls series, featuring FromSoftwareâs iconic melee combat while adding in a giant open world and horseback traversal. It will be available on last-gen consoles as well as PS5 and Xbox Series X/S via a free upgrade.
There was also the official announcement of the Borderlandâs spin-off, Tiny Tinaâs Wonderlands, which is a standalone title based around (you guessed it) Tiny Tina. This standalone title is releasing in early 2022 and has a star-studded cast that includes Andy Samburg and Will Arnett.
Metal Slug Tactics followed up with a gorgeous anime trailer, taking the revered arcade shooter to a turn-based setting. Elsewhere, the newly announced Planet of Lana looked phenomenal, presenting a gorgeous world contrasted with monstrous creatures. We also got the news that a Death Stranding Directorâs Cut is coming to PS5, with a full reveal to take place âin just a few weeksâ.
We also heard more about Call of Duty Warzone: Season 4, got a glimpse of Overwatch 2âs redesigned characters and Giancarlo Esposito even popped by to taught about his role in Far Cry 6.
Overall, while there wasnât the breadth of big announcements that we hoped for, the Elden Ring reveal more than made up for.
[HEADING=2]June 11[/HEADING]
[HEADING=1]Koch Primetime Gaming Stream - June 11[/HEADING]
The Koch Media conference was a bit dull but we knew that would potentially be the case when the company told fans not to expect Metro, Dead Island or Saints Row at its showcase.
Instead, Koch announced a new publishing label: Prime Matter. One of the first games announced for Prime Matter is Payday 3, which will be developed in partnership with Starbreeze Studios.
There arenât any further details for the game at this time except that Payday 3 is being aimed for a 2023 release window on consoles and PC.
[HEADING=1]IGN Expo - June 11[/HEADING]
[IMG alt=âIGN Expoâ]https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Qt...cGqxzX2vxg.png
(Image credit: IGN)
The IGN Expo featured further details on Gearboxâs Tiny Tinaâs Wonderlands plus exclusive reveals of Doki Doki Literature Club Plus, World War Z: Aftermath, AudioClash: Battle of the Bands, Core Keeper, Bramble: The Mountain King and more.
[HEADING=1]Guerrilla Collective Day Two - June 12[/HEADING]
[IMG alt=âGuerrilla Collectiveâ]https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/MP...eR77Aq5aVa.jpg
(Image credit: Guerrilla Collective)
The second day of Guerrilla Collective featured games including Among Us, Akatori, Aragami 2, BPM: Bullets Per Minute, Demon Turf, Ghostrunner and more.
[HEADING=1]Ubisoft Forward - June 12 [/HEADING]
[IMG alt=âAvatar: Frontiers of Pandoraâ]https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/6K...kYgaoc6NBV.png
(Image credit: Ubisoft)
Ubisoftâs pre-show event featured updates on live games such as For Honor, Trackmania, The Crew 2, Brawlhalla and Watch Dogs: Legion. But the main event from the publisher offered world premiere gameplay and trailers for Rainbow Six Extraction as well as further details on Far Cry 6. In addition, there was news on Riders Republic and a new Assassinâs Creed Valhalla DLC pack.
But the big news was left for the end: Ubisoft showed off a trailer for a gorgeous new Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora game, set in the world of James Cameronâs Avatar movies.
[HEADING=1]Gearbox Entertainment - June 12[/HEADING]
[IMG alt=âborderlands 3â]https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/in...YvVbhTdaoZ.jpg
(Image credit: 2K Games)
It was a relatively quiet showing from Gearbox, letting us see a little bit more from Tiny Tinaâs Wonderlands, revealing Homeworlds 3 is in the works and showcasing some Godfall DLC.
But the most exciting part of the brief event was a behind the scenes look at the Borderlands movie during the conference - with director Eli Roth and star Kevin Hart talking to Gearbox boss Randy Pitchford about how production on the still-shooting film is going.
[HEADING=2]E3 2021 schedule[/HEADING]
Below, weâve rounded up all the confirmed dates and times for E3 2021âs conferences. We will continue to update this article as more conference details are confirmed.
[HEADING=2]June 12[/HEADING]
[HEADING=1]Wholesome Direct - June 12[/HEADING]
[IMG alt=âWholesome Directâ]https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/2q...NRWLsAhQSU.png
(Image credit: Wholesome Games)
Date and time: June 12 at 10am PT / 6pm BST / 1pm ET (or June 13 at 3am AEST)
How to watch: YouTube
What weâre expecting: Wholesome Direct is an independent showcase ran by Wholesome Games that aims to âspotlight uplifting and thoughtful indie gamesâ. This yearâs event is set to showcase an hour of exclusive footage, new game reveals, developer interviews and announcements from 75 titles.
TechRadarâs Take: In a particularly dark year for many of us, Wholesome Direct couldnât come at a better time. If you want to watch a stream that showcases games with only good vibes, then this is the one for you.
[HEADING=2]June 13[/HEADING]
[HEADING=1]Xbox and Bethesda Games Showcase - June 13[/HEADING]
[IMG alt=âE3 2021 Xbox Bethesda Showcaseâ]https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/xY...MynkwjwYNL.jpg
(Image credit: Microsoft)
Date and time: June 13 at 10am PT / 6pm BST / 1pm ET (or June 14 at 3am AEST)
How to watch: Twitch, YouTube, Twitter and Facebook
What weâre expecting: This showcase will be around 90 minutes long and is featuring games from Xbox Game Studios and Bethesda Softworks.
TechRadarâs Take: Weâre hoping E3 2021 will see Microsoft giving us a solid release date for Halo Infinite as well as officially announcing a new Forza Horizon game is in the works. Weâre also hoping to hear more about Fable, which was confirmed to be in the works last year. Weâre also hoping Bethesda will give us more details on Starfield and The Elder Scrolls 6, and set the record straight about whether both games will be Xbox platform exclusives.
[HEADING=1]Square Enix Presents - June 13[/HEADING]
[IMG alt=âSquare Enix Presentsâ]https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/6G...v4m8TjrfS.jpeg
(Image credit: Square Enix)
Date and time: June 13 at 12:15pm PT/ 3:15pm ET/ 8:15pm BST (or June 14 at 5:15am AEST)
How to watch: Square Enixâs Twitch and YouTube channels
What weâre expecting: This stream is going to last around 40 minutes and Square Enix has even given a vague list of what we can expect to see during the presentation, including the announcement of a new game from Eidos-MontrĂ©al, an update on Babylonâs Fall, fresh details on Marvelâs Avengerâs upcoming expansion and a deep dive on Life is Strange: True Colors.
TechRadarâs Take: There have been rumors of a new Marvel Xcom game and weâre hoping for these to be confirmed during Squareâs conference. In addition, weâre hoping for a release date for the Life is Strange Remastered Collection.
[HEADING=1]Warner Bros Games - June 13[/HEADING]
[IMG alt=âBack4Bloodâ]https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/db...PQC9uGJnFb.jpg
(Image credit: Turtle Rock studios)
Date and time: June 13 at 2pm PT / 5 pm ET / 10pm BST (or June 14 at 7am AEST)
How to watch: Twitch
What weâre expecting: The publisher has confirmed that Back 4 Blood is the only game that will be featured at this event.
TechRadarâs Take: While this event will only feature Back 4 Blood, weâre still hoping that Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, Gotham Knights and Hogwarts Legacy pop up during another E3 2021 conference - maybe the Summer Game Fest Kickoff Live event? Weâre hoping to finally get a look at gameplay for Hogwarts Legacy and Suicide Squad - with maybe even rough release windows thrown in?
[HEADING=1]PC Gaming Show - June 13[/HEADING]
[IMG alt=âPC Gaming Showâ]https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/aa...gMtUCCTDsL.jpg
(Image credit: Future)
Date and time: June 13 at 10:30pm BST / 5:30pm ET / 2:30pm PT (or June 14 at 7:30amam AEST)
How to watch: Twitch
What weâre expecting: The PC Gaming Show will see Sean âDay9" Plott, Frankie Ward and Mica Burton hosting E3âs biggest celebration of PC games to date, with 39 new trailers, game announcements, and interviews beamed to audiences around the world.
TechRadarâs Take: Our friends at PCGamer have been hard at work bringing you another fantastic PC Gaming Show which will be packed to the brim with reveals and deep dives into the best PC games on the horizon.
[HEADING=1]Future Games Show - June 13[/HEADING]
[IMG alt=âFuture Game Showâ]https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/f3...jLodAGGa8M.jpg
(Image credit: Future)
Date and time: June 13 at 4pm PT / 7pm ET /12am* Midnight BST (or June 14 at 9am AEST)
How to watch: Twitch, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and GamesRadar
What weâre expecting: The Future Games Show returns on June 13, as part of a double-header show alongside the PC Gaming Show. The Future Games Show will see a range of announcements and reveals on games across all platforms and genres, from AAA to indie.
TechRadarâs Take: We canât wait to see what our friends at GamesRadar have in store for this special E3 edition of Future Games Show. What we do know that the show will be packed with over 40 games across all major console and PC platforms, from publishers including SEGA, Private Division, Team17, XSEED Games and more. You donât want to miss it.
[HEADING=2]June 14[/HEADING]
[HEADING=1]Take-Two Interactive - June 14[/HEADING]
[IMG alt=âGTA 5â]https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/MC...fMR7esetNF.jpg
(Image credit: Rockstar Games)
Date and time: June 14 at 10:15am PT / 1:15pm ET / 6:15pm BST (or June 15 at 3:15am AEST)
How to watch: Twitch
What weâre expecting: Take-Two hasnât confirmed what we will see at its conference but weâre expecting details on the enhancements and new features coming to GTA 5 on PS5 and Xbox Series X and news about upcoming GTA Online updates.
TechRadarâs Take: Weâre not necessarily expecting Take-Two to announce GTA 6 (though, who knows), but itâs likely weâll see an update on some 2K sports titles and maybe find out more about BioShock 4 or those Marvel XCOM and Borderlands spin-off rumors (though we may see the latter at the Gearbox conference).
[HEADING=1]Capcom - June 14[/HEADING]
[IMG alt=âresident evil village key artâ]https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/v4...bCKvXhDvN7.png
(Image credit: Capcom)
Date and time: June 14 at 2:30 pm PT / 5:30 pm ET / 10:30 pm BST (or June 15 at 7:30am AEST)
How to watch: Twitch
What weâre expecting: Capcom has confirmed that its showcase will feature Resident Evil Village, Monster Hunter Rise, Monster Hunter Stories 2 and The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles. Weâre expecting the Resident Evil Village news to be about the gameâs delayed ReVerse multiplayer mode, while we could see DLC for Monster Hunter Rise. Itâs likely news on the latter two titles will be updates on their development ahead of their releases in July.
TechRadarâs Take: We still donât know about Capcomâs sci-fi adventure Pragmata, which was announced last year, so weâre hoping for a better look at it at E3 2021. Weâre also hoping to see more of Dragonâs Dogma 2 and Street Fighter 6.
[HEADING=1]Razer - June 14[/HEADING]
Ultra-exciting announcements are on the horizon and weâre unveiling them during the Razer E3 Keynote on June 14th 3PM PDT. If you think you know what weâve got up our sleeves, make a guess here https://rzr.to/Keynote2021 and stand a chance to win a Razer Orochi V2. https://twitter.com/Razer/status/1400965641658585089/photo/1June 5, 2021
See more
Date and time: June 14 at 3pm PT / 6pm ET / 11pm BST (or June 15 at 8am AEST)
How to watch: Twitch, YouTube and Facebook
What weâre expecting: The company has said it will be announcing some new products and giving viewers chances to win Razer prizes.
TechRadarâs Take: Weâre excited to see what Razer has in store for us at E3 2021. Weâre sure there are going to be some mouth-watering (and wacky) products on show.
[HEADING=2]June 15[/HEADING]
[HEADING=1]Nintendo Direct - June 15[/HEADING]
[IMG alt=ânintendo direct e3 2021â]https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/FU...2MiYMuw7PQ.png
(Image credit: Nintendo)
Date and time: June 15 at 5pm BST / 9am PT / 12pm ET (or June 16 at 2am AEST)
How to watch: Twitch
What weâre expecting: We know there wonât be any hardware at Nintendoâs E3 2021 Direct, with the publisher confirming its showcase will be focused exclusively on Nintendo Switch software. This conference is going to run for around 40 minutes, with a three-hour gameplay session happening afterward.
TechRadarâs Take: Weâre hoping Nintendo will use E3 to give us a release date (and more details) on Breath of the Wild 2, gameplay footage of Splatoon 3 and Bayonetta 3, and maybe a closer look at the PokĂ©mon Diamond and Pearl remakes and PokĂ©mon Legends: Arceus.
[HEADING=1]Bandai Namco - June 15[/HEADING]
[IMG alt=âElden Ringâ]https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Vz...r3sCbjCnjG.jpg
(Image credit: FromSoftware)
Date and time: June 15 at 10:25pm BST / 2:25pm PT / 5:25pm ET (or June 16 at 7:25am AEST)
How to watch: Twitch
What weâre expecting: Weâre also not sure what Bandai Namco will be showing, though Scarlet Nexus is a possibility ahead of its release. Itâs safe to say Elden Ring fans will have everything crossed that the game might make an appearance, but nothing is certain.
TechRadarâs Take: While Bandai Namco is most likely to give us an update on Tales of Arise and Scarlet Nexus, whether weâll see Elden Ring remains to be seen. Since its reveal at E3 2019, we havenât heard much about the FromSoftware/George R.R. Martin collaboration - and fans are getting impatient. Weâre hoping we see even a glimpse of Elden Ring during Bandai Namcoâs conference on June 15 - the final day of E3 - what a closer that would be.
[HEADING=1]E3 2021 Awards Show - June 15/16[/HEADING]
[IMG alt=âE3 2021â]https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/AV...7QtPhuvZSQ.jpg
(Image credit: ESA)
Date and time: June 15 at 4:45pm PT / 7:45pm ET (or June 16 at 12:45am BST / 9:45am AEST)
How to watch: Twitch, Twitter, Facebook and YouTube
What weâre expecting: The E3 2021 Awards show will be wrapping up E3 2021. Selecting from titles shown across the four-day show, âeditors from IGN, GameSpot, PC Gamer, GamesRadar, IGN China and GameBonfire will determine the winners for the Official E3 2021 Awards Show.â
TechRadarâs Take: The E3 Awards show highlights the most anticipated games from the event, but itâs also set to be packed with announcements and reveals, so itâs worth watching.
[HEADING=2]June 16 - June 22[/HEADING]
[HEADING=1]Steam Next Fest - June 16 to June 22[/HEADING]
[IMG alt=âSteamâ]https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/fV...aLjpZk2JJe.jpg
(Image credit: Steam/Valve)
Date and time: Kicks off on June 16 at 10am PT / 1pm ET / 6pm BST (or June 17 at 3am AEST) and lasts until June 22
How to watch: Steamâs YouTube channel
What weâre expecting: Steam Next Fest (formerly Steam Game Festival) is a multi-day celebration of upcoming Steam games, featuring hundreds of demos.
TechRadarâs Take: While weâre not expecting any big announcements at Steam Next Fest, itâs worth keeping an eye on the demos made available during the festival.
[HEADING=2]July 6[/HEADING]
[HEADING=1]Nacon Connect - July 6[/HEADING]
Save the date, #NaconConnect is back on July 6, 2021!With new gameplay, exciting announcements, special guests and epic collaborations. See you there! https://twitter.com/Nacon/status/1400074911486558208/photo/1June 2, 2021
See more
Date and time: July 6 at 6pm BST/ 10am PT / 9pm ET (or July 7 at 11am AEST)
How to watch: Naconâs Twitch and YouTube channels
What weâre expecting: French publisher Nacon has announced its own show, Nacon Connect, which promises ânew gameplay, exciting announcements, special guests and epic collaborationsâ.
TechRadarâs Take: Itâs possible we could see an update on Lord of the Rings: Gollum here, given that the game is co-published by Nacon and Daedalic Entertainment.
[HEADING=2]July 22[/HEADING]
[HEADING=1]EA Play Live 2021 - July 22[/HEADING]
[IMG alt=âea play live 2021 logoâ]https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/jn...gFsNG7E45j.png
(Image credit: Electronic Arts)
Date and time: July 22 (time TBC)
How to watch: TBC
What weâre expecting: Electronic Arts (EA) has confirmed that it will be skipping E3 and will instead hold its own summer games showcase, called EA Play Live. The event will be held on July 22, 2021. So far we know that Battlefield 2042âs third multiplayer experience will be revealed at the event. More details are set to follow, but you can check out the eventâs website here.
TechRadarâs Take: For the last few years, EA has opted to hold its own event, but itâs usually fallen around the same time as E3. Itâs surprising, then, that the companyâs event will take place over a month later than E3 2021, which runs from June 12 to June 15. In addition to Battlefield 2042 news, weâre also expecting EA will share more on FIFA 22 and Madden 22.
[HEADING=2]What is E3 2021?[/HEADING]
[IMG alt=âE3 2021â]https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/WX...sFNyXwUVsS.jpg
(Image credit: ESA)
The E3 name stands for âElectronic Entertainment Expoâ, and itâs been running in some form since 1995. Hosted by the Entertainment Software Association, E3 is a three-day convention to celebrate and showcase all things gaming, usually to publicize upcoming games and consoles â with a smattering of panel discussions and keynotes alongside the excitement of the show floor.
E3 2021 will be the 26th time the event is held, with the ESA cancelling E3 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. But this year, rather than being held as an in-person event at the Los Angeles Convention Center (its home since 2009), E3 2021 is an entirely digital event.
[HEADING=2]When is E3 2021 and how much will it cost?[/HEADING]
[IMG alt=âE3â]https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/pi...G7BWGJcfw8.jpg
(Image credit: logoboom/Shutterstock)
E3 2021 will take the form of an all-digital event that will run from June 12 to June 15, 2021. The ESA has confirmed that the event will consist of live press conferences and a four-day-long video stream. Digital attendees will also be able to keep track of everything thatâs going on through the E3 app.
Despite speculation that parts of the event would be behind a paywall, the ESA has confirmed that E3 2021 will be entirely free for attendees.
[HEADING=2]Who is attending E3 2021?[/HEADING]
[IMG alt=âE3 2021â]https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9F...TzqpjpkJPP.jpg
(Image credit: Microsoft)
Xbox, Nintendo, Capcom, Ubisoft, Take-Two, Warner Bros., EA, Koch Media, Square Enix, Sega, Bandai Namco, Gearbox and Xseed Games are all confirmed to be making an appearance at E3 this year, however, Sony is noticeably absent from the ESAâs list of commitments - instead, taking part in Summer Game Fest.
One company that was scheduled to be present was Konami, which pulled out of the event âdue to timing.â The company announced via Twitter that: âWe want to reassure our fans that we are in deep development on a number of key projects, so please stay tuned for some updates in the coming months.â
Itâs an impressive show of support for E3 2021, with many speculating that the online-only event would be largely ignored by the biggest companies in the industry. Having Xbox and Nintendo in attendance is a boon to the ESA, whose event was seen by many as âthe Christmas of gaming announcementsâ has diminished in recent years.
In a press release, ESA CEO Stanley Pierre-Louis said: âFor 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. We are evolving this yearâs 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.â
[HEADING=2]E3 2021 vs Summer Games Fest[/HEADING]
[IMG alt=âSummer Game festâ]https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/wL...E3pKRnVWpk.jpg
(Image credit: Summer Game Fest)
Summer Game Fest was set up by The Game Awards host Geoff Keighley and made its debut in 2020 â filling in the gap left by E3 2020. Last yearâs Summer Game Fest was an online season of events bringing together 16 of the industryâs largest publishers, including Microsoft, Sony, Activision, Valve, Bethesda and Blizzard in a four-month cavalcade of news, trailers and game demos.
From May until August, the Summer Game Fest partnered with these publishers to release updates on game projects and announce new titles across social media platforms, as well as providing playable demos for attendees â Microsoft shared a staggering âbetween 75 and 100â game demos in total.
This yearâs Summer Game Fest will apparently be more âcondensedâ, according to Keighley. The event still spans June and July, having kicked off on June 10 with a world premiere showcase.
This will be the first year we see E3 and Summer Game Fest taking place in the same timeframe, so it will be interesting to see which publishers and developers choose to showcase as part of E3 and which choose to do so at Summer Game Fest - and which decide to partake in both.
[HEADING=2]E3 2021: what happened at E3 2019[/HEADING]
[IMG alt=âE3 2021â]https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Ph...MN5w5pt6PT.jpg
(Image credit: CD Projekt Red)
Given that E3 2020 was canceled, the last E3 to take place was E3 2019. Even without Sony on show, there was still plenty to make 2019 a great year for E3. We had that wonderful Keanu Reeves appearance, and the news he was appearing in Cyberpunk 2077 (as seen above), new specs for the Xbox Series X, and that brilliant BOTW 2 teaser. We also got a full unveiling of Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order and updates on Apex Legends Season 2 from EA, and the announcement that Dark Souls dev From Software and Game of Throneâs George R R Martin were collaborating on the upcoming game Elden Ring.
Square Enix had one of the better press events weâve yet to see at E3 2019, packing in tons of new information on Marvelâs Avengers, Final Fantasy VII Remake and the remastered version of Final Fantasy 8.
It wasnât all good news, though, with Animal Crossing: Horizons getting delayed, and the long-awaited Dragon Age 4 not getting so much as a mention. Ubisoft also didnât show off a new Splinter Cell game (cowards!) or its much-delayed Beyond Good and Evil 2 â though it did find time for Just Dance 2020, and the announcement trailer for Gods and Monsters.
Hereâs a full list of everything that was announced at E3 2019:
Nintendo
[ul]
[li]The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2 (new game and trailer)[/li][li]Luigiâs Mansion 3 (new trailer and release window)[/li][li]Animal Crossing: New Horizons (new trailer, but delayed)[/li][li]Pokemon Sword and Pokemon Shield (new release date)[/li][li]The Legend of Zelda: Linkâs Awakening (new release date)[/li][li]Super Mario Maker 2 (new trailer)[/li][li]Astral Chain (new trailer)[/li][li]Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order (new trailer)[/li][li]Cadence of Hyrule ~ Crypt of the NecroDancer Featuring The Legend of Zelda[/li][li]Fire Emblem: Three Houses[/li][li]Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age - Definitive Edition[/li][li]Dragon Quest Builders 2 (coming to North America via Nintendo)[/li][li]No More Heroes 3 (announced for a 2020 release date window)[/li][li]Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020[/li][li]Resident Evil 5 and Resident Evil 6[/li][/ul]
Microsoft
[ul]
[li]Halo Infinite (release window, coming to Xbox Project Scarlett)[/li][li]Gears 5[/li][li]Blair Witch[/li][li]Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga (Xbox One and PC)[/li][li]Bleeding Edge[/li][li]Battletoads[/li][li]Age of Empire II: Definitive Edition (PC)[/li][li]Wasteland 3[/li][li]Microsoft Flight Simulator (PC first, Xbox One later)[/li][li]Minecraft Dungeons[/li][li]Spiritfarer (coming to Xbox Game Pass)[/li][li]12 Minutes (Xbox One and PC)[/li][li]Forza Horizon 4: Lego Speed Champions Expansion[/li][li]Crossfire X[/li][li]Gears Pop![/li][/ul]
Take-Two Interactive/2K Games
[ul]
[li]Borderlands 3[/li][li]The Outer Worlds[/li][/ul]
Electronic Arts and EA Sports
[ul]
[li]Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order (PC, Xbox One, PS4)[/li][li]Apex Legends Season 2 (PC)[/li][li]Battlefield 5: Chapter 4 (PC, Xbox One, PS4)[/li][li]The Sims 4 Island Living (PC)[/li][li]FIFA 20 (PS4, Xbox One, and PC) [/li][li]FIFA 20 Legacy Edition (Nintendo Switch)[/li][li]Madden 20 (PS4, Xbox One, and PC)[/li][/ul]
CD Projekt Red
[ul]
[li]Cyberpunk 2077[/li][li]The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt - Complete Edition[/li][/ul]
Konami
[ul]
[li]Contra Rogue Corps (Xbox One PS4, PC and Switch)[/li][li]Contra Anniversary Collection[/li][/ul]
Bethesda
[ul]
[li]Deathloop (Platforms unknown) (Trailer)[/li][li]Doom Eternal (Xbox One PlayStation 4, PC and Nintendo Switch)[/li][li]The Elder Scrolls: Blades (debuting on Nintendo Switch; iOS, Android updates)[/li][li]Fallout 76: Nuclear Winter (Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and PC sneak peek)[/li][li]Ghostwire: Tokyo (Platforms unknown)[/li][li]Wolfenstein: Youngblood (PS4, Xbox One and PC)[/li][li]Wolfenstein: Cyberpilot (VR)[/li][li]Commander Keen (iOS and Android)[/li][/ul]
Square Enix
[ul]
[li]Final Fantasy 7 Remake (PS4)[/li][li]Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles (PS4, Nintendo Switch and mobile)[/li][li]Final Fantasy 8 Remastered[/li][li]Final Fantasy 14: Shadowbringers (PC)[/li][li]Circuit Superstars (Square Enix Collective, developer Original Fire)[/li][li]War of the Visions: Final Fantasy Brave Exvius[/li][li]Romancing Saga 3[/li][li]Scarlett Grace[/li][li]Dragon Quest Builders 2[/li][li]The Last Remnant Remastered (coming to Nintendo Switch)[/li][li]Trials of Mana: Collection of Mana (coming to Switch)[/li][/ul]
Ubisoft
[ul]
[li]Ghost Recon Breakpoint (Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and PC)[/li][li]The Division 2 (Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and PC)[/li][li]For Honor (Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and PC)[/li][li]Watch Dogs Legion (Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PC, Stadia) (game play available)[/li][li]Assassinâs Creed Odyssey (game update)[/li][li]Roller Champions (PC download available now, other platforms unknown)[/li][li]Gods & Monsters (Xbox One,PlayStation 4, PC, Stadia and Switch)[/li][/ul]
Sega
[ul]
[li]Panzer Dragoon: Remake (Nintendo Switch)[/li][li]Phantasy Star Online 2 (Xbox One)[/li][li]SEGA Genesis mini console coming September 2019 with mini games like Mega Man:The Wily Wars, Earthworm Jim, Sonic the Hedgehog 1 & 2, Ecco the Dolphin and 35 more classic games.[/li][/ul]
Bandai Namco
[ul]
[li]Tales of Arise[/li][li]Dragonball Z: Kakarot[/li][li]Code Vein[/li][li]The Dark Pictures Anthology: Man of Medan[/li][li]RAD[/li][/ul]
Various
[ul]
[li]Elden Ring (via FromSoftware)[/li][li]Dying Light 2 (from Techland)[/li][li]Way to the Woods (Team 17)[/li][li]Dauntless (coming to Nintendo Switch via Phoenix Labs)[/li][li]The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance Tactics (En Masse Entertainment)[/li][li]Dead by Daylight (coming to Nintendo Switch via Koch Media)[/li][li]New Super Luckyâs Tale (coming to Nintendo Switch via Playful Corp.)[/li][li]Empire of Sin (John Romero multi-console game)[/li][li]Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair (Playtonic)[/li][li]Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin (via Edelweiss and XSEED Games)[/li][/ul]
[ul]
[li]PS5 vs Xbox Series X: which console should you choose?[/li][/ul]
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