E3 2020 is canceled, but the Entertainment Software Association notified partners in the gaming industry it'll return with a "reimagined" version in 2021.
GamesIndustry.biz reports the ESA discussed its annual trade show to remind publishers and developers that they're welcome to participate next year. E3 2021 returns to the Los Angeles Convention Center on June 15, 2021. It'll run for a few days, but partners can also host separate media gatherings and fan-targeted events at other venues in the area. Often, companies announce their latest titles just before E3 starts and then use the trade show's core location to offer hands-on demos.
In terms of the "reimagined" version in 2021, the ESA didn't offer details.
Both the ESA and its partners agreed to cancel E3 2020 in mid-March. Several publishers and developers pulled out due to the risk of catch and spreading COVID-19 in close quarters, which signaled to the ESA that it needed to pull the entire trade show. Companies such as Microsoft and Nintendo are set to continue with their planned announcements through digital-based events streamed online.
IGN also announced the 'Summer of Gaming' taking place in June. It agreed to partnerships with major publishers including Bandai Namco, Sega, Square Enix, and THQ Nordic. Amazon and Google are signed on to appear as well, and that might mean some surprise announcements related to their gaming ambitions.
Since 1995, E3 has served as an opportunity for publishers and developers of all sizes to put their games in front of a global audience. Typically the trade show draws more than 50,000 attendees each year. Sony doesn't participate anymore, but Microsoft and a large number of mid-tier companies still take advantage of E3. Now, they're just stuck waiting for next year. We'll see how the ESA repackages its trade show in 2021 as publishers and developers consider acting on their own.
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