Following the sudden cancellation of E3 2020 due to COVID-19 coronavirus concerns, the ESA (Entertainment Software Association) has announced dates for E3 2021, which promises to be a "reimagined" version of the long-running trade show. In the world of television, there are events called upfronts, where all the networks announce their upcoming slate of releases. It's a big deal and helps set the stage for a full year of press coverage while building hype for all the new programs coming to television. In the video game space, the closest equivalent is E3, an annual trade show where all the major developers and publishers get together to show off their wares. There are other big events, like PAX and Gamescom, but none can hold a candle to the sheer scale, spectacle, and prestige of E3.

At least, that used to be the case. In recent years, E3 and the company responsible for the event, the ESA, have come under fire for being out of touch, and whispers and rumblings around the industry indicated E3 was beginning to become more effort and expense than it was worth. Nowhere was that made more clear than when Sony shocked the industry by dropping out of the 2019 event. They had announced their intentions to remain absent from E3 2020 before the show was unexpectedly cancelled last month due to the increased proliferation of the coronavirus pandemic. There will not even be a digital event with the E3 branding. Instead, various companies will have their own digital events to promote their incoming projects.

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With E3 2020 cancelled, many were beginning to wonder if E3 was completely dead, and if there might not ever be another real E3 show. For the time being, those fears have been waylaid, as the ESA has announced new dates for E3 2021, which the organization promises will be a "reimagined" version of the biggest video game trade show in the world. According to GamesIndustry, E3 2021 will take place from June 15-17, 2021.

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The lead-up to E3 2020 was fraught with uncertainty before its cancellation, with industry insiders expressing discontent at the ideas the ESA was presenting. The ESA's messaging indicated they wanted to make an event that catered more to influencers and their online followings more than journalistic outlets. While some were optimistic about the proposed changes, many throughout the industry were bracing for a disaster. Then, of course, the whole thing was cancelled due to the coronavirus.

With the ESA's promise of a "reimagined" event being vague and undefined, it's going to be an interesting road to E3 2021. Will the ESA double down on their E3 2020 plans, or will they turn the focus back towards games and the people who make them, where many would agree it belongs? Will they be able to coax Sony into returning to the E3 fold, or has the hardware giant abandoned E3 forever? Only time will tell.

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Source: GamesIndustry