E3 2021

Two days to go until E3 2021!

Since last year’s E3 was cancelled for obvious reasons, I feel like this year has more pressure on them to really put on a show. 

Of course, E3 isn’t the only online event. As a matter of fact, Geoff Keighley’s Summer Game Fest is going live on YouTube today. With over 30 game publishers broadcasting news, updates and announcements this afternoon. 

There are several two online showcases tomorrow. ING Expo, part of IGN’s Summer of Gaming season is going live on Twitch and YouTube. Even though this event takes place before the official start of E3 this is, apparently, their entry. Promising new gameplay footage and reveals, should be interesting. 

The other even is Koch Media and their own showcase. There isn’t much known about this event outside of the start times and that they are hosting it on their own website. I think they are having a bit too much fun with the secrecy as the website is titled We know something you don’t know. We will find out soon enough anyway.

Then we have the official start of E3 on the 12th. We are spoiled for choice, as there are six live streams.

First up, Guerrilla Collective Showcase. This is their second time taking part in E3. 

Wholesome Direct is up next on YouTube. As their name suggests, this broadcast is all about wholesome and uplifting indie games. They are going to showcase over 75 games. This is one of the shows I am looking forward to. I am a sucker for these types of games, they have been a lifeline of sorts for me during these stressful times.

Following Wholesome Direct is Ubisoft Forward. It seems folk are eager to hear about the updates surrounding Far Cry 6 and the VR Assassin’s Creed and Splinter Cell projects. Perhaps more info regarding Assassin’s Creed Valhalla DLC and Beyond Good & Evil 2? Time will tell.

The fourth spot belongs to Devolver Digital. That is pretty much all we know except the starting time and that it will be on YouTube. Another publisher keeping their cards close to their chest. There have been a few teases about Nina Struthers returning to the digital stage, but nothing has been confirmed at the time of writing.

Next up, Gearbox Entertainment. Randy Pitchford is going to host this half-hour showcase. Like many others, they are keeping quite tight-lipped about what exactly they will be showing. They haven’t even confirmed how to watch it yet, again at the time of writing. 

Last but by no means least for the 12th, UploadVR. Oculus Quest and PSVR players, this is the show for you. With brand new trailers and game reveals, maybe you will find a few upcoming titles that will catch your eye.

Kicking off the five slots for the 13th is the Xbox and Bethesda Games Showcase. Get your popcorn ready as this showcase is 90-minutes. Chock filled “with everything you want to know about the epic gaming line-up coming out of this partnership, the incredible games coming to Xbox this holiday, upcoming releases on Xbox Game Pass, and more” this show promises to be interesting. 

Square Enix Showcase follows soon after. As someone who got back into Final Fantasy XIV in the last couple of weeks, dragging one of my friends with me for the record, I am desperate for news surrounding the Endwalker expansion. There will also be news and updates surrounding upcoming games such as the highly anticipated Life is Strange: True Colors.

In a welcome surprise, Warner Bros. will be joining us this year. As a fan of Left 4 Dead, I am really hoping Back 4 Blood will fill the whole that game left in my soul. They have confirmed that Back 4 Blood is going to be the focus of their segment. I for one am content with this. 

PC Gaming Show takes the fourth spot. As their name suggests, they will mostly focus on updates surrounding PC games. Including big news for the Orcs Must Die! franchise, new gameplay for Hello Neighbor 2 and a brand new trailer for Vampire: The Masquerade – Swansong.

Hosted by Laura Bailey and Troy Baker, Future Games Show is the last show of the evening. This is their second year participating, but other than that I can’t find much about this part of E3.

Starting the 14th is Take-Two Interactive. They are also keeping details rather hush-hush. I am spotting a pattern here, folks. Maybe we will get some updates about Rockstar and the GTA 5 next-gen update? Or maybe finally some news about Bioshock 4? I hope so.

Capcom has confirmed that their segment will focus on The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles, Monster Hunter Stories 2, Monster Hunter Rise, and Resident Evil Village updates. 

Ending the day’s shows is Razer. Making their debut to E3 this year, the gaming hardware giant hints that they have “an ultimate line-up not to be missed”.

The last day is starting on a high note with the Nintendo E3 Showcase. They have already announced that this 40-minute show will mostly focus on games coming out this year. 

Bandai Namco was the last to announce that they were taking part this year. FromSoftware and George R.R. Martin teaming up? Sound’s mental but it’s real. They are working together to create the dark fantasy RPG Elden Ring. Chances are that will be the highlight of their segment.

GameSpot Play for All Showcase is the penultimate event, GameSpot is partnering with The Mix to highlight 20 games that were “created by diverse teams that aim to speak to important themes, create uplifting experiences, or explore subject matter that is often missing from big-budget titles”. Sounds interesting to me.

Finally, the last show is of course the E3 2021 Awards.

All in all, it looks like E3 is going to be rather impressive this year, despite the limitations everyone is facing with regulations and whatnot. I suspect we will still get some classic E3 moments, such as technical difficulties and questionable choices made by the hosts. I’m going to try and keep up with everything this year, but only watch a few of the live streams. 

E3 2021, bring it on!