E3 2021: Dates, Schedule, Participants, Showcases, How To Watch, And More
The most highly-anticipated gaming showcase of the year was sorely missed in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but now E3 is returning for a 2021 digital show which promises to deliver exciting trailers and announcements online, including hosting company-ran events.
E3 2021 will be different to the traditional event, with publishers hosting their own event under the E3 umbrella.
With plenty of excitement building, E3 2021 is not to be missed.
When Is E3 2021?
E3 2021 will take place over four days, from Saturday, June 12 to Tuesday, June 15, and will include conference-style presentations from all the big names in gaming.
E3 2021 Schedule
Here are the confirmed events of E3 2021.
E3 2021 - June 12
Ubisoft Foward - 8pm BST/12pm PT/3pm ET
Ubisoft Forward will continue its announcements and reveals in this online showcase.
Wholesome Direct - 6pm BST/10am PT/1pm ET
Wholesome Direct will showcase 75 upcoming indie games that are "wholesome".
The Guerilla Collective - 4pm BST/8am PT/11am ET
More indie games, including hosting the stream for Black Voices in Gaming.
E3 2021 - June 13
PC Gaming Show - TBD
More PC games coming in 2021 and beyond.
Future Games Show - TBD
Great game reveals!
Xbox and Bethesda Games Showcase - 6pm BST/10am PT/1pm ET
Showcasing the games coming to Xbox in 2021, with rumoured information being revealed about Starfield and Halo Infinite, plus other unannounced titles.
Square Enix Presents - 8.15pm BST/12.15pm PT/15.15pm ET
Marvel's Avengers, Babylon's Fall, and Life Is Strange: True Colors will feature.
Warner Bros Games - TBD
Expect info on WB published games such as Back 4 Blood.
E3 2021 - June 14
Capcom - TBD
Details on Capcom's upcoming projects, which may include Resident Evil Village DLCs.
Take-Two Interactive - TBD
Take-Two will likely discuss GTA and Red Dead updates, but fingers crossed for GTA6 news.
Freedom Games - 8.30pm BST/12:30pm PT/15.30pm ET
Several upcoming games from Freedom Games will be revealed and discussed.
Razer Keynote - 11pm BST/3pm PT/6pm ET
Razer's keynote event will reveal new and exciting products.
E3 2021 - June 15
Nintendo Direct + Treehouse Live - 5pm BST/9am PT/12pm ET
Focused almost solely on Nintendo Switch software, "mostly releasing in 2021", Treehouse Live will then follow up with three hours of gameplay footage.
Bandai Namco - TBD
Tune in for a look at Bandai Namco's upcoming Tales of Arise and Scarlet Nexus.
Who's attending E3 2021?
E3 is a hotbed of hype, and most companies wait until the prestigious event to announce new games and releases. Based on previous E3 events, and announcements for 2021, the following companies will appear throughout E3 2021.
- Activision Publishing, Inc.
- Amazon Game Studios
- Bad Button Studio
- BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc.
- Bethesda Softworks
- Capcom USA, Inc.
- Click Entertainment
- DvG
- Deep Silver, Inc.
- Epic Games Inc.
- Funcom
- GAMELOFT
- GFUEL
- GTR Simulator
- GungHo Online Entertainment America
- HORI USA
- Hyperkin, Inc.
- Kalypso Media Group
- KontrolFreek
- Limited Run Games
- LGA Enterprises
- NCSOFT
- nDreams
- NEXT LEVEL RACING
- Nintendo of America Inc.
- NVIDIA
- PureArts
- Oculus from Facebook
- RDS Industries Inc.
- Rebellion
- SEGA
- Square Enix, Inc.
- Take-Two Interactive Software
- Tastemakers
- TECHNISPORT
- THQ Nordic
- Ubisoft Entertainment SA
- UnnamedVR by Paracosma
- Warner Bros. Games
- Xbox
- XSEED Games
- Xsolla
IS E3 2021 Free to watch?
In the run-up to this 2020's E3, VGC reported that a paywall system could be put in place to watch the event online, but E3 quashed that rumour by confirming that the 2021 event would be free for all who wanted to attend and watch the showcase.
How To Watch E3 2021
E2 2021 will feature an 'online portal' service for viewers to watch the show, as well as a 'supporting mobile app'. E3 will also be streaming on 'other major video platforms' such as YouTube and Twitch.
E3 2021 Anticipated Games
E3 is the home of the reveal, and new releases bide their time until this yearly event so they can make a splash with their announcements. There are a few games rumoured to be revealed at E3 2021.
- Fable 4
- Starfield
- Avowed
- Beyond Good & Evil 2
- BioShock 4
- Battlefield 6
- Gotham Knights
- Elden Ring
Whatever happens at E3 2021, it's sure to be huge, so make sure you tune in from June 12 to catch all the action.
Images via E3