E3 2021 is being planned as an online event

E3 will return, albeit in a greatly altered fashion.

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What you need to know

E3 2020 was canceled after the initial outbreak of the global pandemic but the Entertainment Software Association appears to be working to bring the conference back in a digital format. After a report fromVGCthat indicated the ESA was looking at bringing back E3 as a digital event,Rock Paper Shotgunconfirmed the news via a statement from the ESA.

“We can confirm that we are transforming the E3 experience for 2021 and will soon share exact details on how we’re bringing the global video game community together.“We are having great conversations with publishers, developers and companies across the board, and we look forward to sharing details about their involvement soon.”

According to VGC, at least one unnamed publisher has told the ESA that it plans to hold its own digital showcase separate from the plans for E3 2021. The ESA is reportedly having “great conversations” with other publishers but no names have been mentioned as yet.

After E3 2019, the ESA had a massive data breach that resulted in thousands of E3 attendees having their personal information leaked, which had little public pushback andfew consequences.

As a result of the global pandemic that and lack of E3 in 2020, publishers spread out across the summer months and beyond, with near-innumerable different events, reveals and presentations, all of which culminating in a digital showcase for theGame Awards 2020.

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Samuel Tolbert is a freelance writer covering gaming news, previews, reviews, interviews and different aspects of the gaming industry, specifically focusing on Xbox and PC gaming on Windows Central. You can find him on Twitter@SamuelTolbert.