E3 2021: Dates, News, Announcements, Rumors, and Everything Else to Know

E3 is an annual event sponsored by the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) for software developers, hardware manufacturers, and video game publishers. The event is sort of like the gaming industry's answer to CES (an annual consumer electronics event); hundreds of exhibitors with new and upcoming products show off game demos, host presentations, and showcase the latest in video game, and innovative technologies over several days.

What Are the Dates for the Next E3?

This year's event will be held June 12 - 15, 2021. It's expected to occur in Los Angeles.

This year, organizers are planning to turn the event into a more fan-friendly show and encourage celebrity gamers and social media influencers to attend in order to expand the event beyond just industry attendees.

Predictions: Which Products Will Be Announced?

Since the event is still six months out, not much is know about the products that will be displayed or launched, nor which manufacturers will decide to participate. If the 2019 event is any indication, however, it's reasonable to expect some surprises.

That year, for example, Nintendo made a splash at the end of the show with a timing announcement for Animal Crossing and a reveal of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. There are whispers that the hotly anticipated Nintendo Switch Pro could be announced at this year's event.

Sony, too, is typically a noisemaker at the event although it did not make host a PlayStation E3 2019 conference. After a two year absence, it's likely that the company will provide updates on upcoming games and, while unlikely to make a full-on launch announcement, it might even throw some teasers regarding the rumored PSVR 2. One can dream, right?

Microsoft announced the Xbox Series X/S as 'Project Scarlett' at E3 2019; expect the company to use the 2021 event to further entice gamers to its platforms. Google, too, should be looking to stir things up for Google Stadia and YouTube Gaming plus it's probable that Amazon will jump into the fray with Amazon Luna-related announcements, too.

Prolific game-maker Ubisoft is also expected to make a variety of new game announcements, as are other, smaller video game companies. So, overall, E3 2021 should be a jam-packed event for gaming fans.

How to Stream and Watch E3

The 2021 event is still a bit of an unknown. The ESA has promised a virtual event unlike any other in response to COVID-19 limitations but little else is known about how the event will actually unfold. Keep an eye on this space; we'll update streaming details here as soon as they become available.

The Latest E3 and Other Gaming News

You can always get your gaming news fix at Lifewire but here are a few headlines that might interest you, too.

We'll be back with more news (and a few rumors) as the event develops; stay tuned!