We've known for a while now that the ESA is planning a digital version of E3 for 2021. Now, we know when the event will be taking place, although it still needs the backing of some major publishers. 

The ESA is currently planning to hold a digital E3 between the 15th and 17th of June. According to documents seen by VGC, the ESA has pitched a live-streaming schedule to publishers, with plans for keynote sessions, a preview night, an awards show as well as separate streams from ‘influencers' and individual publishers.

However, the ESA does still need the backing of multiple publishers for its ‘multiple hour-long' keynote streams. It seems unlikely that Sony will return to E3 this year and most game publishers moved to other shows or set up their own digital announcement events in 2020, so it is unknown which publishers will show up.

Microsoft has held its own keynote across the road from E3 for a couple of years now, but Xbox head, Phil Spencer, still believes E3 is important for the industry, so perhaps we'll see Xbox return to the E3 line-up in digital form.

KitGuru Says: Last year felt very odd for game reveals, with many little events and info drops taking place over many months. This has led to many missing the buzz and excitement of an expansive event like E3, so hopefully its grand return later this Summer is worth the wait. 

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