E3 2021
The Electronic Entertainment Experience 2021 was the 26th and final E3, during which hardware manufacturers, software developers, and publishers from the video game industry presented new and upcoming products. The event, organized by the Entertainment Software Association, ran as a virtual, online-only event with free access to all, from June 12–15, 2021.
Virtual events included keynote sessions from major publishers broadcast from a live stage in Los Angeles, an awards show, and a preview night, as well as helping companies to hold online private meetings with media and businesses. Because of the online-only nature, the event had been rebranded for the year as the Electronic Entertainment Experience rather than the standard Electronic Entertainment Expo. Greg Miller, Jacki Jing, and Alex "Goldenboy" Mendez served as hosts of the virtual events.
E3 2021 followed the cancelled E3 2020 event due to the COVID-19 pandemic and after the ESA could not work out a replacement event in time. The ESA had intended to hold an in person event in 2021 during its normal June dates, as stated to partners in April 2020, but had to alter their plans due to COVID-19 concerns. E3 2021 was free for everyone to attend. While the 2021 event was entirely online, ESA planned to return to an in-person event by 2022, though these plans were scrapped and the in-person event was cancelled in January 2022, and E3 2022 was cancelled altogether on March 31, 2022, including the digital event. In July 2022, it was confirmed that E3 2023 would mark a return to the in-person event. However, the lack of interest and attendance of major publishers caused the event to be cancelled as well, leading to the announcement of the event's official discontinuation in December 2023.
Companies that participated at the event included Nintendo, Microsoft, Capcom, Ubisoft, Take-Two Interactive, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, Koch Media, Square Enix, Sega, Gearbox Software, Bandai Namco Entertainment, Turtle Beach, Verizon, and Xseed Games. Konami had planned to participate but announced later they would not be ready to present at E3 as they were deep into development on several projects which they would reveal at a later time.
Online events
To host the online event, the ESA offered a mobile app and online portal to the public. Members of the media and press had access to this app and portal on June 7, for a media access week prior to the event. The public obtained access on June 12. The app and portal were used for accessing game showcases, developer panels, and press conferences, with some of this content also mirrored onto streaming services. Members of the media were able to register for access starting on May 24, while industry professionals and creators and influencers were able to register on May 31. General members of the public were able to register on June 3.Press conferences
Ubisoft
Ubisoft livestreamed its Ubisoft Forward E3 video event on June 12, 2021, at 12 p.m. PDT. Games covered during the event included Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Extraction, Rocksmith+, Riders Republic, Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Siege, Assassin's Creed: Valhalla, Just Dance 2022, Far Cry 6, Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope, and Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora.Gearbox Software
Gearbox Software held its E3 spotlight on June 12, 2021, at 2 p.m. PDT., providing more info on Tiny Tina's Wonderlands, Godfall, Homeworld 3, Tribes of Midgard and a look at the Borderlands film.Microsoft/Bethesda
Microsoft and Bethesda Softworks held a joint press conference on June 13, 2021, at 10 a.m. PDT. Games presented included Starfield, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2, Back 4 Blood, Contraband, Sea of Thieves, Battlefield 2042, 12 Minutes, Psychonauts 2, Fallout 76, The Elder Scrolls Online, Party Animals, Hades, Somerville, Halo Infinite, Diablo II Resurrected, A Plague's Tale: Requiem, Far Cry 6, Slime Rancher 2, Atomic Heart, Replaced, Grounded, Among Us, Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes, The Ascent, The Outer Worlds 2, Microsoft Flight Simulator, Forza Horizon 5 and Redfall.Square Enix
Square Enix held a press event on June 13, 2021, at 12:15 p.m. PDT. Games announced included Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy, remasters of Final Fantasy I through Final Fantasy VI, Legend of Mana, Marvel's Avengers, Babylon's Fall, Life Is Strange Remastered Collection, Life Is Strange: True Colors, and Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin.PC Gaming Show
PC Gamer presented its PC Gaming Show event on June 13, 2021, at 2:30 p.m. PDT. Among games featured included:ArboriaChernobyliteCitizen SleeperDodgeball AcademiaDying Light 2: Stay HumanFar: Changing TidesGigabashGloomwoodIcarusIxionLakeburg LegaciesLemnis GateMechajammerNaraka: BladepointNext Space RebelsOrcs Must Die 3Project Warlock 2RawmenSacrifireSiltSongs of ConquestSoulsticeThey Always RunTinykinVampire: The Masquerade - Swansong- ''WarTales''
Capcom
Capcom's E3 presentation was given on June 14, 2021, at 2:30 p.m. PDT. Games presented included Resident Evil Village, Resident Evil RE:Verse, Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin, Monster Hunter Rise, ''The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles, and Street Fighter V.''Nintendo
Nintendo held a Nintendo Direct for E3 on the final day of the convention, June 15, 2021, at 9 a.m. PDT, followed by a three-hour-long Nintendo Treehouse Live show about titles discussed in the Nintendo Direct. Games included Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Life Is Strange, Life Is Strange: True Colors, Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy, Worms Rumble, Astria Ascending, Two Point Campus, Super Monkey Ball: Banana Mania, Mario Party Superstars, Metroid Dread, Just Dance 2022, Cruis'n Blast, Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot, Mario Golf: Super Rush, Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin, WarioWare: Get It Together!, Shin Megami Tensei V, Danganronpa Decadance, Fatal Frame: Maiden of Black Water, Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope, Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp, Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity, The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD, and the sequel to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Nintendo also announced a limited edition Game & Watch for the Zelda series for its 35th anniversary that included the original Zelda game, Zelda II: The Adventure of Link, and Link's Awakening.Best of E3 Awards
Editors from IGN, GameSpot, PC Gamer, and GamesRadar+ collectively decided on the Best of E3 Awards on June 15, 2021. Among their picks, Forza Horizon 5 was named as the Most Anticipated Game overall, with the Microsoft and Bethesda event as the Best Presentation.Featured games
This is a list of notable titles that appeared by their developers or publishers at E3 2021.Other events
Guerrilla Collective
The Guerrilla Collective, a group of indie game developers and publishers, held a two-day showcase of new game announcements over June 5 and June 12, 2021.Games announced during the two-day event included:Aeon Drive AK-xolotl Akatori Among Us ANNO: Mutationem Aragami 2 Arcade Paradise Archvale Arietta of Spirits Batora: Lost Haven Bats the Game Beasts of Maravilla Island Behind the Frame Black Book Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night Blooming Business: Casino BPM: Bullets Per Minute Chernobylite Death Trash Demon's Mirror Demon Turf Despot's Game El Paso, Elsewhere Elderand Endling The Eternal Cylinder Fire Tonight Firegirl Ghostrunner Grime Grow: Song of the Evertree Guild of Dungeoneering: Ultimate Edition Happy's Humble Burger Farm Hello Neighbor 2 Hunt the Night Industria King of the Hat Kitsune Tails Kraken Academy KungFu Kickball Lamentum Legend of Keepers: Return of the Goddess The Legend of TianDing The Light of The Darkness The Lightbringer Loot RiverMoroi My Lovely Wife Neverwinter No Longer Home Omno Onsen Master Potion Craft: Alchemist Simulator Raji: An Ancient Epic Rawmen: Food Fighter Arena Robodunk Rubi: The Wayward Mira Run Die Run Again SableSerial Cleaners Severed Steel Slime Heroes Source of Madness Super Space Club Tamarindos Freaking Dinner Tinkertown Trash Sailors Trifox Ultra Age UnMetal Venice 2089 Vertigo White Shadows Wolfstride Ynglet
- ''Zodiac Legion''
Summer Game Fest
Geoff Keighley's second Summer Game Fest kicked off around the same time as E3 2021 and will last two months, through Gamescom in August 2021, featuring a range of promotional events outside of E3. Though Keighley had already stepped away from participating in E3 2020 before its cancellation, he arranged the first Summer Game Fest as a replacement for the cancelled show. Sony and the PlayStation brand had announcements during this event, forgoing E3 as they have done so from previous years, instead opting to do a dedicated State of Play event for the summer on July 8, 2021. Announcements made during the event include:ArcadegeddonDeathloopDeath Stranding: Director's CutDemon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Hinokami ChroniclesF.I.S.T.Hunter's Arena: LegendsJett: The Far ShoreLost JudgmentMoss: Book IISifuTribes of MidgardFrom June 15–21, 2021, ID@Xbox offered a number of demos of upcoming games on the Xbox platform as part of the Summer Game Fest.
The Summer Game Fest opened with an announcement stream of games hosted by Keighley on June 10, 2021. Among titles presented include:Among UsThe AnacrusisBack 4 BloodCall of Duty: WarzoneThe Dark Pictures Anthology: House of AshesDeath Stranding Director's Cut Elden RingEscape from TarkovEvil Dead: The GameFall GuysJurassic World Evolution 2Lost ArkMetal Slug TacticsMonster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin Overwatch 2Planet of LanaSalt and SacrificeSolar AshTales of AriseTiny Tina's Wonderlands Two Point CampusValorantVampire: The Masquerade - Bloodhunt
The Summer Game Fest included the first Tribeca Games Spotlight on June 11, 2021, featuring games that had been nominated for the inaugural Tribeca Film Festival Video Game award. These games included:The Big ConHarold HalibutKena: Bridge of SpiritsLost in RandomNORCOSableSIGNALIS12 Minutes
Koch Media presented a showcase on June 11, 2021, at 12 p.m. PDT., as part of the Summer Game Fest. Alongside introducing their new publishing label, Prime Matter, Koch Media's presenting covered the following games:The ChantCodename Final FormCrossfire: LegionDolmanEchoes of the EndEncasedGungrave G.O.R.E.King's Bounty 2The Last OricruPainkiller 2Payday 3
- ''Scars Above''
IGN Expo
IGN held its IGN Expo event on June 11, 2021, at 1 p.m. PDT. Among featured games included:ArboriaAudioClash: Battle of the BandsBig Rumble Boxing: Creed ChampionsBlack SkylandsBramble: The Mountain KingBroken PiecesBlacktailChernobyliteCore KeeperDeath's Gambit: AfterlifeDisciples: LiberationDoki Doki Literature Club Plus!The Forgotten CityHaunted SpaceInkulinatiMartha Is DeadMortal ShellOlliOlli WorldSherlock Holmes: Chapter OneSifuSkateBirdSmiteSplitgateSteelrisingStreets of Rage 4Survival MachineTiny Tina's WonderlandsTwo Point CampusUnbound: Worlds ApartUnpackingWild West Dynasty- ''World War Z: Aftermath''
Wholesome Games
Wholesome Games held its Wholesome Direct event on June 12, 2021, at 10 a.m. PDT. It featured over 75 indie titles from small developers around the world.AlekonAmber IsleAPICOBattleCakesBear & BreakfastBeasts of Maravilla IslandBehind the FrameBird ProblemsBook of TravelsButton CityCat Cafe ManagerCat Designer MochaClawfishCloud Jumperco-openDordogneDreamland ConfectioneryFire TonightFloppy KnightsFossil CornerFreshly FrostedFrogsongGame Director StoryThe Garden PathGarden StoryThe Gecko GodsHere Comes NikoHoaHot Pot for OneKeyWeKokopa's AtlasKotodama DiaryKreatureKindLakeLego Builder's JourneyLetters: A Written AdventureA Little to the LeftLoddlenautLonefarmLuna's Fishing GardenThe Magnificent TrufflepigsMoonglow BayMoonshell IslandMythic OceanOobletsThe Outbound GhostParaLivesPasspartout 2: The Lost ArtistPekoePowerWash SimulatorPrincess FarmerPupperazziRainbow Billy: The Curse of the LeviathanRecolitRoboCoSallySeasonspreeShashingoSkateBIRDSnackoSoup PotSpirit SwapTasomachi: Behind the TwilightTeacupToodee and TopdeeTracks of ThoughtUnpackingVenbaA Walk With YiayiaWe Are OFKWitchery AcademyWitchy Life StoryWoodoWytchwood- ''Yokai Inn''
Devolver Digital
Devolver Digital held its presentation on June 12, 2021, at 1:30 p.m. PT. Games presented included Shadow Warrior 3, Trek to Yomi, Phantom Abyss, Wizard With a Gun, Death's Door, Inscryption, Devolver Tumble Time, and Demon Throttle. As with its recent presentations, the Devolver Digital continued to use the humor based on the character of Nina Struthers, this time presenting their new games as part of a new monetization scheme, the "Devolver MaxPass+". As part of the actual presentation, Devolver sold a single "NFT" copy - a "non-fuckwithable tape" rather than a non-fungible token - of the presentation which sold for, the funds going to the Scratch Foundation charity.UploadVR Showcase
UploadVR held a presentation focusing on virtual reality games on June 12, 2021. Among games featured in this presentation included:After the FallBlastonDemeoFrackedGreen HellI Expect You to Die 2: The Spy and the LiarIn Da HoopLarcenautsNerf Ultimate ChampionshipPistol WhipRhythm of the Universe: IoniaSam and Max: This Time it's VirtualSniper Elite VRSong in the SmokeA Township TaleTraffic JamsUnplugged- ''Waltz of the Wizard''
Limited Run Games
Limited Run Games held its annual #LRG3 event on June 14, 2021, at 1 p.m. PDT. It featured over 25 new announcements for games being published physically, including the 3DO game Plumbers Don't Wear Ties.Future Games Show
GamesRadar+ hosted its second Future Games Show on June 14, 2021, with hosts Troy Baker and Laura Bailey. Games featured during the presentation included:Batora Lost HavenChernobyliteConway: Disappearance at Dahlia ViewDeathRun TVDying Light 2: Stay HumanEldest SoulsEnlistedEsports Boxing ClubGrow: Song of the EvertreeGet Packed: Fully LoadedHappy GameHarold HalibutHell Let LooseImmortalityInstinctionJurassic World Evolution 2KeyweLakeMinute of IslandsOlliOlli WorldProject FerociousRed Solstice 2: SurvivorsSevered SteelSonic Colors UltimateStarmancerTails of IronTwo Point CampusWarcry ChallengesHooded Horse held its presentation on June 14, 2021. Games featured during the presentation included:Alliance of the Sacred SunsFalling Frontier
- ''Terra Invicta''
Freedom Games Showcase
Freedom Games held its first event on June 15, 2021. Games featured during the presentation included:Airborne KingdomAnuchardCat Cafe ManagerCoromonDark DeityDreamscaperMonster OutbreakOne Lonely OutpostSands of AuraSlaughter LeagueTo The Rescue!- ''Tower Rush''
Yooreka Studio
Yooreka Studio held its presentation on June 15, 2021. Games featured during the presentation included:Extremely Realistic Siege Warfare SimulatorThe Immortal MayorLoopmancerMetal MindMohismReshaping MarsThe Swordsmen X: Survival- ''Tales of Wild''
New Blood Interactive
New Blood Interactive held its presentation on June 16, 2021. Games featured during the presentation included:Amid EvilDusk 82Faith: The Unholy TrinityFallen AcesGloomwoodUltrakill- ''Unfortunate Spacemen''
Steam Next Fest
From June 16–22, 2021, Valve ran its Steam Next Fest, a rebranding of its prior Steam Game Festival which it first ran in 2019. During the event, Valve had hundreds of game demos available via the Steam platform along with livestreams with developers and selected game sales.EA Play
Electronic Arts had its separate EA Play event on July 22, 2021. Games shown off in the event included:Apex LegendsBattlefield 2042Battlefield: PortalDead Space FIFA 22Grid LegendsKnockout CityLost in RandomMadden NFL 22- ''The Sims 4''
Annapurna Interactive Showcase
Annapurna Interactive held its first event on July 29, 2021. Games shown off in the event included:The Artful EscapeGorogoaI Am DeadA Memoir BlueNeon WhiteOuter Wilds: Echoes of the EyeThe PathlessSkin DeepSolar AshStorytellerStrayTelling LiesFuture of Play Direct
GLITCH debuted its Future of Play Direct showcase on June 12, 2021. It featured 22 titles from developers around the world. The games included were: Aerial_Knight's Never YieldAmong UsAnodyne 2: Return to DustBomb Rush CyberfunkBravery Network OnlineChinatown Detective AgencyDome-King CabbageHellbentHyperDotKiller AutoLove ShoreRaddmintonSephonieShe Dreams ElsewhereSkullgirlsSoup PotSpirit SwapUmurangi GenerationUnbeatableWay To The WoodsThe Wild at Heart- ''Zodiac XX Leo Edition''