E3 2021: Everything we know about the all-digital gaming convention
E3 2021 marked the first time the long-running gaming expo attempted a fully digital format after the 2020 edition was canceled due to COVID-19. The shift reflected broader industry changes that had already begun before the pandemic, with major publishers running their own online events. What started as a temporary adaptation eventually revealed deeper structural problems for the central expo model.
What are E3 events?
E3 operated annually from 1995 until its permanent cancellation by the ESA in December 2023. The event served as the industry’s primary showcase for new hardware and software, drawing publishers, press, and fans to Los Angeles each June. It functioned as both a trade show for business deals and a cultural moment for gamers. The ESA positioned E3 as a neutral space where competing companies could present under one roof, though that balance grew harder to maintain as individual studios built their own direct-to-consumer presentations.
E3 2021
The final participant list included Microsoft, Nintendo, Ubisoft, Capcom, Take-Two, Warner Bros., Bandai Namco, Square Enix and others. EA and Sony were absent from major showcases. The event occurred June 12–15 2021 as a free virtual broadcast. Geoff Keighley focused on Summer Game Fest, which continued as a leading annual showcase. Without the usual convention floor energy, coverage relied on hosted streams and pre-recorded segments. The format removed travel barriers for international viewers but also removed the spontaneous moments that defined earlier years.
What Happened at E3 2021
Event ran June 12-15 2021 with livestreams hosted by Greg Miller, Jacki Jing, and others. Nintendo showcased Metroid Dread and Breath of the Wild 2 footage among other titles. Reception was described as mixed with less overall excitement than prior years. Some announcements landed well, yet the absence of several major players left noticeable gaps. The virtual setup allowed broader access but struggled to replicate the collective anticipation that came from crowded halls and live reactions.
The Rise of Summer Game Fest
Keighley left E3 in 2020 and launched Summer Game Fest as an online trailer-focused event. By 2026 Summer Game Fest is widely viewed as the primary June showcase period for the industry. It includes both digital presentations and limited in-person press elements. The event filled the space left by E3’s decline by emphasizing curated trailers and developer interviews over large-scale exhibitions. Its flexibility allowed it to adapt year to year without depending on a single organizing body.
Why E3 Came to an End
E3 2022 and 2023 were canceled due to insufficient publisher participation. ESA announced permanent closure in December 2023 after more than two decades. Decline traced to major publishers shifting to independent digital events. Once companies realized they could reach audiences directly, the value of a shared central expo diminished. The 2021 virtual edition tested whether a remote format could sustain interest, but it could not reverse the momentum already moving toward separate showcases.
Legacy of the 2021 Virtual Format
Free public access increased global reach but lacked the energy of in-person crowds. Major reveals still occurred but overall buzz was lower than traditional E3. The model influenced subsequent industry showcases even after E3 ended. Later events adopted hybrid approaches that combined live streams with selective in-person elements, borrowing from the 2021 experiment while avoiding its limitations. The shift underscored how audience habits had changed, favoring on-demand viewing over scheduled convention attendance.
The 2021 edition remains a useful case study for how an established industry ritual adapted under pressure and ultimately could not survive the larger transition to decentralized digital presentations. Its cancellation closed a chapter that had shaped gaming coverage for nearly thirty years.
