E3 organiser not hosting an online event in 2020

The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) won’t be holding a digital version of E3 2020, it’s been confirmed.

This year’s E3 was officially cancelled in March amid concerns over the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

The ESA said at the time that it was “exploring options for an online E3 event” this summer, although that’s no longer the case.

“Given the disruption brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, we will not be presenting an online E3 2020 event in June,” an ESA spokesperson told PC Gamer. “Instead, we will be working with exhibitors to promote and showcase individual company announcements, including on www.E3expo.com, in the coming months.

“We look forward to bringing our industry and community together in 2021 to present a reimagined E3 that will highlight new offerings and thrill our audiences,” they added.

E3 2021 will reportedly take place from June 15-17, 2021.

Media outlet IGN announced on Friday that it will hold its own Summer of Gaming digital event during E3’s regular June slot. It will be collaborating with a number of partners for the event, including 2K, Square Enix, Sega, Bandai Namco, Amazon, Google Stadia, Twitter, Devolver Digital and THQ Nordic.

The event will include live broadcasts and on-demand programming, featuring publisher presentations and remote developer interviews.

A number of games publishers are set to hold their own online events in the absence of E3. Xbox will hold a digital event to replace its plans for the show, as will Devolver Digital and Limited Run Games.

Ubisoft has said it will “explore” the option of a replacement online event, while Nintendo has said it’s considering various ways to engage with its fans following E3’s cancellation.

Nintendo had planned to announce Super Mario 35th Anniversary plans at E3, including Switch remasters of Super Mario 64, Super Mario Sunshine and Super Mario Galaxy, VGC was recently told.

Warner Bros. Games also reportedly had big announcements scheduled for E3 including a new Batman title, an open-world Harry potter game, and the next project from Arkham developer Rocksteady Studios.