E3 will look a bit different this year thanks to its all-digital format but that doesn't mean it will be any less exciting or informative. Concerns about the global pandemic forced the yearly event to shutter its doors rather abruptly in 2020, leaving players with a watered-down version of the massive trade show they'd come to know and love. The cancellation marked the first time the Electronic Entertainment Expo wouldn't proceed as planned since it was first held in 1995.

Fast-forward to this year, 2021, and E3 is proceeding as planned, albeit in a much different capacity. The same concerns have kept E3 from holding a physical event, but the team behind the trade show has worked hard remotely to put together a digital-only show that promises just as much hype as years past, with developers lined up to present game-hungry players with mountains of content to look forward to.

With so many developer streams going on and games being announced, the E3 experience can seem overwhelming to first-time-viewers. The following guide can help gamers get a better grip on which developers are presenting, what games have been announced, and some of the biggest news from this year's trade show.

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The Full E3 Schedule And Where To Watch

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Where To Watch E3

There are a lot of ways to get in on the E3 action this year, with the trade show taking to multiple websites to stream its live content. While some companies will be also broadcasting their conferences via their own streaming platforms, gamers can use any of the following links (on the websites of their choice) to watch along during all the festivities:

Thanks to E3's preparations and all-digital push for 2021's event, the general public can register for the event via a revamped online Web Portal & App. Registration is currently open, allowing fans to get their credentials, and access will officially open up on June 12th. The E3 online experience will give gamers access to profile & avatar creation, forums, video conferencing, hosted events, "virtual booths," and more.

Players can expect to see a wide array of studios at E3, with many unveiling new and exciting products to look forward to in the near future. Here's a glimpse at the entire E3 schedule, including sites that will be streaming the events:

Thursday, June 10th

Saturday, June 12th

Sunday, June 13th

Monday, June 14th

Tuesday, June 15th

Everything Announced (So Far) At E3 2021

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Fans have come to expect some massive announcements from E3 in the past and E3 2021 is no different. Whether it's highly-anticipated releases dropping during the Holiday season, new and exciting IPs, or surprise remasters and Indie titles, E3 is four days worth of spectacular announcements that are sure to get any player hyped. With all the news breaking and rumors swirling, it's easy to miss out on certain announcements. Here's a look at everything announced from E3 2021.

World Premieres - AAA

World Premieres - Indie

New Gameplay Trailers & Footage

New Hardwaret

Everything Else

The Biggest News Stories From E3 2021

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Some developers and publishers are just as anxious for E3 as their fans. The trade show is often considered the premier platform to show off new and exciting tech, trends, and immersive experiences in the wide world of gaming. Because of this, some companies will save their biggest, best, and most jaw-dropping news for each year's presentation. Fans can expect four days filled with enticing information and exciting news stories.

Here's a look at some of the most eye-opening stories from E3 2021:

The Big Three (And Other Major Players)

Microsoft

Microsoft's dedicated event will take place on Sunday, June 13th at 10 AM PST. Players can expect to see a slew of Xbox announcements as well as some projects from big-name publishers and developers. According to reports, Microsoft is planning to hold an Xbox and Bethesda Showcase, after the tech giant acquired the well-known developer in 2020. Bethesda was already hard at work developing the highly-anticipated Elder Scrolls 6 prior to the acquisition, as well as a new IP with Starfield.

RELATED: What to Expect From Starfield at E3 2021

Nintendo

Nintendo's dedicated event will take place on Tuesday, June 15th at 9 AM PST. Gamers familiar with Nintendo's bright, colorful, and exciting Nintendo Direct reveals are in for a treat. Although we don't have any concrete information on exactly what Nintendo will unveil, some of the company's bigger projects include; The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2, Splatoon 3, Pokemon Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl, Bayonetta 3, and Metroid Prime 4. Players are also hoping to get a better look at the gameplay and mechanics featured in the upcoming RPG adventure Pokemon Legends: Arceus, even though the game is currently slotted for an early 2022 release.

There have also been swirling rumors about Nintendo's Switch Pro (Super Nintendo Switch?) for months now. E3 offers up the perfect opportunity for the video game giant to hype fans for the new hardware.

RELATED: Every Pre-E3 Nintendo Switch Pro Rumor So Far

Sony

Sony dropped from E3 2019 and instead opted to host its own semi-often event called State of Play (similar to Nintendo Direct). This trend looks to continue in 2021 with the massive developer and publisher once again pushing away from the stage at E3 and building up their own event. We won't see PlayStation in an official capacity at this year's trade show but we can still expect to see some AAA releases teased for the console from other developers and publishers.

RELATED: Why Does Sony Continue to Skip E3?

Valve & Steam

PC players will likely see some love from many of the studios showcasing at E3 but, sadly, Valve will not be attending the show this year, at least not in an "official capacity." Thankfully, the Steam platform will be hosting its own event a day after the trade show concludes. Steam Next Fest will take place on Wednesday, June 16th at 10 AM PST and promises to showcase a wide array of upcoming Steam releases as well as future projects.

RELATED: Summer Steam Game Festival Renamed Steam Next Fest

Rumors & Other Information From E3 2021

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A lot of developers try their hardest to hold their composure and keep an air-tight lid on any development progress for new and upcoming games. That doesn't stop the rumor mill from churning 24/7 and gamers are always hungry to learn everything and anything they can about projects that excite them.

E3 is a developer's opportunity to finally let loose and show the world all the hard work they've been doing behind the scenes, without having to worry about accidentally revealing too much information about a particular game. But E3 itself can also be an epicenter for new rumors and exciting what-ifs. New information leads to new possibilities and each new grain of information from a particular studio only helps to fuel the hype fires for fans.

Here's a look at all of the interesting rumors starting to spread from E3 2021:

Which Games Will Not Be At E3?

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E3 2021 might be one of the biggest events in the gaming calendar, but that does not mean every studio will be using the trade show to present their games. As Sony will not be taking part this year, first-party titles such as Horizon Forbidden West, the next God of War title, and Gran Turismo 7 will naturally miss out. Some other companies have also confirmed that they will not be showcasing certain games. Here are the major non-Sony projects that are not expected to appear or have significant presences at E3 2021 :

What Games Are Coming Out In 2021?

A lot of fans are anxious to see what games will be unveiled at E3, with many companies likely dropping AAA titles and highly anticipated releases later this year. Keeping up with all of the "games going gold," release dates shifting, and updated development news can be difficult. To make things much easier to follow and to keep tabs on all of the best titles coming out this year, and in the near future, be sure to check out the handy release schedules below.

NEXT: E3 2021 and All the Other Big Gaming Events in June