E3 has historically been the biggest gaming news event each year, with major companies using the show to reveal their upcoming games to the world and generate buzz. An E3 event took place every year since 1996 until 2020, when E3 2020 was canceled due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. And while the COVID-19 pandemic seems to be finally winding down, E3 is not hosting an in-person convention this year, instead opting for an all-digital event.
While E3 2021 will be an all-digital event, it should still prove to be a huge time for gamers and the gaming industry at large. And the thing is, E3 isn't the only big event that is scheduled to take place in June. There are numerous other E3-adjacent events that will be happening next month, and all together, they should ensure that gamers have plenty of world premiere trailers, big reveals, and shocking announcements to look forward to.
Here are all the big gaming events currently announced for June 2021, including E3 2021. The events are listed in chronological order, with the exception of the E3 2021-specific events.
E3 2021
- Ubisoft - June 12 at 12pm PT
- Xbox/Bethesda - June 13 at 10am PT
Before getting into the various other events taking place in June, it's worth pointing out the E3 2021 schedule as it is so far. As it stands, most of the companies participating in E3 2021 haven't actually revealed their plans in terms of presentations or showcases, with the exception of Ubisoft and Microsoft. Ubisoft is so far the earliest company presenting at E3 at the time of this writing, with a Ubisoft Forward event taking place on June 12 at 12pm PT.
Microsoft will then host an event on June 13 at 10am PT, where it is expected to announce new games for its next-generation Xbox Series X console. Microsoft has a lot of games in active development as Xbox console exclusives, so this event should be huge for Xbox owners. It will also be something worth tuning in to for fans of Bethesda's games as well, as it's been confirmed that Microsoft and Bethesda will have a joint presentation at E3 this year due to Microsoft's acquisition of Bethesda's parent company ZeniMax Media.
While Ubisoft and Microsoft are the only companies that have shown their hands so far in regards to E3 2021, many others are confirmed to have a presence at the show in some capacity. Nintendo will be hosting an E3 2021 Nintendo Direct, while Square Enix and Warner Bros. Interactive are also expected to have presentations. Other companies confirmed to participate are Bandai Namco, Sega, Take-Two Interactive, and a handful of others. Whether or not they will all have their own dedicated press conferences or if some of their announcements will be looped in with others is unclear.
Summer Game Fest
E3 2020's cancellation left a void in the video game industry last year, and The Game Awards host Geoff Keighley moved quick to fill it. Keighley introduced the Summer Game Fest event last year, using it as a way to announce new video games throughout the summer months. Even though E3 is returning for 2021, Keighley is bringing Summer Game Fest back, starting with a special keynote presentation on June 10 at 11am PT. Keighley has said that the event will be roughly two hours long and feature about 12 video game announcements or so. Of course, Keighley didn't reveal what those game announcements would be, so those curious should definitely make it a point to tune in.
It has been confirmed that PlayStation will be involved with Summer Game Fest instead of E3. However, that doesn't necessarily mean that PlayStation will have a presence during the Summer Game Fest kickoff event on June 10. It's entirely possible that is in reference to a PlayStation State of Play or something along those lines that's scheduled for later in the summer as part of Summer Game Fest, but again, that has yet to be clarified.
Koch Primetime
The exact date of the PlayStation presentation during Summer Game Fest may not be known to the public yet, but we do know that Koch Media will be hosting the Koch Primetime event for Summer Game Fest on June 11 at 12pm PT. Koch Media is the publisher of games like Dead Island and Saints Row, so fans of those franchises have their fingers crossed for some big reveals in June, but they'll just have to wait and see what's actually showcased.
IGN Expo
On June 11 at 1pm PT, gaming media site IGN will be hosting the IGN Expo event. IGN Expo is not expected to be quite on the scale of some of the other events that are going to be taking place in June, but it will still be host to new game reveals and announcements.
Wholesome Games
On June 12 at 10am PT, Wholesome Games will be hosting an event focused on indie titles in the form of the Wholesome Direct. Originally, the Wholesome Direct was supposed to take place in May, but it was pushed back to June 12 for unclear reasons. Indie gaming enthusiasts will definitely want to mark their calendars and make sure to tune in if they want to see new indie game announcements.
Devolver Digital
Devolver Digital has made a reputation for itself these past few years for having especially bizarre presentations. Even if Devolver Digital showcases don't include the biggest game reveals, they are almost always entertaining and full of meme-worthy moments. Devolver Digital has not nailed down a specific time for its presentation on June 12 at the time of this writing, but more information should come to light in the days ahead.
Limited Run Games
Limited Run Games is known for releasing physical copies of games that would otherwise be digital-only. And as the name of the company implies, these games are only available in limited quantities. Limited Run Games will be hosting its own E3-adjacent presentation on June 14 at 1pm PT, where it is expected to pull the curtain back on digital games that it will be publishing physical versions of in the months ahead. Whether or not this includes brand new game announcements is unclear, however.
Steam Next Fest
The Steam Game Festival has become an E3 tradition, but it's getting a makeover for 2021. From June 16 to June 22, Valve will be hosting the Steam Next Fest, where the company will be hosting numerous video game demos on Steam. Since E3 is not going to be an in-person event this year, Steam Next Fest may very well be one of the only ways fans will have to try some of these newly announced games before they launch.
EA Play
While EA has not participated in E3 itself for years now, it has still hosted adjacent showcases during E3 season. This year it's a little different as EA is not hosting its EA Play presentation during E3 week, and in fact, it's not hosting it in June at all. Instead the EA Play event for 2021 will take place on July 22, at an undetermined time during the day. With Dragon Age 4 and a new Mass Effect game in development at BioWare, not to mention the upcoming Battlefield 6, this year's EA Play event has potential to be especially exciting for the company's games. EA fans will have to wait a little bit longer than everyone else, but hopefully the wait is worth it.