Summer Games Fest organizer and host Geoff Keighly has announced the date for the 2021 event; the same month as E3 2021.
Those interested can sign up via the official website for notifications and text alerts about event updates. Keighley had previously stated the show would be shorter and more condensed, based on criticism of the prior show. As such, it’ll be less than one month in length.
This is not the first time an event has been announced in the same month as E3 2021. Valve have announced the next Steam Game Festival, now renamed the Steam Next Fest, would take place the same week as E3 2021; June 16th to June 22nd.
As for E3 2021 itself, documents from the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) had previously leaked, with plans for a digital-focused or purely digital E3 2021. Those documents proposed the event would be live-streamed from June 15th to 17th. The event will also include multiple two-hour keynote sessions, award shows; and smaller streams from publishers, influences, and media partners.
Partner companies would also be allowed to remotely stream demos in “thousands” of meetings, with one-to-one assistance from developers. All of these proposals will need to be approved by the ESA’s members; made of the largest developers and publishers.
Recently the ESA denied reports that parts of the digital show would be paywalled. “E3’s 2021 digital show is a free event for all attendees,” the ESA tweeted. “We’re excited to fill you in on all the real news for the event very soon.”
Former Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aimé stated during an interview that the plans for E3 2021 “doesn’t sound that compelling;” and that someone else could usurp the event for their own. Fils-Aimé stated “If the ESA doesn’t figure out how to do this, someone else will,” possibly implying individuals such as Geoff Keighley and his Summer of Games.
Keighley had previously confirmed he would be skipping E3 2020 for the first time in 25 years. When asked on Twitter what fueled his decision not to participate, Keighley replied, “A ton of factors, I just don’t really feel comfortable participating given what I know about the show as of today.”
Before being effectively cancelled twice thanks to the pandemic, planning documents had leaked online, along with the public sneak peak of it being a “new and revitalized experience.” Creative production company iam8bit would later announce pulling out of the event, but this was when the pandemic was starting to take off.
Image: Summer Games Fest official website