E3 2021’s Digital Show Will Be Free For All

While we still don’t quite know how E3 2021 will turn out, we’re relieved to start hearing official details about the event. On April 1st, the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) tweeted out that the digital event will be completely free.

The announcement comes as a response to an article published by VGC, in which multiple sources claimed that the “event organizer had pitched plans to charge a fee for some of 2021’s planned content.” Several sources claimed that content such as on-demand game demos or a “premium” event package were proposed to be locked behind a paywall. According to the article, one source suggested that a $35 price tag for the “premium” package had been pitched to publishers.

Shortly after the VGC published the article, the ESA officially announced that E3 2021’s digital show would be free for all attendees.

E3’s 2021 digital show is a free event for all attendees. We’re excited to fill you in on all the real news for the event very soon. https://t.co/HzTzaQEosx

— E3 (@E3) April 1, 2021

It remains unclear whether or not E3 2021 will also have a physical event or if it will completely transition to a digital show. We won’t have to wait too much longer for an answer, however, as the ESA says we’ll receive more details “very soon.”

The ESA has been under pressure to adapt to the Covid-19 climate. Previous pitch documents that leaked earlier this year indicated that the event organizer would be shifting their focus away from an in-person event. While bits and pieces of information about the event’s transition to a digital broadcast have been leaked, its exact structure remains unknown. We’re still unsure of what to expect out of E3 2021. While the ESA is determined to continue the event later this year, publishers such as Microsoft and Valve are looking to compete with showcases of their own.

It’s looking to be sink or swim for E3, but hopefully, the event will be able to bounce back stronger than ever this year.