Hyperbeamed via fibre-optic tech-tubes to the safety and coronavirus-free comfort of your home like it’s the future but it’s actually not because it’s now. Science!
Although most of E3 2021’s marquee events are scheduled between 12 and 15 June, there’s also a lot of pre-show events in the queue, so I’ve compiled this super convenient list of what’s what with bonus extra local broadcast times. LIKE A BOSS.
SUMMER GAME FEST @ 19:00
WHAT TO EXPECT
Hosted by Geoff Keighley, the Summer Game Fest is an ongoing event until 22 July, and features game content from over 30 publishers, including PlayStation and Xbox, and Netflix’s Geeked Week previews.
Watch it on YouTube.
KOCH PRIMETIME @ 21:00
WHAT TO EXPECT
Dunno! Koch Media’s subsidiaries include Deep Silver, though, so maybe a new Saints Row? Metro? Dead Island?
Watch it on this spooky website launched special for E3.
GUERRILLA COLLECTIVE @ 17:00
WHAT TO EXPECT
Guerrilla Collective is an indie game org, so… indie games, probably.
Watch it on Guerrilla Collective’s Twitch channel.
WHOLESOME DIRECT @ 19:00
WHAT TO EXPECT
Clue’s in the name, but according to the Wholesome Games website, this event includes “exclusive footage, developer interviews, and announcements from 70+ indie games”.
Watch it on Wholesome Games’ YouTube channel.
UBISOFT FORWARD @ 21:00
WHAT TO EXPECT
Far Cry 6 and Rainbow Six Extraction are two of the big ones, but Ubisoft has also confirmed news and updates about For Honor, Trackmania, The Crew 2, Brawlhalla, Watch Dogs: Legion, and Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. Maybe some Beyond Good & Evil 2? Maybe not.
Watch it on Ubisoft’s Twitch channel.
DEVOLVER DIGITAL @ 22:30
WHAT TO EXPECT
Devolver Digital is the class clown of game expos, so expect the unexpected. This week, the publisher announced South African indie studio Free Lives’ “reverse city builder” Terra Nil so that’s one prospect.
Watch it on Devolver Digital’s YouTube channel.
UPLOADVR SHOWCASE @ 00:00
WHAT TO EXPECT
You get one guess.
Watch it on Upload VR’s YouTube channel.
XBOX + BETHESDA GAMES SHOWCASE @ 19:00
WHAT TO EXPECT
Xbox and Bethesda’s debut co-op event features 90 minutes of “everything you want to know about the epic gaming lineup coming out of this partnership” and more.
SQUARE ENIX PRESENTS @ 21:15
WHAT TO EXPECT
According to the Square Enix blog, the premiere of Deus Ex studio Eidos-Montréal’s new game (oooooh!), plus news and updates about Babylon’s Fall, the Marvel’s Avengers expansion, Life is Strange: True Colors, Life is Strange: Remastered Collection, and more.
WARNER BROS. GAMES @ 23:00
WHAT TO EXPECT
Back 4 Blood. For reals, that’s it. For some reason, Warner Bros. Games management has made the provocative decision to show just one game.
PC GAMING SHOW @ 23:30
WHAT TO EXPECT
Also games, but with extra custom graphics options. According to PC Gamer, those games include Dying Light 2, EVE Online, Chivalry 2, and more. Plus, “big news” for fans of Orcs Must Die – but if it’s a mobile game, I’m going to be very upset.
FUTURE GAMES SHOW @ 01:00
WHAT TO EXPECT
Hosted by The Last of Us voice actors Laura Baily and Troy Baker, the Future Games Show promises “over 40 multi-format games with a mix of developer interviews, fresh gameplay and world premieres” from publishers including SEGA, Private Division, Team17, and XSEED Games.
TAKE-TWO INTERACTIVE @ 18:15
WHAT TO EXPECT
The mega-publisher is keeping it a secret for now, and if you even think it’s GTA 6, you’re gonna jinx it. I just jinxed it, didn’t I? Sorry, guys. Besides Rockstar, Take-Two’s expansive catalogue of subsidiaries and sub-subsidiaries (it’s complicated, yo) also includes 2K, which publishes BioShock games. We’ve been waiting since 2019 for some news about the next BioShock game, so this could be that. Or not.
CAPCOM @ 22:30
WHAT TO EXPECT
The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles, Monster Hunter Stories 2 and Monster Hunter Rise, and Resident Evil Village, according to the company’s preview video blurb.
RAZER @ 23:00
WHAT TO EXPECT
Hosted by Razer CEO Min-Liang Tan, the company’s E3 virtual show promises no less than “the future of gaming hardware“.
