Electronic Arts (EA) has announced when their next EA Play Live event will take place; the week after E3 2021.
The announcement came with little fan-fair, or even a press release. A single tweet from EA’s official Twitter account notes that the next EA Play Live event will premiere July 22nd. This will most likely be done through YouTube and Twitch.
The rumored Battlefield 6 is likely to be shown at this event, especially with the series’ official Twitter account hinting at a June announcement. “Words that rhyme with Soon:,” the tweet read, followed by “June” and “Boom.”
The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) previously announced the dates for the “reimagined, all-virtual” E3 2021 will take place from June 12th to June 15th. Early commitments include Nintendo, Xbox, Capcom, Ubisoft, Square Enix, Take-Two Interactive, Warner Bros. Games, and Koch Media.
Other attendees confirmed later included Sega, Bandai Namco, XSEED Games, Marvelous, Gearbox Entertainment, Verizon, Freedom Games, Devious Eye Entertainment, Turtle Beach, and Binge.com. While Konami were initially reported as attending, they later announced they would be skipping E3 2021 as they were “in deep development on a number of key projects.”
Along with developers showing their latest news and games, the ESA once-again emphasized the event would be free for everyone. This follows initial reports that the event was to have paywalled content.
Valve also recently announced the dates of the next Steam Game Festival, now renamed the Steam Next Fest, as June 16th to 22nd. Summer Games Fest organizer and host Geoff Keighly also announced the date for the 2021 event; the same month as E3 2021. It is possible we may see some EA titles during this time.
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.
Before being effectively cancelled twice thanks to the pandemic, planning documents for E3 2020 had leaked online (utilizing influencers, celebrities, and “The Power of Social Good”), 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.
Do you think EA are right to announce their major titles outside of E3? Sound off in the comments below!
