Tuesday, May 5, 2020

E3 2020 is cancelled - so here's where you'll see new PS5 and Xbox Series X games this year

E3 2020 is not happening, as the gaming expo has been cancelled due to coronavirus concerns. There was talk of the show's organizer, the ESA (Entertainment Software Association), hosting an online equivalent, but that idea has been scrapped too. So where will we see the biggest gaming announcements of the year now?

Well, for starters, The Game Awards host Geoff Keighley has created an event to gather the industry called Summer Game Fest, which aims to bring together 16 of the industry’s largest publishers from Microsoft and Sony to Activision, Valve, Bethesda and Blizzard in a four-month cavalcade of news, trailers and game demos. Summer Game Fest will partner with these publishers to release updates on current game projects and announce new titles across social media platforms. 

But, in addition to Summer Games Fest, publishers and developers have chosen to hold their own digital announcement streams in lieu of E3 2020. So, without one event to keep an eye on, we've rounded up all the biggest gaming showcases coming in the next few months along with their dates and times, what we expect to see at them, and how you can watch. 

Expect this list to grow with time, as Sony makes its own plans around the PS5's reveal public, and other publishers confirm their own plans to reveal PS5 and Xbox Series X games.

Read on to find out more.

Xbox 20/20 - every month until the end of 2020

Yep, Xbox is really going to stretch out its reveal of the upcoming Xbox Series X, with the company announcing Xbox 20/20, a stream which will take part each month throughout the rest of the year in the lead up to the launch of the next-gen console.

Xbox 20/20 will kick off with a special episode of Inside Xbox at 4pm BST/ 11am ET/ 8am PT on May 7 (or 1am AEST on May 8), which promises fans a first look at next-gen gameplay, trailers and sneak peeks.

"Starting with the May 7 episode of Inside Xbox, we will be showcasing what happens next in the world of Xbox, every month, which is why we’re calling it 'Xbox 20/20'," Jerret West, CVP of gaming marketing at Xbox wrote on Xbox Wire. "These monthly moments will take place throughout the rest of the year and will be a way for us to engage, connect and celebrate with you about what’s in store for the next generation of gaming, including what’s next for Xbox Series X, Xbox Game Studios, Xbox Game Pass and Project xCloud. Every month will bring something different."

Summer Games Fest - May to August

The Game Awards host Geoff Keighley has created an event called Summer Game Fest. This online season of events will bring together 16 of the industry’s largest publishers, including Microsoft, Sony, Activision, Valve, Bethesda and Blizzard in a four-month cavalcade of news, trailers and game demos.

From May until August, the Summer Game Fest will partner with these publishers to release updates on current game projects and announce new titles across social media platforms. 

According to the organizers, programming that is a part of Summer Game Fest will be distributed across all major streaming platforms, including Facebook, Mixer, Twitch, Twitter, YouTube and more. Corresponding game demos (some in alpha or beta stages of development) will be made available on major game distribution services like Steam, the PlayStation Store and Xbox Marketplace.

We haven't got official dates for when Summer Games Fest events will be taking place, but we'll update you as soon as we have solid dates and times.

PC Gaming Show - June 6

Our friends over at PC Gamer will be hosting its annual PC Gaming Show on June 6 this year, but times haven't been confirmed yet.

The PC Gaming Show is ordinarily E3's only PC-focused show, and promises plenty of announcements, world premieres, interviews and first-looks at fantastic upcoming PC games. Last year, we got a first look at Evil Genius 2, our first gameplay trailer for Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2 and much more.

Expect a similar showing this year, although the show will take place digitally instead of inside a theater this June. Naturally, you're far less likely to see PS5 and Xbox Series X games in action, but multiformat games have frequently been featured over the past few years. 

Future Games Show - June 

For the first time ever, our friends over at GamesRadar will host the Future Games Show in June, with the exact date to be confirmed. 

This hour-long digital stream promises to "showcase of the most exciting games of 2020", and will contain exclusive trailers, announcements, and deep dives on existing AAA and indie games, focusing on current (and next-gen) consoles, mobile and streaming platforms.

More details are to come.

EA Play Live - June 11

EA has announced it will digitally host its annual EA Play event will take place at 4pm PT / 7pm ET on June 11 (or 12am BST / 9am AEST on June 12), with the studio promising the reveal of "world premieres, news and more".

EA Play 2020 will be held on what was supposed to be the final day of E3 2020, before the conference cancelled. While EA hasn't attended E3 for years, the publisher typically holds its independent EA Play stream in the run up to the annual gaming conference in lieu of its previous traditional conference.

EA Play typically is quite community-focused with the publisher taking over the Hollywood Palladium to allow gamers to try out some of its biggest upcoming games. However, this year the stream will be digital only - so expect a lineup of announcement trailers and first-looks.

At EA Play 2020, we're expecting to see EA's lineup of next-gen games. So far the publisher has confirmed it's working on Battlefield 6, which will come to PS5 and Xbox Series X in 2021, and we can expect to see annual releases like FIFA 21 hit the next-gen consoles too. So we're hoping we'll get a glimpse of them at this event. 

But what about the games that are less certain? Well, considering the EA Star Wars Twitter account tweeted out the announcement, we're hoping the publisher has a new Star Wars game in the works. We would also love to see next-gen Sims, instead of a mountain of expansion packs. Respawn has also hinted at next-gen Apex Legends via job listings, so maybe we'll hear more about that.

What is E3 and why was it cancelled?

e3 2019

The E3 name stands for ‘Electronic Entertainment Expo’, and it’s been running in some form since 1995. Hosted by the Entertainment Software Association, E3 is a three-day convention to celebrate and showcase all things gaming, usually to publicize upcoming games and consoles – with a smattering of panel discussions and keynotes alongside the excitement of the show floor. E3 2020 was due to be 26th time the event has happened and it was supposed to take place from June 9  to June 11 at the Los Angeles Convention Center (E3’s home since 2009). 

While traditionally only an industry-only event, the ESA has been more willing to allow members of the public into the event, and is increasing the number of available of public tickets from 15,000 (in 2019) to 25,000. There’s also been chatter about an extra day exclusive to industry members, to minimise disruption and queuing times, but unfortunately that won't happen this year.

After plenty of speculation and rumors, the show's organizer - the ESA (Entertainment Software Association) - officially pulled the plug on E3 2020 on March 11, 2020, three months ahead of the scheduled event.

In a statement, the ESA said "After careful consultation with our member companies regarding the health and safety of everyone in our industry – our fans, our employees, our exhibitors and our longtime E3 partners – we have made the difficult decision to cancel E3 2020.

"Following increased and overwhelming concerns about the COVID-19 virus, we felt this was the best way to proceed during such an unprecedented global situation. We are very disappointed that we are unable to hold this event for our fans and supporters. But we know it’s the right decision based on the information we have today."

The chatter around the year's biggest gaming show was already in full swing when the cancellation notice came through, even though Sony had already ducked out for the second year running (unrelated to coronavirus).

Since then, the ESA confirmed in a statement to PC Gamer that it won't be running a virtual event in its stead as some had predicted, and will instead "will be working with exhibitors to promote and showcase individual company announcements," an ESA representative said.

With two next-gen consoles in the form of the PS5 and Xbox Series X set to launch not long after, there’s plenty of change afoot in the gaming world – and E3 2020 was set to be at the heart of it.

Why is E3 so important? As a place where the likes of Microsoft and Nintendo – both of whom were set to attend this year – tend to announce new hardware and titles, alongside countless third-party publishers showing off their wares to fans, players, and media, E3 tends to hold some massive announcements that shape the conversation around the year’s games for many months after.

What's the problem with E3 2020?

That said, even before its cancellation, E3 2020 was set to be the most controversial convention yet - with a number of big-name developers, publishers and personalities deciding not to attend this year's event. Sony was the first to say it wouldn't attend back in February, and around the same time big industry names like Geoff Keighley – who hosted the E3 Coliseum showcase for the previous few years – said he too would step away from the event.

That's not to mention the dropout of iam8bit, a creative merchandising company that had apparently been acting as a creative director for this year's show – though the ESA confirmed that "Endeavor’s creative agency 160over90, event innovators Mat+Lo and longtime E3 partners, GES, Dolaher Events and Double Forte" were all still involved in the direction and creation of the show (via GameSpot).

The argument the show's critics made is that, in the age of streaming, these types of opulent showings weren't really necessary - they don't reach as big of an audience as, say, a direct-to-consumer video, and are much more expensive to put on.

There has also been concern over security as the ESA leaked the private information of over 2,000 journalists who attended E3 2019.

That said, having a single week that was agreed upon by the entire industry to show new games made it a showcase event, one that was covered around the world by both industry publications and international mainstream media. It's pros and cons will be debated long after the news of its cancellation has faded, but now at least you have some context for both sides of the argument. 

E3 2019: what went down last year?

Even without Sony on show, there was still plenty to make 2019 a great year for E3. We had that wonderful Keanu Reeves appearance, and the news he was appearing in Cyberpunk 2077 (as seen above), new specs for the Xbox Series X, and that brilliant BOTW 2 teaser. We also got a full unveiling of Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order and updates on Apex Legends Season 2 from EA, and the announcement that Dark Souls dev From Software and Game of Throne's George R R Martin were collaborating on the upcoming game Elden Ring.

Square Enix had one of the better press events we've yet to see at E3 2019, packing in tons of new information on Marvel's Avengers, Final Fantasy VII Remake and the remastered version of Final Fantasy 8.

it wasn't all good news, though, with Animal Crossing: Horizons getting delayed, and the long-awaited Dragon Age 4 not getting so much as a mention. Ubisoft also didn't show off a new Splinter Cell game (cowards!) or its much-delayed Beyond Good and Evil 2 – though it did find time for Just Dance 2020, and the announcement trailer for Gods and Monsters.

Here's a full list of everything that was announced at E3 2019:

Nintendo

Microsoft

  • Halo Infinite (release window, coming to Xbox Project Scarlett)
  • Gears 5
  • Blair Witch
  • Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga (Xbox One and PC)
  • Bleeding Edge
  • Battletoads
  • Age of Empire II: Definitive Edition (PC)
  • Wasteland 3
  • Microsoft Flight Simulator (PC first, Xbox One later)
  • Minecraft Dungeons
  • Spiritfarer (coming to Xbox Game Pass)
  • 12 Minutes (Xbox One and PC)
  • Forza Horizon 4: Lego Speed Champions Expansion
  • Crossfire X
  • Gears Pop!

Take-Two Interactive/2K Games

Electronic Arts and EA Sports

CD Projekt Red

Konami

  • Contra Rogue Corps (Xbox One PS4, PC and Switch)
  • Contra Anniversary Collection

Bethesda

  • Deathloop (Platforms unknown) (Trailer)
  • Doom Eternal (Xbox One PlayStation 4, PC and Nintendo Switch)
  • The Elder Scrolls: Blades (debuting on Nintendo Switch; iOS, Android updates)
  • Fallout 76: Nuclear Winter (Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and PC sneak peek)
  • Ghostwire: Tokyo (Platforms unknown)
  • Wolfenstein: Youngblood (PS4, Xbox One and PC)
  • Wolfenstein: Cyberpilot (VR)
  • Commander Keen (iOS and Android)

Square Enix

  • Final Fantasy 7 Remake (PS4)
  • Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles (PS4, Nintendo Switch and mobile)
  • Final Fantasy 8 Remastered
  • Final Fantasy 14: Shadowbringers (PC)
  • Circuit Superstars (Square Enix Collective, developer Original Fire)
  • War of the Visions: Final Fantasy Brave Exvius
  • Romancing Saga 3
  • Scarlett Grace
  • Dragon Quest Builders 2
  • The Last Remnant Remastered (coming to Nintendo Switch)
  • Trials of Mana: Collection of Mana (coming to Switch)

Ubisoft

  • Ghost Recon Breakpoint (Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and PC)
  • The Division 2 (Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and PC)
  • For Honor (Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and PC)
  • Watch Dogs Legion (Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PC, Stadia) (game play available)
  • Assassin’s Creed Odyssey (game update)
  • Roller Champions (PC download available now, other platforms unknown)
  • Gods & Monsters (Xbox One,PlayStation 4, PC, Stadia and Switch)

Sega

  • Panzer Dragoon: Remake (Nintendo Switch)
  • Phantasy Star Online 2 (Xbox One)
  • SEGA Genesis mini console coming September 2019 with mini games like Mega Man:The Wily Wars, Earthworm Jim, Sonic the Hedgehog 1 & 2, Ecco the Dolphin and 35 more classic games.

Bandai Namco

  • Tales of Arise
  • Dragonball Z: Kakarot
  • Code Vein
  • The Dark Pictures Anthology: Man of Medan
  • RAD

Various

  • Elden Ring (via FromSoftware)
  • Dying Light 2 (from Techland)
  • Way to the Woods (Team 17)
  • Dauntless (coming to Nintendo Switch via Phoenix Labs)
  • The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance Tactics (En Masse Entertainment)
  • Dead by Daylight (coming to Nintendo Switch via Koch Media)
  • New Super Lucky’s Tale (coming to Nintendo Switch via Playful Corp.)
  • Empire of Sin (John Romero multi-console game)
  • Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair (Playtonic)
  • Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin (via Edelweiss and XSEED Games)


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