E3 2020 is just one of the casualties of the games industry during this coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. And while I’m sure most of us have more important things on our minds right now, the news of the show’s cancellation in March was a huge blow for organisers and game studios alike.

But according to a report from GamesIndusty.biz, the ESA (Entertainment Software Association) have announced the dates for next years E3 and it will run from June 15 – 17 in 2021. The information was shared with partners over the weekend, along with the promise of a “reimagined event” for next year. While no further details appear to have been given, it’s a promising move amongst all the current uncertainty.

What the “reimagined” E3 will look like is anyone’s guess. Perhaps it will be more focused on remote online presentations, rather than a gathering in one place. Or perhaps a mixture of the two. It’s still more than a year away though and we’ll hopefully hear more about E3 2021 towards the end of the year.

E3 2020 was cancelled last month, shortly after California declared a state of emergency due to the spread of the coronavirus. But we may still get some gaming news in June as stated in the official announcement. E3 organisers “are also exploring options with our members to coordinate an online experience to showcase industry announcements and news in June 2020.”

In the same post, it was also stated that E3 will “look forward to bringing you E3 2021 as a reimagined event that brings fans, media, and the industry together in a showcase that celebrates the global video game industry.”

Many people have wondered about the future of E3 in recent times. Back in January, Sony confirmed that PlayStation would not be present at E3 2020 for the second year in a row, stating “we have great respect for the ESA as an organisation, but we do not feel the vision of E3 2020 is the right venue for what we are focused on this year”. And then, of course, was the administration blunder by ESA that released the personal details of thousands of journalists, industry analysts, and YouTubers.

Still, it’s good to see that E3 will be back next year, in whatever form it takes. Hopefully by that point, we’ll be treated to a ton of announcements and reveals for all the new games coming to the next-gen consoles.