Trade fairs & events 2021: The most important dates and livestreams for PC gamers

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Messen & Events 2021

After E3 is before the next big gaming show: Numerous digital events are also on the agenda in the second half of the year. We have collected all the information for you.

The restrictions due to the Corona pandemic will continue to have an impact on planned events in 2021 – and of course games fairs are also affected by this.

We collect the most important dates and livestreams for you.

Now that gamescom has closed its doors again, the last third of the year is about to begin. But until the end of the year, there are still a few events that revolve around our favourite hobby

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We will keep updating this article as new shows or dates are confirmed

– you can jump via link directly to the event you want to find out about!

Trade fairs & events 2021: The most important dates and livestreams for PC gamers

All info about the game events

This will be updated regularly with new info about the individual events

PAX West

– When? 3 to 6 September 2021

– Where to watch? Twitch

While PAX East has been changed to PAX Online due to the pandemic situation, PAX West is expected to run largely as normal, meaning visitors will be allowed back in. However, full capacity is not to be expected, instead the number will be limited.

As in previous years, PAX West will be held in September at the Washington State Convention Center. On site, visitors can participate in tournaments, attend various presentations, listen to developer panels and much more.

Most of these events are for on-site spectators only. However, a few will be streamed via the PAX Twitch channel. You can find an overview on the PAX website by ticking “Streaming Exclusive” on the sidebar there.

Tokyo Game Show

– When? 30 September to 3 October 2021
– Where to watch? Youtube

The Tokyo Game Show will take place again in 2021. The event will probably be held purely virtually, as it was in 2020. Streams will be broadcast in Japanese and English. Information on the exact schedule can be found here on the official website of the show.

Steam Next Fest October

– When? 1 – 7 October 2021
– Where to watch? Steam

After the Steam Next Fest was already a success in the summer, Valve is following up with another one in the fall. In October, another Steam Next Fest will take place – the third one this year. As before, hundreds of free demos of upcoming games will be available to try out. There is no list of participants at the moment, because Valve is still looking for interested exhibitors.

There will also be developer livestreams and open Q&A sessions during Steam Next Fest.

EGX

– When? 7 – 10 October 2021
– Where to watch? TBA

There’s also another video game show happening in the UK this year. At EGX in October, fans can try out different games on site, take part in tournaments and visit the cosplay zone.

Visitors will be allowed at the event in London for the first time, although the organisers are planning appropriate security measures. Among other things, numbers will be limited. However, there is no overview yet of which publishers and developers will be taking part in the fair.

CitizenCon

– When? 9 October 2021
– Where to watch? Twitch

Star Citizen’s in-house show returns in digital form again in 2021. As usual, fans of the space MMO in development should get “a full day of events, panels and entertainment”. In addition, the cosplay competition will return.

In the official forum the developers will also inform about possibilities to “become part of the show”. This presumably means interaction, not an access price, which was abolished for livestreams after much criticism in the past. At CitizenCon 2021, everyone will be able to watch free of charge.

Panel from Hell 2

– When? 17 February from 7 pm
– Where to watch? Youtube, Twitch, Steam

Larian is unveiling the new Patch 4 for Baldur’s Gate 3 on February 17, promising the most comprehensive patch notes in the studio’s history – so we’re expecting a compendium at least as thick as the 5th Edition D&D Player’s Handbook.

The new update will expand the Early Access version of the role-playing game, details will only be available in the livestream. However, it is already certain that your game state will be reset, unless you select in the Steam settings that you want to continue playing the current beta version.

Although Baldur’s Gate 3 is already playable, it still has to overcome some important hurdles before the final release in order to become the role-player’s dream it was hoped to be.

BlizzConline 2021

– When? 19 February from 11 p.m. and 20 February from 9 p.m.
– Where to watch? website, Twitch and Youtube

This year, the Blizzard trade fair will once again take place digitally – under the resounding name BlizzConline. The programme is already roughly known: On 19 February there will be a three-hour stream with game news and announcements. The 20th of February will be dedicated to the community, with competitions and cosplays.

Blizzard has not yet announced which games will be shown, but we expect news about WoW Shadowlands and Overwatch. Many fans are hoping for good news about Diablo 4 and Overwatch 2, but you’d better keep your hopes up. Both games will definitely no longer be released in 2021.

Paradox Insider

– When? 13 March 2021 from 6pm
– Where to watch? Twitch

The strategy experts at Paradox Interactive are holding their Paradox Insider digital livestream again this year. The publisher will announce news and updates on games that have already been released, but also on games that are still to come.

What exactly will be shown is not yet known. Players of Crusader Kings 3 could be presented with a first DLC, and many fans of Europa Universalis 4 are waiting for the announcement of a successor. Role-players, on the other hand, are hoping for new information on Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2.

There will certainly also be more details on the new Stellaris DLC Nemesis, which was announced at the beginning of February with this trailer:

Square Enix Presents

– When? 18 March 2021 from 6pm
– Where to watch? On YouTube and Twitch

This March, Square Enix will be announcing news about a whole range of its own games at an in-house event. Among other things, there will be new information about the co-op shooter Outriders, which will be released on 1 April. There will also be new information about Marvel’s Avengers, probably about the Hawkeye DLC Future Imperfect, which will be released on the same day as the Square Enix Presents.

But the announcement of a “completely new Life is Strange title” should be particularly exciting. Concrete information on this is still limited, but there is already talk of the game being about a “completely new protagonist in possession of an exciting new ability”. Accordingly, the chances are good that we can expect a full-fledged Life is Strange 3 and not “just” a spin-off.

In addition, Square Enix Presents is planning a celebration of the 25th anniversary of Tomb Raider, there will also be a presentation of Balan Wonderworld, and besides Just Cause Mobile, you can expect announcements of other mobile games.

Future Games Show

– When? 25 March from 22:45
– Where to watch? Twitch, Youtube, Facebook and Twitter

The Future Games Show will feature over 40 games spread across all kinds of platforms. From PC, to the Nintendo Switch, to Playstation 5 and Xbox Series X. The event on 25 March is set to be just the first of many to be held in 2021.

There is currently no overview of the line-up. However, the stream will be conducted by Jeff Schine and Nicole Tompkins, who appeared as Carlos Oliveria and Jill Valentine in the Resident Evil 3 remake. So it stands to reason that there might be something to see about the new spin-off of the horror series.

Microsoft Xbox Gaming Event

– When? 26 March 2021 from 5pm
– Where to watch? Twitch

On March 26, Microsoft will hold the ID@Xbox Showcase event, where the company plans to talk about news that revolves mostly around indie games. Here we expect news about the shooter hopeful S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2, the cyberpunk diablo The Ascent and a lot more.

In total, 100 indie games are to be covered and there will be 25 exclusive trailer and gameplay premieres to watch.

Oculus Gaming Showcase

– When? On 22 April 2021 from 0 a.m.
– Where to watch? Twitch, Youtube and Facebook

For the first time, Oculus will be hosting a gaming showcase focused exclusively on VR games. New information on already announced games is promised, but also announcements of new titles. Confirmed so far are developers Cloudhead Games, Ready at Dawn and ILMxLAB, who will present Pistol Whip, Lone Echo 2 and Star Wars: Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge.

Home of Wargamers 2021 Live+

– When? 11 May, all day
– Where to watch? Twitch

Strategy fans should definitely mark this event thick and bold in their calendars, because the studio Slitherine Software (Panzer Corps, Panzer Corps 2, Battlestar Galactica: Deadlock) will be presenting four new strategy games on 11 May 2021.

In addition to the new announcements, there will also be information on already known games that are currently being developed, for example Warhammer 40,000: Battlesector and Starship Troopers: Terran Command.

The exact programme for the livestream, which is scheduled to run all day, will be announced soon on Twitter:

PDXCON Remixed

– When? 21 – 23 May 2021
– Where to watch? Official website

At PDXCON Remixed Paradox will announce a new, as yet unknown game. Judging by the developer’s portfolio so far, this will probably be something for strategists.

Dying Light 2 – Showcase

– When? May 27 at 9:00 p.m.
– Where to watch? Twitch

For months, gamers have been impatiently waiting for new signs of life from Dying Light 2. Originally, the sequel to the popular 2015 zombie game was supposed to be released in spring 2020.

After the game was postponed, the fans’ displeasure increased. An unorthodox video message from the development team, which appeared in March 2021, not only read out angry tweets from impatient players, but also made a release promise for this year.

The team at Techland have now announced in a twitter post that they will be holding a first showcase for Dying Light 2.

 

Horizon Forbidden West – State of Play

– When? May 27 at 11:00 p.m.
– Where to watch? Twitch and YouTube

A few months ago, the first images of Horizon: Forbidden West were shown at the PlayStation 5 showcase. On their Blog Sony has now announced to show the first gameplay of Horizon 2 in the next State of Play event.

On their website, Sony promised around 14 minutes of exclusive in-game action, which Aloy is to show in her next adventure. Although the footage shown was shot on the PlayStation 5, the chances of a PC release are pretty good.

This assumption is due to the fact that the PC version of the first part sold incredibly well. According to videogamechronicles, the first sales figures were almost as high as those of The Witcher 3. In addition, the PC version of Horizon: Zero Dawn has not only received a top rating from us.

Far Cry 6 – Gameplay Reveal

– When? May 28 at 6:30 p.m.
– Where to watch? Twitch and YouTube

After the release of Far Cry 6 was delayed due to the Corona pandemic, there are now new signs of life regarding the upcoming shooter experience.

In a Twitter post, Ubisoft has announced a livestream in which new information about Far Cry 6 will be revealed. According to the announcement, first gameplay will be shown. It has not yet been announced when exactly the game will be released. So the chances are good that a concrete date will be given in the upcoming livestream.

 

Warhammer Skulls

– When? 3 June 2021
– Where to watch? Twitch

The once-named “Skulls For The Skull Throne” event from Warhammer creators Games Workshop will run for a full week. For video gamers, however, the livestream on 3 June is probably the most interesting. There, fans can look forward to updates on already known game projects, but also to the announcement of brand new titles.

During the event, there will also be a variety of discounts and even some free Warhammer titles on Steam, GOG, Xbox Live and the PlayStation Store. So it should be worth paying a visit to each of these retailers over the course of the week.

INDIE Live Expo 2021

– When? 5 June 2021 at 11:00 a.m.
– Where to watch? Twitch and YouTube

For the third year in a row, the INDIE Live Expo is also getting underway this year. As the name suggests, the event is aimed at ambitious indie lovers. Numerous new indie games are to be presented in the livestream.

In addition to fancy new trailers and announcements, there will also be a special segment on the production of indie games. Here, viewers will get a direct insight into the production of the games and gain an understanding of the influence different factors can have.

For more information, visit the official website.

 

Guerilla Collective

– When? On the 5th and on the 12th of June 2021 at 5:00 p.m.
– Where to watch? Twitch and YouTube

The Guerilla Collective will take place again this year. On the first two Saturdays in June, there will be a livestream in which new announcements, trailers and gameplay can be seen. The focus here is mainly on indie games and more than 80 studios have already signed up.

In addition to the Among Us developers from Innersloth, other well-known studios such as 505 Games, Akupara Games, 2Awesome Studio, The Banner Saga’s Versus Evil, Good Shepard and Team Superhot are also taking part.

You can find out what else to expect on Guerilla Collective’s official website.

Netflix Geeked

– When? 7 – 11 June 2021
– Where to watch? Twitch

Netflix Geeked represents a format especially for nerds. The show is offered worldwide and free to all, so even non-subscribers can watch.

The five-day digital event covers topics such as science fiction, fantasy, anime and co. Various Netflix series are the focus, especially adaptations of popular game brands such as The Witcher, Resident Evil and Cuphead. But Umbrella Academy, Lucifer and Cowboy Bebop are also covered.

Netflix Geeked is also inviting well-known actors. During the event, exclusive information and new trailers are expected to see the light of day.

Summer Game Fest

– When? June 10, 2021 at 8:00 p.m.
– Where to watch? Twitch and YouTube

The Summer Game Fest took place for the first time in 2020 and was organised by Geoff Keighley as a replacement for the cancelled E3. Last year the event stretched over several months, but in 2021 it is to be more compact.

It will start on 10 June at 20:00 with an opening show in which more than twelve world premieres will be shown. At the same time, the presentation will serve as a preview of the upcoming shows of the individual publishers, such as EA Play and Ubisoft Forward.

In a tweet, Geoff Keighley also reveals other partners who will be supporting Summer Game Fest this year. Among others, Activision, 2K, Epic Games, Sony, Microsoft, Steam and other publishers and developers are on board.

IGN Expo

– When? 11 June 2021 at 10:00 p.m.
– Where to watch? Twitch, YouTube, Official website

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There is to be another exclusive IGN Expo this year, which will continue as part of the larger Summer of Gaming 2021 event.

According to IGN, there will be announcements of brand new games as well as plenty of new gameplay trailers that have never been shown before. IGN is cooperating again this year with Geoff Keighley, the person in charge of the Summer Game Fest.

Wholesome Direct

– When? 12 June 2021 at 7pm
– Where to watch? Twitch

The Wholesome Direct takes its cue from the similar-sounding Nintendo Directs and aims to give upcoming indie games a platform. In addition to brand new game introductions, several titles are even scheduled to be released during the show.

“Wholesome games” is a distinct genre of video games that is growing in popularity. Games from this genre want to make their player feel good first and foremost. They achieve this through a rather relaxed flow of play that often has no real end, such as Animal Crossing.

At the event, there will be new information about We Are OFK and Ooblets, among other things. Furthermore, news about Unpacking A Life, The Gecko Gods and Paralives will follow.

Ubisoft Forward

– When? June 12, 2021 from 9:00 pm.
– Where to watch? Twitch, Youtube

Ubisoft will be participating in E3 2021 with its own digital press conference. Called Ubisoft Forward, the event, which the publisher introduced last year, will provide updates on current and upcoming games.

No names are being mentioned yet, but the usual suspects from Assassin’s Creed Valhalla to Rainbow Six: Siege and Far Cry 6 are likely to be there.

Devolver Showcase

– When? June 12, 2021 at 10:30 p.m.
– Where to watch? Twitch

Devolver Digital is not an official part of E3 this year, but is launching its own livestream as part of Summer Game Fest. More specifically, the next chapter of the “Devolver Cinematic Universe”, as the publisher calls it on Twitter, will start on 12 June at 10:30 pm:

Five new games are to be announced at the event and two release dates revealed. However, Devolver is still keeping quiet about which ones they are.

Devolver is not only known in the gaming scene for good games like Hotline Miami, Serious Sam and Genital Jousting, but also for their spectacular events. Last year, Devolver gave us our own trade fair shooter as an E3 replacement, where there were not only new trailers to look at, but also a virtual fairground where you could really let off steam.

E3

– When? 12 – 15 June 2021
– Where to watch? monstersandexplosions on Twitch, on the E3 website and on the video platforms of participating publishers

The world’s biggest games trade fair was completely cancelled in 2020, a planned digital replacement event did not take place in the end. This will change in 2021, when E3 will take place completely digitally from 12 to 15 June. According to the official homepage, you can participate via the E3 online portal, an associated app and via “other major video platforms” – for example the YouTube and Twitch channels of the participating publishers.

Contrary to some rumours, the organiser ESA announced that E3 will be completely free and without a paywall. Only some sections and content will be subject to age verification. However, there will be “different levels of access, including special programmes for industry insiders, publishers, media influencers and fans. ”

These developers have already made their commitment to E3:

– Activision

– Amazon Game Studios

– Bad Button Studio

– Bandai Namco

– Bethesda

– Capcom

– Devious Eye Entertainment

– Epic Games

– Freedom Games

– Funcom

– Gameloft

– Gearbox

– GungHo Online Etertainment

– Kalypso Media

– Limited Run Games

– NCSOFT

– nDreams

– Nintendo

– Nvidia

– Oculus

– Rebellion

– Sega

– Square Enix

– Take-Two

– THQ Nordic

– Ubisoft

– Warner Bros. Games

– Verizon

– Xbox

– Xseed Games

The list already includes some well-known names, but others are still missing. Among them, for example, Electronic Arts, who will probably once again rely on their own event EA Play. Sony has confirmed that they will not appear as a trade fair participant this year.

PC Gaming Show

– When? June 13, 2021 at 11:30 p.m.
– Where to watch? Twitch, Youtube

The PC Gaming Show is also coming back for another time this year. As usual, the approximately 90-minute presentation is hosted by the US website PC Gamer and, true to its name, focuses on the PC.

In total, the organisers promise 39 new videos in their announcement, including Dying Light 2, Humankind, Chivalry 2, Orcs Must Die! and more. In addition, Valve is also part of the event and will announce something about Steam – but what exactly is not known.

Xbox and Bethesda Games Showcase

– When? 13 June
– Where to watch? Twitch and Youtube

After Bethesda was bought by Microsoft for around 7.5 billion US dollars, the two companies have now announced a joint event. New games for the Xbox and Game Pass are to be presented in the upcoming livestream.

The teaser image provided promises new information on Starfield, Bethesda’s next big game. The 90-minute show is expected to feature news on upcoming titles, as well as details on fresh releases and more news on the lineup between Bethesda and Microsoft.

Future Games Show 2

– When? 14 June at 01:00
– Where to watch? Twitch and YouTube

Following the PC Gaming Show, we continue directly with the second edition of GamesRadar’s Future Games Show. There, the two voice actors Troy Baker and Laura Bailey from The Last of Us: Part 2 take over the moderation.

Which developers and publishers will take part in the show has not yet been revealed. However, among other things, games will be presented that you can then try out directly with the help of a demo on Steam. The whole thing is called the Virtual Show Floor and, according to the announcement, should offer one or two surprises.

Steam Next Fest

– When? 16 – 22 June 2021
– Where to watch? Steam

The name changes, the principle remains: Valve will host another digital festival in mid-June. Similar to the Steam Game Festival in February, the Steam Next Fest will also offer hundreds of free demos of upcoming games. However, there is currently no exact list of participants.

In addition, the multi-day festival will be accompanied by developer livestreams and open Q&A sessions. Piquant: With this date, Steam is in direct competition with the digital E3 and the PC Gaming Show, both of which are also to take place in June.

Xbox Games Showcase Extended

– When? 17 June 2021
– Where to watch? YouTube, Twitch

After Microsoft already had a joint show with Bethesda at the digital E3 trade show, the annual Xbox Games Showcase follows on 17 June. Last year there were 10 world premieres to marvel at alongside red-hot news.

This year, however, the focus will be on interviews with developers and behind-the-scenes footage. In addition to Rare and Double Fine, Ninja Theory and Obsidian will also be at the start. As a result, new material on Hellblade 2 and The Outer Worlds 2 is strongly expected.

Dying Light 2 Showcase 2

– When? 1 July 2021 at 9 pm German time
– Where to watch? Twitch

What exactly the new presentation on Dying Light 2 from the developers at Techland is about is currently unknown. However, we will undoubtedly learn more about the game world, the story, the gameplay and perhaps even the post-launch plans for Dying Light 2. After all, there was already important information at the first showcase when, for example, the release date, Collector’s Edition and co. were presented.

By the way, you can find all known information about the “modern medieval” game with zombies and open world in our big overview:

Dying Light 2: All info on the zombie game with open world

 

Nacon Connect

– When? 6 July 2021, 7 pm
– Where to watch? YouTube, Twitch

Nacon is a French publisher that has some hotly anticipated games in the pipeline. On the evening of 6 July, the digital Nacon Connect will feature news on The Lord of the Rings: Gollum, the action RPG Steelrising, the role-playing game Vampire: The Masquerade – Swansong, Blood Bowl 3 and Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown. Nacon talks about “sneak peaks”, so we’ll probably get short teasers rather than big gameplay reveals. On the other hand, a few completely new games are to be presented.

This 10-second teaser gives a brief foretaste:

State of Play PlayStation

– When? 8 July 2021, from 11 p.m.
– Where to watch? Twitch, Youtube

Also interesting for PC gamers: Death Stranding gets a Director’s Cut. Sony also showed several minutes of gameplay from the upcoming shooter Deathloop.

PAX Online

– When? 15 – 18 July 2021
– Where to watch? Twitch

PAX organisers have cancelled PAX East, originally scheduled for 3-6 June, due to the ongoing Corona pandemic. PAX Online will now take place from 15 to 18 July instead. “The safety of show attendees and organisers is the top priority,” according to the official announcement. It is not yet known which games will be shown. Details are to be announced at a later date.

TennoCon

– When? July 17, 2021, starting at 6:30 p.m.
– Where to watch? Twitch

With TennoCon, the developer studio Digital Extremes announces new content for the shooter Warframe every year. In 2020, the regular TennoCon had to be cancelled due to the Corona pandemic and was limited to a livestream part.

Since the pandemic is still not over, TennoCon will take place again this year as a digital-only event – but this time not in August, but already in July. The event will once again be broadcast on the in-house Twitch channel.
The event website is also live. There, players can pre-order two themed in-game packages from TennoCon 2021, PC players will also get a small discount if they purchase both in one bundle.

Farmcon 21

– When? 21 – 23 July 2021, daily from 8pm.
– Where to watch? Twitch

Farmcon is the in-house trade fair of Giants Software, who are currently working on Farming Simulator 22. During the virtual fair there will be gameplay for LS 22 for the first time. The world premiere will take place on the second day of Farmcon.

We have compiled the respective topics on the trade fair days for you:

Wednesday, 21 July 2021 from 8 p.m.

More about the seasons

– Introducing the US “Elmcreek” Map.
– Cinematic Trailer: Behind the scenes
– Thursday, 22 July 2021 from 8 p.m. onwards

Gamplay Premiere LS 22

– GIANTS Engine 9 enhancements
– Unveiling of new features
– Friday, 23 July 2021 from 8pm.

More info on the new fruit varieties

– Presentation of the customisation options
– Sound engine optimisations in detail
– Stark Challenge: Real Life Bale Stacking

EA Play Live

– When? 22 July 2021, from 7:00 p.m. Pre-Show.
– Where to watch? Youtube, Twitch

EA did not officially attend E3 2021 this year. Instead, the publisher is planning its own event in July: EA Play Live. It will start on 22 July with a pre-show, which will then lead directly into the main event.

The show will revolve around new game announcements, new gameplay scenes and the like. EA will also show the first gameplay of the action adventure Lost in Random.

Definitely not there is Bioware, which will neither show Dragon Age 4 nor the new Mass Effect, as the developer itself announced on Twitter. There will also be no news about any Star Wars games or the new Skate. According to rumours, we could at least learn more about The Sims 5 – but that is only a guess so far.

But that’s by far not all from EA this year: In the run-up to EA Play there were several shows dedicated to special topics. It was about Madden NFL 22, other games from EA Sports, the future of first-person shooters or a show about indie studios. You can read the schedule of events below:

– 8 July, at 7pm: The Future of First-Person Shooters

– 13 July, at 7pm: EA ☺3s Independent Studios

– July 19, at 1July, at 1: Madden NFL 22 All-Access: Scouting – How the Community is Shaping Madden NFL 22

– 20 July, at 7pm: More EA Sports

– 22nd July, at 7pm: EA Play Live

There are also early details on the livestreams:

The Future of First-Person-Shooters: The shooter panel is dedicated to Battlefield 2042 and Apex Legends. Guests will be Oskar Gabrielson from DICE and Christian Grass from DICE LA as well as Vince Zampella and Chad Grenier from Respawn Entertainment.

EA ☺3s Independent Studios: This is about the role of indie studios in the games industry. Hosted by Todd Martens of the Los Angeles Times, guests will include Josef Fares of Hazelight (A Way Out, It Takes Two), Olov Redmalm of Zoink (Lost in Random) and more.

Madden NFL 22 All-Access Scouting: Here EA will shed light on how fans have influenced the development of the franchise. Staff management, weekly game strategy and a new scenario engine will also be covered in this light. The panel will also give a glimpse of the new scouting feature planned for Madden NFL 22 in September.

More EA Sports: While no details are known from the official side on this yet, it will probably be about brands like FIFA 22 and NHL 22. Info on new Codemasters projects is also conceivable.

Dreamhack Beyond

– When? From 24 to 31 July
– Where to watch? Twitch and YouTube

Dreamhack Beyond sees itself as a gaming festival and online game. On the website you will be able to create your own avatar with which you can plunge into a virtual fair. In addition to playable quests, various demos, concerts, exhibitions, workshops and livestreams will also be available.

Furthermore, esport competitions will be held, first and foremost a fighting game tournament and speed runs. Participation in the event is free of charge.

EVO Online 2021

– When? August 6 to 8 and August 13 to 15, 2021.
– Where to watch? Youtube, Twitch

The EVO or Evolution Championship Series event is an e-sports event that basically anyone can participate in. EVO was already an online event in 2020, and that will be the case again this year. Tekken 7, Street Fighter 5, Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate and Guilty Gear Strive will be played. It is not clear whether game announcements are to be expected.

Realms Deep

– When? 13 – 15 August 2021
– Where to watch? Official Website, Twitch

The Realms Deep event, created by Duke Nukem makers 3D Realms, will take place again this year. The event is all about first person shooters. In total, there will be something to see for over 100 games, either new announcements or updates to already known titles. Among others, Graven, Ion Fury Aftershock and Core Decay will be mentioned.

Over the three days, there will be numerous talks, interviews and other activities with industry veterans. The organisers are still keeping it a secret who exactly will be in front of the camera for the event. The entire content will be available for viewing on the 3D Realms website. On 14 August at 7 pm, there will also be a live show on Twitch.

Parallel to the event, there will also be a Realms Deep Steam Sale. So it might be worth taking a look at the shop! All proceeds generated by the official merchandise during the weekend will go to the Child’s Play foundation.

QuakeCon

– When? August 19-21, 2021, starting at 8:00 p.m. Opening show.
– Where to watch? Twitch

2020 Bethesda hosted its in-house show entirely digitally. And there will be another “QuakeCon at Home” in 2021. And this year, the trade fair could possibly completely live up to its namesake.

QuakeCon kicks off on 19 August at 20:00 with a short opening show, which then leads directly to the first panels. Among other things, it will be about Quake’s 25th birthday, there will be a detailed look at Deathloop and new information about Fallout 76 and Doom Eternal. On the following days, too, everything revolves around the big games from Bethesda and id Software, which are accompanied by developer panels, musical performances, tournaments and so on.

However, one panel in particular stands out: on Friday, 20 August, a “Let’s Talk Quake” will take place from 4:30 p.m., which will be about a “revitalised edition” of the classic shooter. John Linneman from the YouTube channel Digital Foundry and Jerk Gustafsson from Machine Games will be taking part in the conversation.

In the meantime Bethesda has changed the entry on the Quakecon website and removed the info about a special version of Quake. However, speculation has continued since then that Bethesda and id Software will apparently announce a new Quake or a remake during QuakeCon. After all, there have already been rumours about this in the past:

Whether Quake will actually be revived in any form remains to be seen due to the lack of official information. But it won’t be long until QuakeCon. By the way, you can find the complete schedule on the fair website.

NextSim

– When? August 24, 2021 at 6:00 p.m.
– Where to watch? TBA

Publisher Aerosoft has also taken a liking to hosting a trade show. After the NextSim for simulation games ran successfully last year, it will go into the next round in 2021.

For NextSim 2021, the makers are currently planning to present 15 games, all of which, of course, come from the simulation genre. However, there are no names or details yet. But there is a promise that the digital fair will also be broadcast internationally this year and that the team will work together with numerous streamers.

gamescom 2021

– When? 25 – 27 August 2021
– Where to watch? Twitch, Youtube

At first, gamescom was to be held as a hybrid event this year, but now the decision has been made to go with a purely digital event after all. On site in Cologne, the fair was to take place on a smaller scale and with an extensively planned hygiene concept. We will tell you why these plans fell through in a separate article.

The digital gamescom 2021 is supposed to offer some improvements this year. Among other things, there will once again be the opening presentation Opening Night Live with Geoff Keighley. In addition, there will be other events and special community activities.

PAX Australia – Canceled

– When? 8 – 10 October 2021
– Where to watch? TBA

Just like PAX West, organisers are assuming that the show can be held “properly” in October. The Melbourne Convention Centre has been rented for this purpose. However, this is not expected to be fully utilised, but only 75 per cent, which corresponds to about 5,000 visitors. However, these plans may still change depending on how the Corona pandemic develops during the year.

Update 10 August 2021: PAX Australia 2021 has been cancelled. The decisive reason for this is the ongoing Corona pandemic. As a replacement, an online variant for the same date has been promised – but there is no more detailed information on this yet. PAX Australia is scheduled to take place as usual in 2022.

BlizzCon 2021 – Canceled

When? November 2021

In an emotional post Blizzard turned to its fans and explained that the planned BlizzCon 2021 might not be realised. The reason for this is mainly the problems caused by the ongoing Corona pandemic.

Furthermore, Saralyn Smith, Executive Producer of BlizzCon, explained that they already have plans for an online show that will take place early next year.

What is your opinion? How did you perceive the digital shows in 2020? Do you wish the regular events would return or are you happy with livestreams and the like? Let us know in the comments!