The Computer Entertainment Suppliers Association (CESA) has announced that their annual video game showcase, the Tokyo Game Show, will not have an in-person event. They will instead have all of their panels and presentations in an online-only format, and will be held later this Summer from September 30 to October 3. This will be the second straight year that the Tokyo Game Show will not have an in-person event, which was initially due to the worldwide effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic.
The main theme for the Tokyo Game Show 2021 will be “Still, we have games” showing that despite the setback of not having people at the event, CESA still plans to showcase a plethora of new titles for the duration of the weekend. In addition, CESA has also revealed that all of the presentations and panels will have an English translation for those viewing outside of the events native Japan. They will also have a brand new matchmaking system that will offer exhibitors and trade attendees to have private virtual meetings, as well as giving fans the chance to demo some of the titles that will be announced.
One interesting tidbit is that the Tokyo Game Show is still going to have a special in-person press-only event. People from various outlets and content creators will be invited to try out the new titles as well as to conduct interviews with developers from the industry. So far this is the only major aspect that differs from the main event, although more things might change as the year progresses. The Tokyo Game Show is the latest video game event to keep the online-only aspect going. Earlier in the year, the organizers for both E3 and PAX East announced that their respective events will not have any people in attendance, and unless the Pandemic is quelled to a certain point, we expect more companies to follow suit.