EA is returning to the digital stage once more for EA Play Live 2021. While details are sparse right now, the company's show date reveal helps bring into focus the summer's quickly congested schedule of gaming showcases.
Not even so much as a start time has been revealed by the world's biggest games publisher, but EA says it will share more details in the weeks ahead. Undoubtedly, EA will spend some of that stage time on its fall slate of EA Sports titles such as Madden 22, FIFA 22, and NHL 22. It remains to be seen whether EA will release an NBA game this year after a tumultuous stop-and-start decade has seen the NBA Live series miss its formerly annual release calendar four times, including some game cancellations and other years where the team sat out.
Also a sure thing to appear at the show is Battlefield, the upcoming next version of the popular shooter series. Rumors say the series will return to the present day and will eventually house a free-to-play battle royale mode alongside the premium paid version of the game.
During EA's call with investors today, CEO Andrew Wilson confirmed that the game will be revealed in June and promises "game-changing destruction" on an "epic scale." The Battlefield reveal was reportedly postponed at the last minute, which makes sense. Typically, EA likes to reveal projects to fans via marketing materials at the same time as investors during financial calls.
EA Play Live joins a growing list of gaming shows to take place this summer. In June, E3 returns for an all-digital show on June 12, the same day as the next Ubisoft Forward show. Summer Game Fest will kick off in the same month, as will the PC Games Show and the Future Games Show, scheduled for June 13.
PAX Online and EGX Rezzed will both unfold in mid-July, followed by GDC. In August, Gamescom returns, as does Tokyo Game Show. Brace for impact.
