Update (06/12/21, 4:10 PM) – The ESA has provided a statement regarding the E3 co-streaming program which explains the small pool of selected partners and clarifying its plans for co-streaming.
Here's the ESA's statement about co-streaming in full:
We welcome anyone who would like to co-stream the event to do so, it just wouldn't be in an "official" capacity.
E3's goal with official co-streaming is to embrace the creator community, and since this is the first time we have ever done official co-streaming with creators, we decided on a small select group this year to monitor the opportunity and see how we can apply it to future E3s.
Out of all the applicants, less than 100 creators/brands were selected for official co-streaming, which consisted of our official distribution service and media partners as well as a diverse group of influencers and creators who consistently create video game content across YouTube, Twitch and/or Facebook.
Again, we welcome everyone who’s interested to co-stream, we're just reminding them to recognize the terms of service for each platform.
Our original story continues below.
E-mails regarding the E3 co-streaming program went out today to personalities such as Geoff Keighley, ultimately rejecting any additional quests to simulcast the event.
Co-streaming involves broadcasting a live event on your own channel, occasionally supplemented by your own commentary. The Game Awards and Summer Game Fest creator Geoff Keighley was one of the people interested in participating in this program, but it looks like his efforts have proved fruitless.
The E3 Co-Streaming Program Falls Short Compared to Other Shows
Geoff Keighley shared a rejection e-mail for the E3 co-streaming program on his Twitter earlier today. What's particularly unusual is that these e-mails appear to have gone out at virtually the last minute — remember, the first E3 showcases are starting today.
"The exclusive E3 co-streaming program had limited availability and the co-streaming spots were quickly filled." – E3 e-mail shared by Geoff Keighley
"I did try to play nice[…]" Keighley said in a tweet. "Creators be wary unless you have permission. Good thing we have direct deals with the publishers."
Keighley wasn't the only person who received such an e-mail; game designer and writer Steven MacDougall said that he also received one of these e-mails despite not applying for the program.
As a point of comparison, Keighley noted the differences between the E3 co-streaming program and how other companies are handling such requests. The Xbox and Bethesda Games Showcase, for example, points towards a Twitch blog post that highlights that this particular event will be co-streamable via the twitchgaming channel.
Keighley's own Summer Game Fest event has a form that people can fill out to become an official co-streamer which will get them "a special toolkit of images and assets," but it's not strictly necessary — as the form says, anyone can co-stream the Summer Game Fest for free.
It seems that the ESA has been extraordinarily selective for who it is allowing to co-stream the show this year. A news post from earlier this month noted that partners for the E3 co-streaming program include Lirik, AnneMunition, CohhCarnage, and others; a total of 12 streamers were named alongside an unknown number of other official partners. We've reached out to the ESA for comment and will update this article when we receive a reply.
If you want to check out more of TechRaptor's E3 2021 and related summer event coverage, click here.
What do you think of how the E3 co-streaming program was handled? Do you think the ESA is doing a good job with managing E3 2021? Let us know in the comments below!
