Microsoft and Bethesda will reportedly hold a joint summer conference in June

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Will we finally get our first proper look at Starfield?

Starfield starbase
(Image credit: Bethesda Softworks)

The E3 season, or whatever it's called these days, is rapidly closing in. Geoff Keighley's Summer Game Fest gets the ball rolling on June 10, followed by the online-only E3 from June 12-15, and individual events like Ubisoft Forward, EA Play Live, and of course the PC Gaming Show and Future Games Show.

Microsoft and Bethesda will also return with online presentations this year, and according to a Le Figaro report (via VGC), this year they'll be doing a joint event. Specifics weren't revealed, although Matt Booty, head of Microsoft Studios (and thus a guy who's in a good position to know about these things) said it will take place in a few weeks, dropping it right into the meaty part of the Big Summer o' Games.

A shared showcase makes sense. Microsoft owns Bethesda now, in case that had slipped your mind, and while Bethesda has historically done its own thing (and certainly remains big enough to continue doing so), it's a big jewel in the Xbox crown. Rolling Bethesda's showcase into a larger Xbox event is a great opportunity to make a statement, especially if, as many expect, it will include a look at Starfield and possibly a release date tease. 

Starfield is expected to be Bethesda's next big thing—it's the studio's first original RPG in 25 years—and recent rumors indicate that it will not be released on the PlayStation 5.

I've reached out to Microsoft and Bethesda to confirm their reported plans for a joint show, and will update if I receive a reply. You can keep track of all of the online events happening this summer with our handy E3 2021 schedule.

Andy Chalk
Andy Chalk
US News Lead

Andy has been gaming on PCs from the very beginning, starting as a youngster with text adventures and primitive action games on a cassette-based TRS80. From there he graduated to the glory days of Sierra Online adventures and Microprose sims, ran a local BBS, learned how to build PCs, and developed a longstanding love of RPGs, immersive sims, and shooters. He began writing videogame news in 2007 for The Escapist and somehow managed to avoid getting fired until 2014, when he joined the storied ranks of PC Gamer. He covers all aspects of the industry, from new game announcements and patch notes to legal disputes, Twitch beefs, esports, and Henry Cavill. Lots of Henry Cavill.