Justin Kahn

Welcome to the 9to5Toys best of E3 2021 roundup. After a year off in 2020, and with all of the major showcases behind us now, it’s time to catch up on the most exciting announcements from the (virtual) show floor at this year’s E3 conference. While, to some degree, it felt like some of the publishers weren’t quite ready to meet gamers’ demands when it comes to E3-level reveals, it was still quite a notable showing. From The Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild 2 and Starfield to our first good look at Elden Ring, the new Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy game, a new 2D Metroid, and the “world’s most powerful” RTX 3080 14-inch laptop from Razer, it was quite an exciting four days’ worth of reveals and announcements. Head below for a full catch-up and our picks for the most anticipated announcements/reveals in the 9to5Toys best of E3 2021 roundup. 

Today, Pad & Quill is announcing its new iPhone 12 wood and leather wallet case. Dubbed the “10th Anniversary Luxury Pocket Books,” Pad & Quill is celebrating a decade in the leather iPhone wallet game with its latest design for iPhone 12, 12 Pro, and the 12 Pro Max model. This time around, it is presumably making use of the MagSafe array found in the back of Apple’s latest handsets while offering up a similar overall design to its previous-generation wallet-style cases. Head below for a closer look and an exclusive 15% discount. 

It’s now time for the Nintendo E3 2021 game sale. The iconic game publisher just wrapped up its E3 presentation with the first gameplay footage of the Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild sequel (it releases in 2022), the new 2D Metroid Dread game, and much more. But now it’s time for today’s massive Nintendo E3 2021 game sale with “hundreds of titles” marked down to fill out your Switch library for the summer. Be sure to take advance of this Nintendo Switch Online deal and then head below for the Nintendo E3 2021 game sale.

Well, with Microsoft and Bethesda behind us now, it’s on to the main event: the Nintendo E3 2021 showcase. After confirming this year’s presentation earlier this month, we know we are in for 40-minutes of pure Nintendo Switch games and it all starts now. Be sure to catch up on our coverage of the all the biggest reveals in our E3 2021 hub, including last night’s notable Razer event that revealed ‘world’s most powerful’ RTX 3080 14-inch laptop (and much more), but it’s all about the Mushroom Kingdom and new Switch games right now. Head below for the Nintendo E3 2021 showcase. 

The new Apple Beats Studio Buds wireless headphones were officially unveiled this week at $149.99 shipped. Pre-orders are already live on Amazon and elsewhere, but we have now spotted a notable offer at Costco. Members can now pre-order the new Beats Studio Buds True Wireless Noise Cancelling Earbuds for $149.99 with a $10 Apple gift card attached for a limited time. While not an actual discount, this is a great little incentive for Costco members looking to adopt the latest truly wireless headphones from Apple’s Beats brand. More details below. 

Apogee – one of the world leaders in analog-to-digital conversion and audio interfaces – is introducing its all-new Duet 3 today. Following in line with the previous generation version that “raised the expectations for what a home studio audio interface should offer,” the new Duet 3 interface is a sleek audio interface for Mac (and Windows) content creators and music producers with onboard hardware DSP to power built-in and low-latency recording with some serious plug-ins/FX. Head below for a closer look at the new high-end Apogee Duet 3 interface. 

Welcome to day 3 of the world’s biggest gaming event and the Capcom E3 2021 presentation. Yesterday we caught the PC gaming show as well as the Guardians of the Galaxy title in the Square Enix showcase and the massive 90-minute long Xbox and Bethesda event. Before that we saw Ubisoft take the stage just after our first good look at Elden Ring, but it’s now time to hear what Capcom has brought to the virtual show floor this year. Head below to watch the Capcom E3 2021 presentation. 

Today, we are taking a hands-on look at the Volonic Valet 3 charging system. This high-end wireless solution takes a cue from fashion design houses and Apple aesthetics to provide a luxurious and elegant charging pad with a price to match. Yes, there are more affordable options out there, but not very many that are quite as gorgeous — this is a true piece of functional art, in my opinion, with a sophisticated look and precision design approach. But is the steep price tag worth the price of entry? Read on for a closer look at the Volonic Valet 3 charging system.  

It is now time for the Square Enix E3 2021 presentation. Hot on the heels of the massive Microsoft and Bethesda event that just wrapped up (new Starfield footage, 27 Game Pass titles, Forza Horizon 5, Halo Infinite, and more), it is now time to see what Square Enix has in store. You’ll want to catch up on the Ubisoft and Gearbox events from yesterday as well as the Summer Game Fest presentation that capped off with an Elden Ring reveal, but for now all eyes are focused on the future of gaming during the Square Enix E3 2021 showcase. It’s waiting for you down below. 

Welcome to the Microsoft Xbox E3 2021 showcase, Bethesda included: Halo Infinite, Fable, Elder Scrolls 6, Starfield, Indiana Jones, and more. Microsoft acquired the behemoth game publisher for an equally massive $7.5 billion last year, which should almost certainly make for a particularly special event today. We have already caught some major reveals and announcements this year, including Elden Ring, Rainbow Six Extraction and Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope alongside everything from yesterday’s Gearbox presentation. While we’ll have coverage of today’s big Square Enix show later this afternoon, for now it’s on to one of this year’s biggest events, the Xbox E3 2021 showcase, and it all starts now down below. 

It’s now time for the Gearbox E3 2021 presentation. This year’s all-digital show is officially underway after Geoff Keighley’s Summer Game Fest shocked us all with our first look at the much anticipated FromSoftware title Elden Ring, followed by today’s Ubisoft Forward event that finished off with a good look at the new Avatar game. For now we are moving on to the next big event on this year’s E3 schedule, Borderlands developer Gearbox. It all starts now and you can watch the Gearbox E3 2021 presentation down below. 

E3 2021 is now in full swing with yesterday’s showcase (Elden Ring included), and Microsoft has now announced its second Summer Game Fest Demo event. Last year, as part of Geoff Keighley’s Summer Game Fest promotion, Microsoft offered up loads of playable demos to its gamer base via the ID@Xbox Summer Game Fest Demo event, and it will be making a triumphant return again this year. Starting next week, there will be over 40 demos for gamers to try out, almost like being on the show floor at E3. Head below for more details. 

While the show proper doesn’t start until June 12, OtterBox is unofficially kicking off E3 2021 today with the announcement of its new Power Swap Controller Batteries. Officially part of the “Designed for Xbox program,” the OtterBox Power Swap Controller Batteries offer what the brand refers to as an “industry-first power solution for console and cloud gamers at E3” with uninterrupted gameplay time in a complete wire-free setup. Head below for a closer look. 

E3 2021 is scheduled to kick off on Saturday, June 12, but we will actually be getting some major presentations well before that, including today’s Summer Game Fest showcase. Hosted by video game personality Geoff Keighley, Summer Game Fest initially started last year as a sort of replacement for the cancelled E3 2020 event and has transformed into what will presumably be a yearly summer celebration of gaming. This year it’s showing up to E3 2021 with a host of its own special game reveals and announcements including Call of Duty: Black Ops – Cold War content, Among Us, gameplay world premieres, and some “other surprises and reveals.” It all starts now, and you can watch the live stream down below. 

Pad & Quill — one of our favorite Apple gear accessory makers — is getting in on the Father’s Day action alongside Bose, Nomad, OtterBox, and others. This year’s gift guide is filled with its hand crafted leather goods including iPad Pro covers, AirPods Max cases, wallets, iPhone 12 sheaths, and cable organizers. Just about all of which include 10+ year leather warranties, 30-day money-back guarantees, and the 9to5Toys seal of approval. While there is no specific Father’s Day sale to speak of here, our exclusive code will knock 15% off everything in the guide anyway. Head below for more details. 

After unveiling its 12-in-1 Mortal Kombat Legacy Cabinet and seven others at CES earlier this year, Arcade1Up is now announcing a new Simpsons arcade machine. And by new we mean a sort of re-release of The Simpsons classic arcade in celebration of the original’s 30th anniversary. We still don’t have all of the details on the new 3/4 scale machine just yet, but we do have pre-order information and a closer look at the marquee art down below. 

Today, out of San Diego, we are getting the announcement of new environmentally sustainable MagSafe cases from LifeProof. A well-known brand in the protective smartphone case world, LifeProof’s latest will be made from as much as 50% recycled materials alongside an iPhone 12 version packed with Apple’s magnetic charging and accessory system. The brand will even be donating on behalf of customers to help the cause. Head below for all of the details. 

The Stanley Quenchers are back. After seeing some notable deals on its classic gear for Father’s Day, Stanley is now announcing the rerelease of its best-selling Adventure Quencher Travel Tumbler. Constantly out of stock due to its popularity on social networking platforms, Stanley’s “Instagram-famous” tumbler is not only now available to order once again, but it’s also releasing with some new colorways today as well. Head below for more details on the new Stanley Quenchers. 

Remember that quirky little Playdate handheld gaming console we featured last year? Well, it’s finally ready to hit store shelves after a series of delays alongside a completely new slate of launch titles and internals. Made in collaboration with equally as unique boutique tech brand Teenage Engineering, the mini hand crank-laden handheld looks as though it’s actually about to see the light of day with a launch presentation scheduled for next week. More details below. 

Welcome to your E3 2021 schedule. After skipping the 2020 event, E3 2021 is shaping up to be an exciting one. While the all-digital event has been somewhat hard to keep track of when it comes to each of the major publisher’s event times and the like, most of the big names have released enough details now for us to plan ahead and make sure we don’t miss the most exciting announcements. After getting Nintendo’s schedule yesterday and Square Enix releasing details this morning, head below for our master E3 2021 schedule and a breakdown of the most important showcases about to kick off late next week. 

With rumors of a potential Nintendo Switch Pro console announcement looming, we now have details on the Nintendo E3 schedule for this year’s show. After last year’s event was cancelled, the ESA confirmed this year’s all-digital show in April followed by details on the virtual show floor, social lounges, and the usual smattering of broadcasted events. And now, Nintendo has taken to its official Twitter account to confirm the details of its E3 showcase, but it doesn’t sound like this is where we are going to get details on the new Nintendo Switch Pro (maybe). More details below. 

Miller Lite and New Balance are teaming up for one epic special promotion for Dad this year, known as the “Shoezie.” Described as the first-ever shoe for your beer, it is essentially a shoe-meets-koozie designed in concert at Miller Lite, “the Father of Light Beer,” and New Balance, “the maker of the Dad Shoe.” The limited-edition Shoezie won’t be easy to get your hands on, as I’m sure you were already imagining, but you’ll want to head below for a closer look and more details to increase your chances. 

Rumors of the fabled new Nintendo Switch Pro console have been making the rounds for years now, and the latest suggests the unannounced flagship Nintendo console could hit as early as September. That, in combination with previous rumors surrounding an OLED Samsung display and 4K NVIDIA GPU, alongside a recent listing for the console on the Mexican Amazon, suggests we might actually be getting the Nintendo Switch Pro this year. Not to mention, a September/October 2021 release would fall in line perfectly with Nintendo’s typical console launch schedule. Head below for more details. 

Joining a growing number of new cases and covers from Nomad, Elevation Lab, Belkin, and more, today we are taking a look at the new WaterField AirTag luggage tag and leather keychain. WaterField — a boutique Apple gear and leather bag accessory maker based in San Francisco —  has been featured here many times for its handcrafted gear, wallets, and more, but it’s now time to dive into its latest offerings for Apple’s new item trackers. Head below for a closer look at the new WaterField AirTag luggage tag and leather keychain. 

Well, the day has finally come for us to see some actual Horizon Forbidden West gameplay. Sony has a special State of Play event scheduled for later this afternoon focused on Aloy’s next adventure on PlayStation 5, and we will be covering the event down below, as it happens, come 5 p.m. ET. It has been nearly a year since Sony and Guerrilla Games showed off their highly-anticipated next massive open-world game, but it’s only a matter of time now before we see the new frontier region (roughly modern-day Utah and the west coast) and Aloy in action once again. Head below for more details and to watch today’s  Horizon Forbidden West gameplay presentation. 

We now have the official release dates for the next open-world Pokémon games including Pokémon Legend Arceus and the upcoming remakes Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl. All three titles were announced back at the tail end of February during a special Pokémon Presents showcase where we saw more of the now released New Pokémon Snap. The Nintendo Switch exclusives will start to hit store shelves just in time for holiday 2021, but you’ll have to wait a bit longer than that for the next highly anticipated mainline Pokémon RPG. All of the details are waiting for you below. 

Steel Series — a well-known “worldwide leader in gaming and esports peripherals” — is introducing its new Prime gaming gear today. That includes three new mice models alongside the esports-grade Arctis headset that have been “co-developed in collaboration with pros, for pros, to win championships.” Although, with prices starting from $60, there’s a little bit of something for just about any PC gamer here. Head below the fold for a closer look at the new Steel Series Prime gaming gear. 

Today, Samsung is announcing its expanded Smart Monitor lineup including the new flagship 43-inch M7 UHD model. Positioned as the world’s first “do-it-all” screen, the Samsung Smart Monitors launched in 2020 with integrated media and productivity apps, plenty of connectivity options, and a solar cell-powered remote control, among other things. Already added to our roundup of the best Thunderbolt and USB-C monitors out there, head below for more details on the expanded Samsung Smart Monitor models and the new flagship 43-inch M7 UHD variant. 

After getting our first look at the brand’s new Wood MagSafe iPhone 12 dock earlier this month, we are now diving into the new Grovemade Stationery Collection. In its continued effort to bring customers premium desktop accessories made of gorgeous natural materials, Grovemade’s new lineup of desktop note pads features solid machined metal construction that looks fantastic on your workstation — especially if you have already invested in some of its other matching gear. Head below for a closer look. 

While everyone seems to be focused on the new MagSafe chargers hitting the market, it’s time to take a look at Volonic. Created by Shawn Dougherty —  the former founder of the popular tech accessory brand (and a particular favorite around here), mophie — Volonic is a high-end luxury lifestyle brand “fusing innovative technologies with fashionable works of art.” Its first product, the new Valet 3, is the world’s “first customizable, full-surface, position-free, wireless charging solution available on the market.” It uses special wireless charging technologies to offer up a premium cord-free charging solution to folks with a penchant for precious materials, fashion-grade textiles, and gorgeous, functional artist design — all of which you can design yourself with the brand’s online configurator. Hit the jump for a closer look at the Volonic Valet 3 charging solution. 

Today, we are taking a closer look at the Amazon Fire HD tablet lineup to decide which is the right option for you. Amazon’s affordable tablets have long since been a great option for folks looking for that hands-on computing experience that don’t see any need in spending iPad money to get it. With the release of the All-new Fire HD 10 models on the horizon, the options are about to get even more enticing. Starting from just $50, with worry-free models specifically geared towards the kids, it’s time to parse through the options to see which model is right for your needs. 

After seeing some enhancements to Super Mario Party and the release of PAC-MAN 99 battle royale, Nintendo has now unveiled the next entries to the Switch Online game library. While this month’s additions aren’t quite as popular as some of the Donkey Kong and Mario titles, it will bring the total number of games available to subscribers to more than 100. While new games aren’t landing on the server quite as regularly as they once did a couple years back, the library has since become an impressive one and is really the main reason most gamers will pay the $20-per-year fee for it. Head below for more details on the titles hitting the service next week. 

After launching another year of its Play at Home campaign, more freebies are coming our way as part of the PlayStation 2021 Days of Play program. This year’s event is focused on multiplayer action, plenty of exclusive PlayStation freebies, and bringing the community together. That’s on top of scheduled and specially themed “Share of the Week” content as well as an upcoming Days of Play game sale on PSN. Let’s dive in down below. 

After seeing a new Nomad solution recently, alongside a host of covers and keychains, today we are taking a look at the new FollowPaw AirTag dog collar accessory. Apple’s new item tracker is also being leveraged as a dog microchip of sorts to allow folks to be able to keep tabs on their furry friends. FollowPaw’s original sustainable cork leather leash and collar setup has now been reworked as an AirTag dog collar to offer up pet/AirTag owners a “100% vegan, water-resistant, and durable” solution. Not to mention a solid 20% price drop. Head below for all of the details. 

With Mario Golf Super Rush — the latest entry in Mario’s golfing career — set to launch on Switch in June, Nintendo has now released a brand-new overview trailer to give gamers a better idea of what to expect on the course next month. The game initially debuted during Nintendo’s big Direct presentation in February, but we now have a much better idea of the characters, a battle royale-style mode, RPG campaign, and more. Now up for pre-order, you’ll find even more details sown below alongside today’s new Mario Golf Super Rush overview trailer. 

The new Sonic The Hedgehog HugMe Shake Action Plush is now up for pre-order at Big Bad Toy Store. A perfect addition to any gaming room or SEGA collection, this 16-inch plush version of the world’s fastest hedgehog features Kidrobot’s HugMe shake action that sees the affordable stuffed characters shake and wiggle when you interact with them. Sonic is one of the latest entries in the lineup, with pre-orders now live alongside the Q3 2021 delivery date. Head below for a closer look. 

We now have even more details on what to expect from this year’s E3. After confirming there would be a digital event for 2021 back in April, the ESA (Entertainment Software Association) has issued a press release today with plenty of details on how E3 2021 will roll out, including a series of broadcasted events, social forums, and even a virtual show floor of sorts. Head below for all of the details. 

Sony just unveiled two new DualSense controller colors via the official PlayStation Blog. Set for release starting next month, the new Midnight Black DualSense is joined by a Cosmic Red take on the latest PlayStation 5 controller. The announcement comes alongside a new reveal trailer you’ll find below alongside more specific details on when and where to score one next month. Hit the jump for more details. 

Oakywood — maker of a range of Apple gear accessories and the like — is introducing its new lineup of washpapa tech accessories with the new Felt MacBook Case and Felt iPad Case. Both options combine soft merino wool felt the brand is known for and the eco-friendly leather alternative, washpapa. We previously took a hands-on look at the felt wool AirPods cases, as well as its walnut and polycarbonate iPhone 12 Bumper Case, but it’s now time to take a look at the new washpapa felt MacBook and iPad cases. Head below for a closer look. 

Grovemade is launching a new solid brass MagSafe stand for iPhone 12. After just recently taking a hands-on look at the very first MagSafe charging stand from Twelve South, it’s time to see what the latest from Grovemade has going for it. The higher-end Apple accessory brand unveiled its iPhone 12 Wood MagSafe Stand late last year but is now adding to the lineup with a brand new, solid brass variant and a particularly expensive price tag to match. Head below for a closer look. 

Today we take a closer look at the Ukutune UKD90 Solid Flamed Koa Wood Ukulele — the brand’s high-end natural wood tenor model. Last time around, we went hands-on with the far more affordable UKA1 model, but today we’re stepping it up a notch with solid Koa wood construction, a walnut fingerboard, and classic detailing. This one looks great in pictures, easily standing next to the big-name brands, but let’s dive in to see how it sounds and actually feels in your hands. 

It’s time to check back in with the Amazon Wag dog and pet food line. We tend to see great deals on its dry and wet options as well as the range of dog treats and dental chews on quite a regular basis, offering pet owners an affordable way to keep their furry friends fed and satisfied. Undercutting most of its competition on a pound-by-pound basis, the once brick-and-mortar pet store turned in-house Amazon brand has introduced a number of new products/formulas since we last checked in. Head below for a closer look and details on the new freeze-dried dog treats. 

After seeing the new Disney Star Wars retractible lightsaber this morning, new Star Wars collectibles continue with the Boba Fett prototype collectible figure. Hasbro is now readying pre-orders for the upcoming Retro Collection Boba Fett Prototype Edition —  a throwback collectible figure coming to Target starting tomorrow. The multi-color figurine features a unique, almost unfinished look to mimic how these toys are prototyped in the early stages of development, subsequently making for a brilliant little Star Wars collectible. Head below for a closer look and more details. 

The new Elevation Lab TagVault is the “first waterproof” AirTag case, and it’s now available for pre-order from $13. Elevation Lab — makers of that great little under-desk Anchor gear hook — are stepping into the AirTag accessory business with its new, protection-focused TagVault. Dubbed the very first waterproof AirTag case, the design here is heavily focused on protecting your AirTag at all costs while leaving it with a “nondescript” look that doesn’t broadcast to onlookers that there’s an AirTag in there, according to Elevation Lab. Head below for a closer look and more details. 

The new Twelve South MagSafe charging stand launched earlier this week with a minimalistic, clean look and a design that leaves your iPhone 12 floating in midair. We have been fans of the brand for a quite a while now, but with Apple reintroducing MagSafe tech this generation, it’s time to give Twelve South’s first crack at the technology a run for its money. Head below for our hands-on Twelve South Forté review.