E3 hosting first ever public event, E3 Live 2016

E3 2016 will host an event open to the general public, the first in the expo's history. E3 Live 2016, according to its website, will be a free, three-day expo of its own, held June 14-16.

E3 Live won't take place at the Los Angeles Convention Center, where the standard E3 convention is held. Instead, the ticketed showcase will be at L.A. Live in downtown Los Angeles. The event kicks off at 5 p.m. PT on June 14 with gameplay demos, live music and dance contests, special appearances and more.

These kinds of special happenings will run throughout the week, with doors opening again at 12 p.m. PT on June 15 and closing at 10 p.m. PT on June 16. Registration for a free ticket is required for entry; tickets grant holders access during a five-hour timeslot.

This isn't the only free event running during E3. Electronic Arts is holding a separate event, EA Play, from June 12-14. It's open to all and will take the place of the company's usual E3 press conference.

Activision is similarly passing on its own E3 presence this year. Instead, it will showcase games at other publishers' booths.

Although there will be events starting the Sunday before, E3 2016 — run by the Entertainment Software Association — officially runs June 14-16.