Possible dates for Microsoft Build have leaked a couple of times over the past few weeks. Now it looks like it’s official. Build, Microsoft’s annual developer conference — a virtual event again this year — will be from May 25 to 27.
Microsoft is listing Build 2021 now on its public-facing events page. (Thanks to Microsoft Partner Program Manager Donovan Brown for the link.) Microsoft’s dedicated Build site still hasn’t been updated to reflect the official dates for this year.
A spokesperson confirmed to me these are the correct dates and said Microsoft had nothing to share about when it would open Build registration.
Microsoft is supplementing its main, larger conferences this year with smaller “What’s Next” virtual events. A “What’s Next for Gaming” event is expected in the coming weeks. The Game Stack Live event also listed on the U.S. events page is not that event, I hear.
I’m also not sure if the expected “What’s Next for Windows” event that Microsoft has planned will be Build 2021 itself, or a separate virtual event held before Build takes place. Microsoft officials opted to break out some of Microsoft’s bigger product announcements this year in the form of separate dedicated virtual events. A “What’s Next for Industry” February event is where Microsoft launched more of its vertical cloud bundles. Spring Ignite was considered its “What’s Next for Cloud” event. Microsoft also is expected to do a “What’s Next for Security” virtual event later this year.
Microsoft officials are trying to ramp up and engagement around Windows this year, after several years of not putting a lot of energy into and focus on promoting that business. So maybe Build actually will include new content that will highlight Windows 10X, Windows 10 21H2 and more. Recent Build events have focused heavily on Office, Azure, Power Platform and IoT and to a lesser extent on Windows.
