With E3 around the corner, companies have begun their own form of hype for the event that starts on June 12, 2018. Sony has started to reveal teasers and release dates, Nintendo has announced a noticeable amount of upcoming content and Bethesda has given a teaser to their next Fallout game. All this news is something to look forward to, in addition to the new IPs and sequels that inevitably will be announced at this year Electronics Expo. With that in mind, I have compiled a list of the 5 items that I am looking to see announced from the event’s big players.
1. Sony’s The Last of Us Part II finally gets a release date and a very special reveal.
Sony has had a killer several years on top of the console-war heap for some time now. Yet, the most anticipated game to come from the tech giant is the next entry into the Last of Us franchise. A release date, a gameplay reveal, or at least the hint of where Joel is would give immediate momentum for Sony to capitalize on for the rest of the week.
2. Microsoft reveals their killer app of the generation
Even living under a rock, it would be obvious to everyone in the game industry that Microsoft has not released the game they need to keep rising interest in their console. Scalebound was canceled, Sea of Thieves has underwhelmed, and with every other game besides Forza doing less than exemplary, the Xbox One doesn’t have the draw as its main competitor Sony. Halo isn’t going to save them this year after Halo 5‘s disappointment. What they need to do is stop focusing on new consoles and focus more on getting new developers to give them exclusives.
3. Nintendo wins with Smash Bros.
Super Smash Bros. is one of the most popular games in the world. Every generation of Nintendo console has had a Smash entry since the Nintendo 64 debuted the original series. And the Switch has already had some phenomenal games already with Mario Odyssey and Breath of the Wild. Focusing on Smash is already on their agenda, but bringing yet another smorgasbord of games to their console will tilt the tide of this upcoming fiscal year away from the big two home consoles and back into the hands of Mario’s creators.
4. Bethesda reveals a new IP other than Fallout or Elder Scrolls
Everyone loves Skyrim. I have put more than nearly 1000 hours into the game over the last seven years. But Todd Howard’s studio needs to talk about something other than Fallout and Skyrim if they want to keep their mantle in the RPG genre; Cyberpunk 2077 is coming and so is Red Dead Redemption 2. Bethesda cannot afford another year without something to generate excitement. The fatigue of yet another Skyrim or even a Fallout remaster will be something great after this E3 if these events come to pass.
5. EA’s Anthem will directly influence Bungie to change
Destiny 2 is as close to dead as it ever has been. With most of its player base bored and leaving the game, Bungie has been in repair mode ever since launch last year. Anthem will either kill Destiny or bring it back to prosperity as the two compete for genre rule. However, Borderlands 3 and The Division 2 are both rumored and confirmed to be revealed this year, meaning even more competition will be on the horizon sooner than later.
This list is just my opinion on what could happen soon in the world of gaming, leave a comment below or contact me on Twitter with your ideas of what is soon to come this year at E3.