The Electronic Entertainment Expo or E3 is coming very close once more. Starting this Monday with the big press conference of Microsoft, Gaming Boulevard is ready to cover the whole thing.
Before we reveal all the news next week, we take our time to write down our predictions and hopes for this edition.
I start of the predictions articles with my personal top 5 things I’m looking forward to and 3 things I would like to see but won’t happen.
Top 5 things I want to see.
5. Microsoft going big on Xbox One games.
It’s not a big secret that the Xbox One reveal wasn’t really the success everybody had hoped for. Microsoft focused too much on specs and special television services, rather than games. I really hope they’ll make up for this mistake by presenting a lot of breathtaking games during the press conference. We know Microsoft will reveal at least 15 games for the system but which games will be revealed is still a mystery. A new Halo along with some brilliant new IP’s could really turn arround the negative press. Microsoft, we’re ready to be surprised.
4. Sony’s PS Vita rescue plan.
Sony’s PS Vita has everything to be one of the top-selling handheld devices on the market. Beautiful screen, enough power to create big and gorgeous games, touchpad and dual analog stick. Although it’s the perfect system for handheld gaming, it’s not selling at all because of the lack of good games. Sony needs to wake up and reveal at least three new killing IP’s for the handheld. connecting the device with your PS4 to stream new games isn’t going to work. Sony must act now if they want the system to start selling more units.
3. Ubisoft surprise game.
We all know Ubisoft will show new demos for Assassin’s Creed IV, Watch Dogs, Splinter Cell and South Park. What I want to see this year is another big surprise game. A game that comes out of nowhere and turns out to be one of the biggest new upcoming games. This happened last year when the company showed Watch Dogs to the world. It’s exactly that kind of ‘Watch Dogs-moment’ I’m looking forward to.
2. Sony’s PlayStation 4.
E3 2013 is an E3 filled with next-generation games and consoles. One of the big players this year is Sony. Sony already showed off the PS4 in a successful event but still has a lot to share. When will the system release and how much will it cost you? Answers I really hope to find during this E3. I’m also looking forward to new footage of the PS4 line-up, including some big surprise exclusive games.
1. The silent yet strong Nintendo.
Nintendo isn’t in it’s top position anymore. The company struggled to get the 3DS going but they succeeded in that goal. The 3DS is selling great and is getting some of the best Nintendo games in years. This year on E3 we’ll see some strong 3DS titles such as Legend of Zelda and more. The 3DS is on a roll and Nintendo will keep the system going without a doubt. There’s no problem with the handheld, the problem is the Wii U. Nintendo can’t really convince people to buy a Wii U because of the lack of great games. I’m sure the company will reveal a lot of big Wii U games during this E3. We know that there won’t be a conference but a Nintendo Direct instead. I think this might turn out to be one of the best decisions Nintendo could make. Why bother with boring numbers when you can show off games during an online stream? Mario, Zelda, new IP’s… Nintendo really has to deliver with this Direct Show or it might be game-over for Wii U. I expect a lot from the company.
Top 3 of things that most likely won’t happen:
3. Big innovation in the Call of Duty franchise.
Call of Duty is ready to go next-gen during this E3 but is the franchise ready for it? Call of Duty is the best selling franchise next to Grand Theft Auto and doesn’t need that much innovation. I would love to see a new engine for the next game as well as some game changing innovations. Fans are buying the game nevertheless so I don’t really expect this to happen but it will certainly be something good if it did happen.
2. Valve’s Steam Box.
Valve is currently working on the Steam Box, a device that’s something between a PC and Console and should be able to play games on a next-gen level. A big E3 show and revealing would make this E3 legendary… But it most certainly won’t happen.
1. Xbox One without DRM.
Xbox one uses a DRM system, this means your software gets assigned to you digitally and is a true disaster for the used games market. If you want to buy a used game you’ll still have to pay a fee for it because the software hasn’t been assigned to you yet. Giving games you’ve already played to your friends so they can enjoy them won’t be possible anymore. There’s a lot of drama and frustration about this DRM so Microsoft would be wise to just drop the whole idea. Will they do it? Nobody knows.
