E3 is almost upon us, which means we’ll soon be getting announcement after announcement about the latest and greatest upcoming video games and hardware. What should we expect from this year’s Gamer Christmas? It’s time to speculate.
Microsoft’s Scorpio Will Get a Release Date, Price
Let’s get the most obvious out of the way first, shall we? We already know the beefed-up newcomer to the Xbox family will be out this year; Microsoft told us so at its last E3 press conference. We know it’s got six teraflops of power, true 4K gaming capacity, and an advanced liquid cooling system; what we don’t know is exactly when the console release and how much it will cost. Our money’s on late October, starting at $400—any more and Microsoft is risking the same kind of backlash that accompanied the original Xbone at launch.
Nintendo Switch Gets First-Party Hits
Instead of having a traditional press conference, Nintendo likes to address the fans directly during the week of E3. On Tuesday morning at 9 a.m. PT, the publisher is streaming a “Kick off Nintendo at E3†presentation, during which we’ll presumably hear more about its 2017 lineup. Super Mario Odyssey should be getting a definitive holiday season release date, but that’s not the only first-party news we’ll hear. With the Switch port of Mario Kart 8 becoming the fastest-selling game in franchise history, can a deluxe version of the Wii U’s Super Smash Bros. be far behind? Probably not. Also, it’s about time we got some news on the next Animal Crossing, as the Switch is the perfect platform for it.
Elder Scrolls… in Spaaaaaaace
The rumor about Bethesda’s Starfield has been floating around for a while, and it’s entirely possible the rumblings will become reality at the publisher’s June 11 press conference. You don’t book a big prime-time showcase unless you’ve got something massive to show off, like Fallout 4 (which happened in 2015) or the return of Quake and Dishonored (2016). It’s also been six years since the last Elder Scrolls and two since Fallout 4, so we’re due for another epic, sprawling Bethesda RPG.
Kingdom Hearts III or Final Fantasy VII News (But Not Both)
Sony and Square Enix just love to tease. They also love to make announcements years and years before the product is actually released (let’s not forget 2016’s Final Fantasy XV was announced in 2006). One of the most memorable moments in E3 press conference history was the reveal of the long-rumored Final Fantasy VII remake at Sony’s show back in 2015, and since then we’ve heard… almost nothing. Same with Kingdom Hearts III, revealed even further back in freaking 2013. One of these Square Enix JRPGs from a beloved franchise has to be inching closer to completion, right? Right?
More Nostalgia Reboots
Like it or not, ’90s nostalgia is in full swing right now. We’ve got Crash Bandicoot and Toe Jam & Earl titles on the way, a new Bubsy was just announced, and that’s probably not the last we’ll see of mouthy 90s gaming mascots. What’s next, a high-def Gex remake with the titular gecko cracking wise about modern pop culture? More Jazz Jackrabbit? A gritty Cool Spot reboot? We’ll find out soon enough.
Microsoft’s HoloLens Will Become a Consumer Reality (Someday)
Microsoft’s augmented reality headset got an impressive showing at E3 2015, when a live HoloLens demo showed us all how to experience Minecraft in a whole new way. Since then, it’s been made available to developers, but it’s not quite market-ready. That should change soon. With Apple also moving into the AR field with its own ARkit development software, it’s time for Microsoft to make a move. HoloLens won’t be cheap and it’s still probably not coming out this year, but it’s time for the mixed-reality device to make another appearance.
Lara Croft Returns in a New Tomb-Raiding Adventure
Square Enix’s 2013 Tomb Raider reboot was met with critical acclaim and set a new sales record for the franchise. Rise of the Tomb Raider successfully built upon that foundation and continued Lara Croft’s new origin story in 2015. It’s now been another two years, which means the time is right for a new Tomb Raider. We’re ready to see a more experienced Lara in some different exotic locales—with her trusty icepick in hand, of course. Just don’t expect it this year, since Tomb Raider games are typically announced a year or more before release.
What are you expecting (or hoping against hope) to see at E3 2017? Be sure to drop a comment and let us know.
Image: Microsoft
