All Aboard the Hype Train
It’s that time of year again, folks. E3 — the land of hopes, vertical slices, and endless promises. Do they all come to fruition? Gosh, no. Is it still fun to dream big? Absolutely.
Ahead of the E3 festivities, three of us here at The Punished Backlog — Sam Martinelli, Kei Isobe, and David Silbert — compiled our lists of expectations, predictions, and dreams for each press conference between Saturday and Tuesday. The big news, of course, is that Sony is a no show — a fact that makes this year’s E3 landscape all the more exciting.
Who will be the winners? Who will be the losers? We will see in due time, but here are our initial thoughts going into the show.
E3 2019 Conference Schedule
Electronic Arts – Saturday, June 8 @ 9:30 AM PT / 12:30 PM ET
Microsoft – Sunday, June 9 @ 1:00 PM PT / 4:00 PM ET
Bethesda – Sunday, June 9 @ 5:30 PM PT / 8:30 PM ET
Devolver Digital – Sunday, June 9 @ 7:00 PM PT / 10:00 PM ET
Ubisoft – Monday, June 10 @ 1:00 PM PT / 4:00 PM ET
Square Enix – Monday, June 10 @ 6:00 PM PT / 9:00 PM ET
Nintendo – Tuesday, June 11 @ 9:00 AM PT / 12:00 PM ET
Electronic Arts
Sam Martinelli
What EA needs to do
The only thing EA needs to do to “win” an E3 they’re not even attending is just make sure Jedi: Fallen Order doesn’t look awful. That’s literally it.
What EA will do
EA will really talk up how great it is that Fallen Order has no microtransactions whilst simultaneously touting the next FIFA and Madden games, which will surely have microtransactions.
What I hope EA will do
I hope they announce something else Star Wars related. Or Titanfall 3, but Respawn has already been pretty busy lately. Maybe NHL 20 on Switch?
Kei Isobe
What EA needs to do
EA has the least presence of any major publisher here sans Devolver Digital (and even Devolver might overtake them in meme coverage). To maintain expectations, they just need to show off enough of Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order to generate excitement and ensure fans that it will hit its promised release date of November 15th. Additional content for Apex: Legends, which seems to have fallen by the cultural wayside after its blockbuster first month, and Battlefield V would be welcome as well. And if they do have anything new to announce, now might be a good time. Or they can just announce a Switch port of Sims 4 (and try to get their sports games working on the Switch while they’re at it).
What EA will do
Respawn will demo Fallen Order for 30 minutes. We get some sort of Apex: Legends content roadmap re-established. EA reiterates that Madden, FIFA, and so on will continue to exist further into infinity. Sims 4 gets ported to Switch. EA says that they will endeavor to improve their sports franchises on the Switch.
What I hope EA will do
I don’t even know what I want EA to do that’s within the realm of possibility. Mass Effect and Dragon Age are still technically in play, but with the Anthem/Bioware controversy and failure relatively fresh in people’s minds, they may opt to keep those cards closer to the chest for now. I’d love to see new games in both series, but with the disarray that Bioware seems to be in, it’s hard to trust them with a new Mass Effect or Dragon Age. So, basically… don’t embarrass yourselves, is all I ask.
David Silbert
What EA needs to do
Show some games. Sounds obvious, but EA has made it abundantly clear in recent years that they’d rather highlight their relationship with content creators and streamers during their EA Play segment than talk about developers and their upcoming games. EA also has a nasty habit of playing things safe and hiding behind their core titles — Battlefield, Madden, and FIFA — instead of investing in new (and arguably more exciting) properties.
Look, nobody is asking EA to set the world on fire at E3. I don’t think they have ever really vied for top dog at the conference, and I don’t think they particularly need to. Plug your sports games, show off new Battlefield and Apex Legends content, make a few surprising indie announcements (last year’s presser was an encouraging step in the right direction), announce a new internally developed game or two (for consoles, not phones), and end by blowing the lid off of Respawn’s Jedi: Fallen Order.
What EA will do
Basically everything I said above, but in a different format, and minus the new game announcements. This year’s EA Play is taking place as a day-long series of gameplay streams, clearly inspired by Nintendo’s E3 Treehouse events. Fallen Order has a dedicated time slot, as do Apex Legends, Battlefield V, FIFA, Madden, and The Sims 4.
The schedule-heavy, pre-ordained nature of this year’s event will likely suck much of the air out of EA’s Saturday showing. There may still be room to fit in a few surprises (Sea of Solitude was, personally, the best part of last year’s conference, and despite the total lack of marketing from EA, I’m excited for its release next month), but EA knows people are tuning in to see Star Wars, and they’re going to kick any “non-essential” games to the curb to maximize their efficiency in the E3 spotlight.
From a financial perspective, it’s a sound strategy; Star Wars equals revenue in any capacity, but Star Wars done right will be a huge driver of sales for EA this fall. However, from a gamer perspective, it leaves me wanting more.
What I hope EA will do
This isn’t happening, let me be clear. But for EA to truly “wow” me, they’d need to bring back their most innovative (and also riskiest) franchises. Mirror’s Edge. Skate. Dead Space (rip Visceral). EA at its most vulnerable makes for EA at its strongest, and I long for the day where the publishing giant eschews traditional annual releases for real industry risk (something in direct opposition to consistent profits and strong returns on investment). Throw in the Star Wars announcement to end all announcements, Knights of the Old Republic 3, and EA will make an eternal fanboy out of me. As I said, though, it’s not happening.
Microsoft
Sam
What Microsoft needs to do
Microsoft needs to tout xCloud, expand GamePass dramatically, and really kill it with all the Gears content. Also, something new from Rare would obviously be welcome.
What Microsoft will do
Honestly? I think they’ll do exactly what I just said. They’ve been pretty good in recent years explaining the technological advancements they’re making, even if their (underrated) first party lineup often disappoints.
What I hope Microsoft will do
I’m hoping the Game Pass/Switch rumors are real, if only so I can play Halo in bed.
Kei
What Microsoft needs to do
Show off some games that I actually want to play. I have almost no interest in GamePass, cloud functionality, or Windows/Xbox/Switch integration, personally — the games are the only things that matter.
What Microsoft will do
Probably talk too much about minutiae like pricing, different services they’ll offer, and some talk about new SKUs and their overall strategy for the platform. Then I’m they’ll show off their games, some old, some new from their acquisitions they announced last E3. I know Phil said they would have 14 first party games — I really expect like only half of these to be relevant to me, but I think we’ll see glimpses of whatever Playground Games and The Initiative are working on. I expect them to get some notable 3rd party multiplatform reveals here too, such as the next FromSoftware game.
What I hope Microsoft will do
I hope whatever Playground Games and The Initiative are working on is real, real, good.
David
What Microsoft needs to do
Beat Sony to the punch; it’s that simple. This E3 is (or at least should be) a slam dunk for Microsoft, as its biggest competitor has taken the year off in order to consolidate its forces and launch a concentrated assault in 2020. Whereas some companies — subtext is for cowards; I’m talking about EA — might be content to stick to the status quo at E3, Microsoft needs to be firing on all cylinders.
I like to look at this the same way FiveThirtyEight.com’s Nate Silver might when assessing a presidential election: There are many viable paths for Microsoft when it comes to winning E3. The way I see it, there are eight major weapons in the publisher’s arsenal, and only a few need be deployed for it to make a big splash on Sunday.
The biggest one, of course, is Xbox’s new hardware announcement. Rumored to be not just one, but two SKUs, the “Next Box” has the benefit of being announced a full year before Sony’s PlayStation 5. In generations past, the “winner” of the so-called console race has gone to the company that deploys its next-gen console first. It happened with the Xbox 360. It happened with the PlayStation 4. If history repeats itself, it could happen Sunday afternoon.
Then, there’s Microsoft two biggest known exclusives: Halo Infinite and Gears 5. Impress with either (preferably both), and Microsoft now has two heavy hitters that’ll likely launch before Sony even has the chance to announce the PS5, let alone release it.
There’s also Microsoft’s lineup of unannounced titles. Playground Games has two games rumored to be in development — a new Fable game, and an open-world game designed to be “Microsoft’s Horizon: Zero Dawn.” Ninja Theory, in its time after the release of Hellblade, likely has something in the works (update: does have something in the works). Meanwhile, The Initiative, Microsoft’s most intriguing new studio, has been radio silent — something that may very well change on Sunday.
Game Pass is another viable tool at Microsoft’s disposal. With subscription-based gaming at a bit of an impasse — Google Stadia has been painfully noncommittal, and PlayStation Now has been a total non-factor — Microsoft is in a prime spot to steal the spotlight and double down on the wonders of its increasingly popular games service.
More exciting, perhaps, are the possibilities of xCloud, Microsoft’s cloud-based streaming software. With xCloud rumored to eliminate the need for Xbox consoles altogether and bring Microsoft’s games to even competitors’ platforms, there is plenty of room for xCloud to make a big splash at Microsoft’s presser. Playing in a Chrome tab via Stadia is one thing; playing on a Nintendo Switch with full Xbox Live integration… That’s a whole other ball game.
Next Box, Halo, Gears, Playground Games, Ninja Theory, The Initiative, Game Pass, xCloud. Count ’em: Eight weapons, eight opportunities to lend a mortal blow to Sony this year at E3. Again, we don’t need everything here. But the fact that Microsoft has plenty from the well to pull from shows that their generation-long rope-a-dope tactic may finally lead to something more.
What Microsoft will do
I’m not going to lie: I have high hopes going into Sunday. I don’t expect Microsoft to tick all the boxes, as I said before, but I expect them to come out swinging. Expect Halo and Gears to impress, prepare for Playground Games to show something flashy, and don’t be surprised if the Next Box features something drastic in an effort to shift the current balance of power.
Unfortunately, I think this all will come at a cost; namely, a hefty Next Box MSRP and the total abandonment of the base Xbox One and Xbox One S (I would be shocked if Xbox One X wasn’t compatible with at least some of the Next Box’s launch titles). But hey, that’s the cost of progress.
What I hope Microsoft will do
Let me play Halo Infinite on my original Xbox One, for the love of God; I didn’t suffer through the abomination that was Halo 5 to be denied the final game in the Forerunner trilogy. Also, GIVE US BANJO, Phil! We neeeeeeeed it.
Oh, and resuscitate Scalebound with a fresh coat of paint for the next generation. Then you’d have my money day one, no questions asked.
Bethesda
Sam
What Bethesda needs to do
Bethesda had one of the better presentations last year, but a lot of the titles in focus (Fallout 76, Rage 2) didn’t make a lot of positive noise. They need to show this year why people love their games so much and deliver on one of their key franchises.
What Bethesda will do
There will be a LOT of Doom Eternal, some VR stuff, and the obligatory Elder Scrolls Legends updates nobody asked for.
What I hope Bethesda will do
I’m hoping for a little more content for Quake Champions, and I know I’m the only person on this planet who is.
Kei
What Bethesda needs to do
…Justify hosting an E3 conference? They have Doom Eternal, Wolfenstein: Youngblood, and then post-launch content for Rage 2 and Fallout 76. With no Starfield or Elder Scrolls: VI, what else do they have to show?
What Bethesda will do
Joke about their games being buggy, promise that they’ll fix 76, and talk as much as possible as they can about Doom Eternal. Maybe they’ll port Fallout 3 to the Switch (not New Vegas, they don’t like to talk about that). Todd will make me laugh (I hope).
What I hope Bethesda will do
Show off Arkane’s next project! It’s been a while since Prey, and Dishonored has been shelved for the time being. Would love to see what they’ve been working on.
David
What Bethesda needs to do
Give the people what they want? I phrased that as a question because Bethesda has already confirmed that Starbound and The Elder Scrolls VI won’t be shown at the show — and that’s a mistake.
I get it, I get it; the games aren’t anywhere near ready to show off. In that case, though, what was the point of teasing them last year in the first place? Why wouldn’t you wait until E3 2019, since it looks like you have practically nothing else to show in their stead? Again, I think Bethesda has intentionally decided to take an L this E3.
What Bethesda will do
Show what little they do have. Doom Eternal and Wolfenstein: Youngblood will impress, no doubt. Quake Champions is still alive and kicking, I guess. Perhaps some new content announcements for existing titles? Fallout 76 could certainly use a stimpak, and I’m sure Bethesda will throw Rage 2 a bone. The Elder Scrolls: Blades as well, for that matter, but at this point I’m scraping the bottom of the barrel here.
What I hope Bethesda will do
Please, God. Announce Prey 2, and have it take place in the original Prey 2 setting. That would be so cool. They wouldn’t do that… would they?
Ubisoft
Sam
What Ubisoft needs to do
Ubisoft needs to finally let everyone know when Beyond Good & Evil 2 is coming out, if it actually ever will. Besides that, I think people already have a good idea of what to expect, so I doubt there will be a lot of surprises. Also, somebody needs to admit that Skull & Bones kinda looks wack.
What Ubisoft will do
They will show all the games that have already been announced (or leaked), and probably a little more on The Division 2.
What I hope Ubisoft will do
This is less a hope for E3 than it is for the company in general, but I hope they cut it out with all the Tom Clancy games. I just don’t think they’re what we need right now politically. Also I want more Rayman.
Kei
What Ubisoft needs to do
Ubisoft is probably in the strongest position right now relative to their expectations of all of the publishers attending. The move to biannual has paid off for Assassin’s Creed, their GAAS (games as a service) entries have all been reasonably successful, and they appear to have many projects of varying sizes in the pipeline. All they need to do is keep doing their thing.
What Ubisoft will do
Show off Watch Dogs: Legion. Then Rainbow Six: Quarantine. Then some of their smaller projects (this RPG, hopefully). Ghost Recon: Breakpoint footage. No Splinter Cell.
What I hope Ubisoft will do
I hope Watch Dogs: Legion is cool — I’m impressed that Ubisoft continues to create Watch Dogs games, which is an adherence to their vision that I can appreciate. A tease of the Viking Assassin’s Creed would be awesome.
David
What Ubisoft needs to do
Stop getting stuff leaked beforehand. All jokes aside, Ubisoft is in a decent place going into E3. They have new games to cover — including Ghost Recon: Breakpoint, Watch Dogs: Legion, and at least two other unannounced AAA titles — as well as updates for legacy titles like The Division 2 to show off. They’ll likely need to rely heavily on those four-plus AAA titles, as it’s looking like Assassin’s Creed, Skull & Bones, Far Cry, Splinter Cell, and Beyond Good & Evil 2 will all be no shows this year. While that’s a scary idea, it also means that Ubisoft has a real opportunity to wow viewers with new IP, fresh ideas, and unique mechanics.
What Ubisoft will do
I bet we’ll see a nice mix of new and old at Ubisoft’s presser. Ghost Recon, Watch Dogs, and The Division are bound to lean more towards classic Ubisoft ideology, while the publisher’s unannounced titles will presumably be the start of new, exciting, and long-lasting franchises. At least, that’s the expectation; nothing is ever guaranteed in the games industry. Thankfully, Ubisoft has been one of this generation’s most innovative publishers, and I don’t foresee that changing anytime soon.
What I hope Ubisoft will do
I know it’ll only being discussed indirectly during a pre-show livestream, but can we please, please, get some morcels about Beyond Good & Evil 2 this year? The wait for the return of Jade and Pey’j has been excruciating. Speaking of, what ever happened to Michel Ancel’s Wild. That still happening, Ubi?
Devolver Digital
David
What Devolver needs— oh, who are we kidding. There are no necessities when it comes to Devolver Digital.
Let’s leave it at this: What Devolver Digital game are you most looking forward to this year? Are you going to watch the presser even though said game will, virtually 99% likelihood, not be shown?
Heave Ho, easily. Had a blast playing the game with Kei and some others at PAX East a few months back. (Seriously, it’s great.)
And probably, though I doubt I’ll be happy about it (a late joke presser on a Sunday night might have been fun for college Dave, but it doesn’t jive well for working Dave).
Square Enix
Kei
What Square Enix needs to do
Show off Final Fantasy VII. Show off Avengers. Those are really the two majors notes they need to hit. Release dates or windows would be really do a lot to solidify faith in these two projects.
What Square Enix will do
Show off Final Fantasy VII, show off Avengers, then XIV: Shadowbringers and a menagerie of post-launch content. And maybe the barest tease of Final Fantasy XVI. And Switch ports galore!
What I hope Square Enix will do
I would love to see more of Babylon’s Fall, which was one of the only notable things shown in last year’s disaster of a conference. Deep dives into VII and Avengers gameplay and release dates.
David
What Square Enix needs to do
Live up to the Sony time slot. If this were a simple follow-up to Square Enix’s E3 2018 presser (read: a f***ing disaster), same time and everything, then I honestly wouldn’t even give it the time of day; it was that bad. However, Square Enix moving to the 9 PM EST slot and teasing Final Fantasy VII Remake and Marvel’s Avengers ahead of time tells me that the publisher is serious about at least trying to put on a decent show.
FFVIIR will be a clear focal point of the conference, so let’s start there. Square Enix will need to go big here, showing off a meaty trailer that teases new areas and characters. A release date will also be critical, especially given the fact that this is supposedly just episode one of the VII Remake experience. As for Marvel’s Avengers, a flashy trailer and deep dive into the game’s character creation and co-operative gameplay would make for a real crowd-pleaser.
Outside of its two marquee titles, Square Enix will need to find a balance between existing game announcements and new reveals. For existing games, new Kingdom Hearts III DLC makes a lot of sense, as does news about the upcoming Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age – Definitive Edition (dear lord that name) for Switch. For new announcements, the mysterious Outriders — believed to be developed by People Can Fly, makers of Bulletstorm — is certainly an exciting prospect, along with PlatinumGames’ Babylon’s Fall (assuming it’s still a thing, of course).
What Square Enix will do
I honestly have no flippin’ idea. That’s the thing about Square Enix — they’re unpredictable, for better or worse. All of the above makes sense to me, but who knows whether or not SE decides to take things to the next level and pull a Sony, or go on cruise control and settle for an EA. Both ranges of the spectrum on display here, potentially. We’ll have to wait and see.
What I hope Square Enix will do
Are you kidding? Swing for the fences! Give us The World Ends With You 2. Announce that Dragon Quest X is getting a U.S. release. Pull back the curtain on Final Fantasy XVI. I admit that all of those are unlikely, but I’ll always root for Square Enix to step up to the plate and really crush E3 one of these years.
Nintendo
Sam
What Nintendo needs to do
The Big N needs to reassure people that the new Animal Crossing will be coming this year, plus a few teases about projects in 2020 and beyond couldn’t hurt. Also, some improvements and additions to Switch online would really be good for their image, since they still do online stuff pretty poorly.
What Nintendo will do
Nintendo will talk a tiny bit about the new Pokémon and Mario Maker games, a little more on Link’s Awakening and Luigi’s Mansion, and a TON on a bunch of anime-style pseudo-RPGs that are only popular in Japan. Also, I guess some more indie ports?
What I hope Nintendo will do
I might be as big a Nintendo fan as anyone, and as much as I want a ton of new projects and announcements, they would win the show in my book by merely porting a ton of Zelda games to the console. I already own Ocarina of Time, A Link to the Past, and Wind Waker, but I still want them on Switch. GIVE THEM TO ME!
…also bringing back F-Zero would be nice.
Kei
What Nintendo needs to do
To echo what Sam said, they mostly need to focus on reassuring the public that the games they say will release this year, do release this year. Animal Crossing, Luigi’s Mansion, Fire Emblem: Three Houses, and Link’s Awakening are all games that are supposed to come out in 2019 but have had scant details surrounding them. The next batch of DLC characters for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is almost necessary at this point as well.
What Nintendo will do
Most likely, everything I said above will be shown.
What I hope Nintendo will do
Revamp their online, announce a plan for GameCube games on Switch (ports or remasters), give us an update on Metroid Prime 4 or Metroid Prime Trilogy, and some word on Bayonetta 3 would be nice, considering PlatinumGames has actually had a somewhat spotty track record the past couple of years (they released Bayonetta 2 in 2014, directed by Yusuke Hashimoto, and NieR:Automata in 2017, directed by Yoko Taro, neither of whom are at Platinum currently; meanwhile Korra, Transformers, Star Fox: Zero, and TMNT were all subpar).
David
What Nintendo needs to do
Frankly? Not much, to be honest. When you look at the rest of 2019, Nintendo has an already stacked lineup. Super Mario Maker 2 in June. Fire Emblem: Three Houses and Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order in July. Astral Chain in August. Pokémon Sword and Shield in November. Plus, Luigi’s Mansion, Link’s Awakening, Animal Crossing, Shin Megami Tensei V, and Tokyo RPG Factory’s ONINAKI, all presumably still coming before the end of 2019. From platforming to action, strategy to adventure, role-playing to interior decoration, there’s something here for everyone. Throw in all the other great looking indies still on the way to the Switch from now through December — Cadence of Hyrule and CrossCode, anyone? — and Nintendo’s showcases basically sells itself. All Nintendo has to do is hit play on the Direct, have an entertaining Treehouse showcase, and they will have done enough in my book.
What Nintendo will do
Despite what I said above, I think Nintendo might surprise people. Obviously, all of their already announced 2019 titles are fair game for the Direct, but I have a feeling that there are still surprises in store for viewers. Nintendo already aired lengthy Directs dedicated to Super Mario Maker 2 and Pokémon Sword and Shield in advance of E3, leaving plenty of breathing room for a few mini bombshells. A new Smash fighter reveal is likely, for one, but I also expect several new game teases — both for games coming in 2019 and titles coming a little later down the pipe. One thing is certain: Nintendo’s presentation will be one to watch.
What I hope Nintendo will do
I’m going to throw caution to the wind with this one and say what I’m sure everyone’s already thinking: Metroid Prime 4. Sure, Nintendo stated in January that the title had since been rebooted, but a lot can happen in half a year. A little CGI teaser to get people pumped, perhaps? Anything is possible. On a slightly more serious note, what about Bayonetta 3 or Pikmin 4? The former is unlikely, given the fact that Astral Chain likely will ship before we hear anything new on Platinum’s crown jewel. The latter? It’s been six years (six!) since Pikmin 3 — now or never, Miyamoto.
Above all else, though? I really just want two things: a Super Mario Odyssey sequel, and a surprise 2019 release date announcement for Team Cherry’s Hollow Knight sequel, Silksong. Yes, I know I’m playing with fire. No, I don’t care.
Thanks for reading! Be sure to check back in the coming days, as we share our post-show thoughts for E3 2019!
