2013 E3 Forecasting

Next week is E3, the ongoing gaming convention that exploded in the last ten years to be an exhibition of marketing excess and massive spend. Historically, the biggest anticipation has been seen in years where a new console is launching, so you might expect this year’s E3 to be off the charts crazy. To give it some perspective, the Xbox 360 launched in 2005, and the PS3 and Wii came a year later in 2006. This year, Xbox One and PS4 both launch on the same year, and anticipation is high.

But both companies (Sony and Microsoft) hosted their own presentations weeks before E3 to announce the new console and seemingly take a lot of wind out of sails of a big announcement at the show. This has left people wondering what’s left to show… turns out a few things:

1. Sony’s actual console

Somewhat anti-climatic at this point by virtue of the Xbox One looking like a big DVR, at this point the value in seeing the box is really just proof that Sony hasn’t been lying about having one coming out. Nobody expects an amazingly designed piece of hardware; just one that works and is real.

2. Nintendo U

The struggling Nintendo U badly needs to announce something that keeps it relevant; in a world where everyone will be looking at the next important thing from Sony and Microsoft, Nintendo needs to prove why you want to keep investing in their platform. They need to show something… big franchise titles is really the only obvious gun they have.

3. Sony games

Sony finds themselves with the surprising label of being the most developer-friendly ecosystem for the next generation platform. Is it true? Hard to say, but people will be looking at E3 to see some proof of the better developer environment and will be expecting some real differences in the titles they see.

4. Microsoft recovery

With expectations lowered as a result of a series of missteps, Microsoft should be bouncing back with a heavy emphasis on gaming. They released a trailer that heavily showcased Halo 4, Call of Duty and Gears of War, and I would expect some heavy gaming focus, and if they are smart some aggressive rumor-killing.

5. The big games

Call of Duty will present, but the audience is starting to get tired of super realistic shooters; make no mistake, people are still going to buy it like crazy, there’s just a lot less to get advance excited about. You’ve got guns, they are super realistic, and you’re going to shoot people with others in an online scenario. Fun, yes. Shocked and surprised? No.