It’s that time of year again. E3 is set to kick off Saturday with EA’s Press conference and then there’s a series of others from the big guys like Microsoft and Bethesda Sunday, Sony and Ubisoft Monday we’re in for quite a show this year. I’ve compiled a few predictions I have for what we may see announced in the coming days.

EA will likely show off all their sports games and announce a partnership with Sony for Fifa as well as more Esports competitions with BIG BIG money to be had. I also think they just might announce a remaster/re-release of the supremely popular series from Bioware, Knights of the Old Republic and a new IP of some sort from Bioware. While we’re on the topic of Star Wars, we’re going to get some incredible footage of Star Wars Battlefront 2 in glorious 4K that will focus on the campaign and the characters within(one of my friends is actually working on this title). I also hope they announce more support for EA Access with faster turnaround for their games an expanded library as well as launching on Playstation 4 later this year.

Microsoft is no doubt drawing the biggest buzz from fans and detractors alike. Poised to unwrap Project Scorpio, we’re going to get launch details price and we’re going to get a look at the actual box that’s designed to push the graphical boundaries in console gaming. I predict we get the console in October with Shadow of War as a day 1 launch title possible a week earlier than the the official October 10 launch date. I also think we’re getting a $499 CAD price point and an Elite controller bundled with the system. We’re going to see a new Forza in time for Christmas, and an exclusive first look at CD Projekt Red’s Cyberpunk running on Scorpio and possible details of a timed exclusivity. I wouldn’t be shocked if they announce a new initiative/platform to make it more lucrative for smaller/indie developers to bring games to the XBox Ecosystem. Crackdown is coming this Christmas season (possible launch title for Scorpio) a surprise look at the next Halo set for a 2018 release and maybe(though less likely) a slight tease of Gears 5. Cuphead will be available Sunday evening.

Furthermore – I think we’re getting OG Xbox backwards compatibility on Xbox One and Scorpio and an even greater kick to the pants of their new Netflix style all you can eat gaming platform with these titles being added there.

Sony is going to be be extremely first party software focused which is what we all want. Sony faithful want more games and they’re give us what we’re all looking forward to. The Last of Us 2 is next spring at the latest, Uncharted: Lost Legacy and Spider-Man are coming this year and more details about Days Gone expected to release next Christmas. More DLC timed exclusivity for Call of Duty for Sony fans. I hope they throw the VR faithful a bone here and announce some amazing first party VR experiences because knowing they put such a huge push on it the last 2 years there’s not really been all that much to get excited about. I think there just may be a Last of Us VR experience headed to PSVR in the near future (may be included with The Last of Us 2). I also think they’re going to hit Microsoft in the gut with an announcement of exclusivity of their Remedy’s new IP.

Bethesda is something of a wildcard. They seem to have a new mantra of keeping their cards close to the chest until the game is near completion. I wouldn’t be at all shocked to see a new MMORPG in the veins of ESO set in the Post apocalyptic Wastelands of Fallout. It’s been long rumored as something that was in the works. With Fallout 5 and the next Elder Scrolls game likely 2-3 years out, it feels like the time is right. I also think there’s going to be more content for Dishonored 2 and possibly Prey.

Ubisoft is going to come out swinging with a new Assassins Creed game. A complete and total overhaul bringing the long running franchise back to the forefront and it’s going to be bigger and better on all fronts. We’re also going to get a surprise reveal in a full on gameplay trailer for Beyond Good and Evil. I also think that Sam Fisher has been on the sidelines for way too long so I expect there to be a relaunch of Splinter Cell to be extremely nigh featuring a younger more modern Sam.

There’s a lot to take in there. If even half of this comes to be true, I think it would absolutely be an E3 for the ages. Now all we have to do is wait and see.

J