As another E3 looms large, expectations are much different than last year. The specter of MS's DRM and always online machinations clouded the proceedings, allowing Sony to swoop in and crush their competition handily. Nintendo, meanwhile, saw no presence on the E3 stage, opting instead to focus on an E3 Direct and show floor presence.
This time, it's all about the games. People have already bought into Generation 8 in record numbers. But now, in the wake of several delays--The Evil Within and The Order 1866 being two examples announced today--people are hungry for more stuff to play on their shiny new boxes. Meanwhile, Nintendo is staging something of a last stand, with a big bet on MK8 this month and Smash in the winter to reverse the fortunes of the beleagured WiiU.
The stakes are high for all three companies. Here's what I'm hoping to see:
- A $50 price cut on the PS4 to counteract the Xone's recent $100 price drop. The PS4 is already profitable for Sony--a FAR cry from the billions in losses for the PS3, which wiped out all their earnings for the PS1 and PS2 combined. But Sony prez Kaz Hirai has gone on record stating that he wants to keep their black box's price point as competetive as possible. It'd be nice to see them execute on that ASAP.
- Long overdue pricecuts for the PS3 and 360. The 360 will be 9 years old this year, and the PS3 will turn 8. They are absolutely ancient in terms of console lifecycles. Yet even now, we're still seeing bundles for $250-300, which is the same price they've been at for several years. That either one is selling for anything over $200 is absurd, and I want to see Sony and MS do something about it.
- No more games set for 2014 getting delayed. As I'm going to be playing most multiplats on PC, the lack of exclusives on both consoles this year is making it really hard to justify buying either one. Seeing what's left for this year get pushed back will only make it easier to ignore both consoles.
- Nintendo to not be a footnote like they were last year. I really, really want to see them knock it out of the park--a great showing for Smash 4, a full blown Zelda U reveal with a proper release date, more convincing Gamepad integration in their upcoming games...the works. They've decided to double down on the streaming-over-stage approach, and I'm hoping it works out for them.
- Something completely unexpected to bowl me over. In 2012, it was Watch_Dogs; in 2013, it was Killer Instinct. I want to see something I never saw coming that gets me as hype as humanly possible, seeing as so much of what I expected to see at E3 has either been announced already or got leaked.
- More fighting game stuff. When will Namco do proper next-gen Tekken and Soul Calibur titles? What is Capcom doing with Street Fighter next? Will they be doing anything that isn't SF-related? When will Guilty Gear Xrd come out here? There are lots of things I want to know on this front.
- A proper release date for FFXV. It was first revealed 8 years ago; I want to know when the hell it's coming out.
What do YOU want to see at E3 this year? Let me know in the comments.
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