What can we expect from E3 2019

E3 2019 is right around the corner and, as usual, the biggest names in gaming will make their way to the Los Angeles Convention Centre to show off their upcoming projects. Microsoft will be kicking things off this year with their conference taking place on Saturday 9^th June, followed by Bethesda later that day. For the first time in E3’s 24-year history Sony will not be making an appearance so expect Xbox to step up and show off some huge third-party titles. Since the expo is in LA and therefore in the PTD time zone, the listed times of each conference is in British Summer Time. 

Microsoft – Sun 9^th – 9pm

This year Microsoft is planning a lengthy two-hour press conference that will be showing 14 new first-party Xbox games. Despite confirming that so many first-party games will be shown, specific details are still thin, so it looks like there will be some surprises.

Halo: Infinite was first revealed last year and is one of the few games that have been confirmed for Microsoft’s press conference, so it seems like it will have a big presence this year. Gears 5, also revealed last year, will also very likely make an appearance. Rumours surrounding a new Fable game have been circulating since last year, with many believing Playground Games to be actively working on it. Earlier this month, an apparent leak surfaced on Reddit revealing story details, so rumours of an E3 appearance began once again. As exciting as a Fable 4 would be, if any game is revealed by Playground Games, it will be a new Forza. Last year there was also a first look at CD Projekt Red’s Cyberpunk 2077, so expect some more details and gameplay from that. Other games rumoured to be appearing include Ori and the Will of Wisps, The Outer Worlds, and a new sci-fi game from Ninja Theory called Bleeding Edge.

Moving away from games, Project xCloud, Xbox’s new streaming service, is something that might get airtime, as well as one of their two brand new next-gen Xbox consoles.

Bethesda – Mon 10^th – 1:30am

So far, it’s known that Doom: Eternal will make an appearance during Bethesda’s conference, following a gameplay reveal earlier this year. Since gameplay has already been revealed it a safe bet to say that plenty more is ready and waiting for gamers to see, as well as a more in-depth look at the overall game. Wolfenstein: Youngblood is set to be released in July and since the story details are already known, it’s likely there’ll be more to learn about the new co-operative play mode.

It has been confirmed that The Elder Scrolls 6 will not be making an appearance so it can be assumed that a DLC for The Elder Scrolls Online will be there in its place. Starfield will also be absent this year.

Ubisoft – Mon 10^th – 9pm

With no new Assassin’s Creed game this year, it has now been confirmed that Watch Dogs: Legion will be taking the spotlight during Ubisoft’s conference, after a new logo for the game was revealed on Twitter earlier this week. Ubisoft is being tight-lipped about what they’ve got planned but have also revealed that the newly announced Ghost Recon: Breakpoint will play a big part. It’s also known that some live service games will be getting updates, including Rainbow Six Seige, For Honor, and The Division 2.

There are a couple of high-profile games that are noticeably absent from Ubisoft’s E3 activities, including Skull & Bones and Beyond Good and Evil 2. Skull & Bones has recently had its release date pushed back to 2020, so it looks like this year’s conference will focus on games closer to completion. It has been teased that there will be a few surprises in store and with the publisher previously saying that three unannounced triple-A titles will be released by March 2020, it looks like it will be these getting announced.

Square Enix – Mon 10^th – 2am

With Sony’s absence from E3 this year, Square Enix will be taking the slot usually reserved for PlayStation and have already confirmed a few titles that will make an appearance.

Perhaps one of the biggest games out of this year’s E3, Dying Light 2, will be shown despite having its 2019 release date pushed back, as well as the promise of the long-awaited The Avengers Project from Crystal Dynamics getting some stage time. There will also be a chance to look at a new sci-fi game called Outriders, which has been getting teased on Twitter over the last few days. During last month’s State of Play it was teased that there would be more to see of the Final Fantasy VII remake in June, so an E3 appearance has been speculated and recently confirmed by Square Enix. Platinum Games is currently working on a few different titles, and with two of them likely being shown during Nintendo’s conference, expect to see more of Babylon’s Fall following last year’s cinematic trailer.

Nintendo – Tues 11^th – 5pm

Nintendo hasn’t revealed much about what will be shown during its E3 activities this year, but much like last year, in addition to its pre-recorded Nintendo direct, it will host tournaments to promote several games, in addition to daily streams of Treehouse Live.

Nintendo has confirmed that this year’s E3 presentation will focus on its 2019 releases for the Switch, so Pokémon Sword and Shield, as well as Fire Emblem: Three Houses, should be at the forefront. Daemon X Machina, Luigi’s Mansion 3, and a remake of The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening have also been announced for release this year, so these titles are also likely to make an appearance. After much anticipation, Animal Crossing for Switch was revealed last year with a 2019 release date. Other than this announcement there hasn’t been a lot to hear about it, so expect to get a first look at some point next week.

Gamers should also expect to hear more about upcoming Platinum Games’ titles Bayonetta 3 and Astral Chain. It’s been a while since any news about either and with Astral Chain being released on 30^th August and Bayonetta 3 originally having a 2019 release (which is now TBA), it’s about time more details begin to emerge.

What are you hoping to see this year? Let us know in the comments below and be sure to keep an eye out for our daily round ups of this year’s expo over the coming days.