E3 2019: 8 things to expect from the biggest video game show

For fans who want to know the future of games, E3 has always been an exciting week. This year, however, a big cloud hangs over the series. Two of the biggest names in the industry do not hold their regular press conferences; The mega-publisher Electronic Arts will broadcast live news and announcements over the weekend; and Sony does not just give up an introductory speech, it skips the E3 completely. At the same time, the weeks leading up to E3 were filled with major announcements, starting from the next Call of Duty and a strange picture of Pokémon expected experiences, long-awaited details about Google's cloud game service and a release date for Grounding of death.

He left it to think – and not for the first time – about the relevance of E3. If you are still excited?

Well, even without these two big names and their imposing presence, a lot of things are going to happen in Los Angeles next week. The absence of Sony has left a great opening to Microsoft, while other platform owners such as Epic and its young PC gaming store are looking to make a splash. On top of that, the real reason why E3 is so much fun: the games. We are going to have our first real look at the long development Avengers game, as well as the expected return of Nintendo to Crossing of animals, the last Armament of war, and the shining Jedi Star Wars: Fallen Order of Respawn.

And that's all we know. Ubisoft loves to surprise (the multiplayer roller derby, do you mind?) And, with all these new studios under his umbrella, Microsoft probably has many new titles to discuss. With the first virtual reality conference at E3, virtual reality games will also have a great presence. In addition, there are already titles in preparation for major updates: think Apex Legends, Fortnite, and Monster Hunter World.

So yes, the E3 may lack big players, but there will still be much to take. That's what to expect.

First details on the next Xbox

In the absence of PlayStation, you can expect a big drop from Microsoft. And what's bigger than a new console? It is highly likely that the next Xbox is not physically present at the show and we will probably not see a box or hear a definitive name, let alone the price or the release date. But, in the same way that Microsoft launched the 2016 E3 on the Xbox One X (then Project Scorpio), we expect to hear a) confirm that the new console exists and b) some high-level specifications and a broader philosophy . This is the same strategy used by Sony with the PlayStation 5: details that dribble slowly before a big and latest revelation coming.

Picture of Vjeran Pavic / The Verge

The buzz of cloud games continues to grow

The main theme of this year's GDC was cloud games, mainly because of the unveiling of Google Stadia. This trend continued before E3, when Google detailed the launch price of the service and the games offered yesterday. But Google is not the only player in this space. Microsoft also has its xCloud platform, which will be an important part of the company's future projects and should have some presence in the keynote address of Xbox E3.

Nintendo finally shows up Crossing of animals

In recent years, Nintendo has chosen a single game as the main goal of E3. It started with The legend of Zelda: the breath of natureand continued with Super Mario Odyssey and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. This year, expect the spotlight to fall back on the next Crossing of animals. (It will probably not be Pokemon Sword and Shield, as Nintendo announced new details for the Switch games just this week.) The animal-themed simulation of life will be a major holiday game for Nintendo, but we have hardly heard of it since its release. announces last year. Although there are no practical opportunities with the game, we still expect to learn more about the details.

Photo of Justin Sullivan / Getty Images

Epic continues to push its PC store

Computer gaming has not traditionally been an important part of E3, which is more focused on console space, but that should change. And a big reason for that is Epic. the Fortnite The developer will be leading the PC Gaming Show speech this year, which means we will hear more about the Epic gaming store. This could mean new features to better compete with Steam, and this will likely also include even more exclusive titles coming into the store.

Virtual reality in the honor

Virtual reality has always been present at E3, but it has always been felt as an afterthought. This year, however, will mark the first keynote address centered on virtual reality. Called E3 VR Showcase, the event is organized by the enthusiastic VR Upload site. Do not expect a lot of new material, but rather a wave of games, whether big or small. "We will travel the world to meet VR developers of all shapes and sizes, tell them about their latest projects and reveal them to you," says the description of the event.

Existing games expand with extensions and updates

One of the biggest changes in video games in recent years has to do with the lifespan: we no longer play a game, and then we forget it. Instead, they continue to grow and change over time. This means that some of the most interesting revelations of the E3 will focus on games that you can already play. We will learn more about Apex Legends'(Hopefully improved it) second season, as well as the first major expansion for Monster Hunter World, which happens to be Capcom's best-selling game of all time. And do not be surprised if we get Fortniterelated ads as well.

Square Enix catches up last year

Last year, Square Enix held its first E3 speech, which was a little disappointing. (Unless you really as Kingdom Hearts.) But it seems that the publisher will catch up with at least two important announcements. To begin, we know that we will have a first glimpse of the mysterious project of the company. Avengers game, which is barred by tomb Raider Crystal Dynamics studio. And it also seems that we will see more of this long-awaited remake of Final Fantasy VIIand many are waiting for an announcement of the release date.

Netflix goes further in the game

Netflix has gradually expanded its presence in games, from the show Choose your adventure to you. Bandersnatch to the video game iterations of Strange things. The streaming company will be present at E3 for a roundtable on integrating Netflix's properties into the world of video games. He also promises "some surprises in store," which means, hopefully, that we will have a Russian doll adventure game.