E3 Unfiltered
E3 2014 begins next week. Destructoid has its bags packed, ready to attack the press conferences and show floor. This year should bring us what we really wanted last year: games for our next-gen consoles. Sony and Microsoft have had time to work up some new things for us since their respective console launches, and Nintendo is running at full steam for its systems. Some of big third-party publishers have had enough time to finally show off what they’ve been working on.
And this is not counting all of the PC games, indie games, portable offerings, VR dueling (Oculus vs. Project Morpheus), and other new announcements coming. It should be good.
But we hope E3 2014 isn’t a huge tease. While we’re sure to get some new games for fall 2014, who’s to say that the rest of them won’t be hanging back to 2015? With all of the recently delayed titles that were supposed to launch this year moving to next, anything is possible.
If nothing else, we’ll at least get some exciting software announcements next week. You were heard last year, gamers — loud and clear. The big three knowfor surethat you don’t want to hear about hardware and entertainment features during your press conferences. It’s going to be all about games. Lots of games.
Our guide will set you up for Destructoid’s E3 Unfiltered coverage next week. First, we’ll lay out what you should know to catch you up. Then we’ll list out times for press conferences and other events. Finally, we’ll run down the list of top companies and tell you what you should expect.
Press conferences:
Xbox E3 Media Briefing — 9:30 a.m. Pacific, Monday, June 9 — streaming atxbox.com
EA World Premiere — 12:00 p.m. Pacific, Monday, June 9 — streaming atwww.ea.com/e3, or here at Destructoid
Ubisoft E3 Media Briefing — 3:00 p.m. Pacific, Monday, June 9
PlayStation E3 Media Briefing — 6:00 p.m. Pacific, Monday, June 9 — streaming atplaystation.com, or here at Destructoid
Nintendo Digital Event — 9:00 a.m. Pacific, Tuesday June 10 — streaming ate3.nintendo.com
Streams:
Battlefield Hardlineexclusive gameplay stream — 1:00 p.m. Pacific, Monday, June 9 — streaming atTwitch.tv/Battlefield
Events:
Smash Bros Invitational — 4:00 p.m. Pacific, Tuesday, June 10 — streaming atNintendo’s Twitch channel
Atlus:
All thingsPersonahave us excited about our appointment at E3 this year. We doubt thatPersona 5is done enough to show, but I’ll insist anyway.Persona Qis more likely, and that’s good by us.Persona 4 Arena Ultimaxwill be there, andPersona 4 Dancing All Nightshould too. But please just show us anything onPersona 5, Atlus. Don’t make us wait until TGS.
Capcom:
Capcom let some of their cats out of the bag with a few title announcements. People seem most excited aboutPhoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy, butDead Rising3for PC is also a cool thing.Monster Hunter Freedom Unite,Ultra Street Fighter IV, andMonster Hunter 4 Ultimateround out their offerings. And what ever happened toDeep Down? Plus, it would be…evilof them to not mention any other of their franchises next week.
EA:
The biggest thing for EA is probably the biggest pre-E3 leak,Battlefield Hardline. The cooperative cops/criminals game from DICE and Visceral is EA’s headliner for E3 2014. Other big games includeDragon Age: Inquisition,The Sims 4, and a huge sports lineup. I know you’re hoping to hear ’s Edge 2, or some newStar Warsbusiness.
Konami:
Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Painwill hold down the fort over at Konami. We expect gameplay!
Microsoft:
Microsoft has games. They’ve made sure we know that. There’s a newForza Horizon 2, Halo 5,Sunset Overdrive, and a few other goodies we know about but can’t talk about yet.
At least there’s the teasednew IPs and Japanese games— we’re looking forward to those.
As for hopes, let’s hope we see a newGears of War. Don’t get your hopes up onQuantum Break, though — it’s coming to gamescom later this year instead.
But we get the feeling that there’s some feature or program announcements that we’ll hear about at the press conference that will make Xbox owners happy. We think they’re going to announce something that will have them catching up with their nearest competitor in a particular area — subscriptions.
Namco Bandai:
Namco Bandai doesn’t get all the pre-E3 buzz that it should. They have lots of stuff I want to play in their lineup, includingTales of Hearts R,Tales of Xillia 2,andDynasty Warriors Gundam Reborn. Lords of the Fallenalso sounds interesting.
Nintendo:
When you watch the stream for Nintendo’s event, but keep the volume just low enough so you can listen for my scream. If you are anywhere in North America, you will hear my screams of joy and excitement if we hear anything aboutShin Megami Tensei X Fire Emblem. I will break windows.
Zelda.Zelda.Zelda.Zelda.Zelda. A new game? Yes, please.Expect something special from Zelda Williams. Also, more onHyrule Warriors.
Show us thisXgame from Monolith Soft already, will ya? Or at least tell us what it’s really called.
I hope we hear more about thisMario Makeras well as other 3DS titles. I’d betMetroidis a 3DS game. We should also hear more about top franchises likeMario Party, and maybe they’ll even do something with the recently announced NFC figures.
Sega:
Alien: IsolationandSonic Boomare the big ones for the show. We can daydream aboutYakuzaorPhantasy Star Onlinenews, but don’t get your hopes up too much.
Sony:
The Last Guardian. Finally. No? I’m never giving up hope.
We’ll see a lot ofDriveclub, The Order: 1886,and probablyThe Witness.Hopefully a newUnchartedis in the lineup for the show.
The Vita has a lot of upcoming surprises, I’m sure. We already know about some good titles, likeFreedom Wars.
Sony is probably the most likely to have the most tricks up its sleeve. They blew our faces away at GDC with their VR offering, Project Morpheus. Let’s hope they have more to show at E3.
Square Enix:
We know we’ll seeKingdom Hearts 2.5 ReMIXat the show, andTheatrhythm Final Fantasy Curtain Callwill also be there in a big way.
Who knows if we’ll see any of the bigger titles, likeFinal Fantasy XVorKingdom Hearts III.
Ubisoft:
The Divisionstill has us hoping for something outstanding. Hopefully we’ll see more. Ubi has a bunch of other hot stuff likeAssassin’s Creed Unity, Far Cry 4, andThe Crew, giving them one of the strongest lineups of the show.
But there’s sure to be surprises. How about the rumoredPrince of Persia?
WB:
Warner Bros. is coming out swinging atE3: Batman: Arkham Knight,Dying Light,Gauntlet,andMad Max.Oh, and a little thing calledMortal Kombat X.
Lastly, follow the E3 team on Twitter! We’ll be updating and taking pictures of things as they come up right on the show floor.
