E3 2021: highlights and predictions for major video game event
The time has finally come for video game developers and publishers to present their upcoming titles to a sea of dedicated fans.
It’s E3 week, and there is no doubt there is about to get some exciting video game news.
E3 is a yearly video game industry exhibition, where publishers, studios and gaming hardware manufacturers announce and showcase their upcoming games and gaming accessories.
It’s one of the biggest events in the game industry calendar, with many major studios like Microsoft and Ubisoft taking part—although Sony has been notably absent from the last two events.
E3 is all-digital this year, and the events will be available via streaming on YouTube and Twitch.
Unfortunately for Australians, most of the events will be starting well before dawn, so get ready for some early mornings.
There’s a heap of big names attending this year, so here’s a summarised selection of some of the most exciting events to look forward to.
June 12
Koch Media 5 am AEST
Koch Media is an enormous company, but their presence at E3 this year is a bit of a mystery.
Developer Deep Silver will be there and politely told the Twitter-sphere there wouldn’t be any new information about Dead Island, Saints Row, Metro or the upcoming Timesplitters game this year.
They have posted a link to the Koch Media stream, a website curiously titled “We Know Something You Don’t Know”, so chances are, Deep Silver is sitting on something big.
June 13
Ubisoft 5 am AEST
It looks like Ubisoft has a lot planned this year.
They’ll probably provide glimpses of extreme sports game Riders Republic and first-person shooter Far Cry 6.
Fans should also expect a release date for the upcoming Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla expansion.
Ubisoft usually releases a new Assassin’s Creed game every year or two, so fans will probably be getting a new addition to the historical RPG series in 2022 and a teaser for it this weekend.
Gearbox Entertainment 7 am AEST
Gearbox is likely going to release another Borderlands game this weekend.
Gearbox Publishing is also working on Tribes of Midgard, a co-op Viking survival game due for release later this year. Now seems like a good time to showcase another trailer as the game nears its completion.
Xbox has big plans for Halo and Starfield this year. Picture: Microsoft
June 14
Xbox and Bethesda Games 3 am AEST
Microsoft recently acquired Bethesda Games, and there are plenty of questions floating around the internet about what this means for Bethesda’s upcoming titles.
With any luck, this year we’ll finally see some more information about Starfield, Bethesda’s new open-world space RPG, and Halo Infinite (which looks to be the last standalone Halo game for a while) … and possibly another trailer for Fable 4.
It seems unlikely that Bethesda will share anything about the long-awaited sixth title in The Elder Scrolls series, but gamers can dream …and then replay Skyrim for the 15th time).
Square Enix 5.15 am AEST
Square Enix might be looking to release another trailer for Final Fantasy 16, but there’s no doubt that we’ll also be seeing more of the Life is Strange sequel this weekend.
It has been a few years since the initial announcement of the action game Babylon’s Fall, and it will be interesting to see if Square Enix has anything to share about this mysterious new title.
June 15
Take-Two Interactive 3.15 am AEST
Take-Two owns Rockstar and 2K Games so, they could announce anything. Rockstar might be planning a Grand Theft Auto 5 update, or they might finally be ready to announce GTA 6.
While it’s unlikely, it would be interesting to see a next-gen sequel to LA Noire, as the original game celebrates its tenth anniversary this year.
Capcom 7.30 am AEST
Hot off the heels of Resident Evil Village, Capcom has already revealed on Twitter that they will be focusing on The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles, Monster Hunter, and Resident Evil.
But Capcom’s release schedule of planned titles over the next three years was leaked in November, hinting at a Dragon’s Dogma sequel release next year, as well as new Resident Evil and Street Fighter games.
Since the news is already out there, E3 could see Capcom finally break their silence on these alleged future releases.
Breath of the Wild 2 is at the forefront of everyone’s mind. Picture: Nintendo.
June 16
Nintendo 2 am AEST
For those who’ve been feverishly playing Pokémon Platinum in anticipation of the remakes later this year, this is the showcase for you.
Nintendo will be running a 40-minute presentation at E3 this year, and after seeing the trailers for Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl and Pokémon Legends: Arceus earlier this year, fans are looking forward to some more refined gameplay footage.
It is also likely (and very, very exciting) that we’ll be getting another glimpse of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild sequel, and—fingers crossed—an updated Nintendo Switch console.
Bandai Namco 7.25 am AEST
All eyes are on Bandai Namco this year, and for good reason.
It has been two years since the initial announcement of Elden Ring, the new RPG from author George R.R. Martin (Game of Thrones) and video game visionary Hidetaka Miyazaki (Dark Souls, Sekiro, and Bloodborne), and people are understandably getting restless.
E3’s live stream events will be available to watch on Youtube and Twitch, but for those not keen on waking up early, the videos will likely be available on-demand afterwards as well.
If everything goes according to plan, it is going to be a great week for video games.