E3 2018 Predictions

I’ve spent more time than I’d like to acknowledge thinking about the games that might be revealed at E3 2018. There’s no point keeping these predictions in my head because then I can’t be smug and annoying if I get any of them correct.

Anyway, here are my predictions. Most of them are a bit far-fetched but I wanted to keep things interesting. If the prediction is relatively safe, I’ve added specifics to make it riskier.

Sony

• All four of the main games shown off at the PlayStation conference will include gameplay footage. That’s Ghosts of Tsushima, Death Stranding, Spider-Man, and The Last of Us Part II.
• The end of the Spider-Man footage will tease a secondary villain that has not yet been revealed.
• From Software will show Shadows Die Twice on Sony’s Stage.
• Dreams Beta will open up in August. Full release in November/December.

Microsoft

• Rocksteady will show its new game on Microsoft’s stage. It will be a DC super-hero game, but not Superman. Possibly The Flash. But hopefully Superman.
• CDPR will show off Cyberpunk 2077 on Microsoft’s stage. There will be a tiny bit of gameplay. Fall 2019 release date.
• We’ll see some Crackdown footage, but not a lot. It’ll barely be mentioned in speeches.
• Sea of Thieves will have a big update with new content coming in the next few months. There will be a montage of interviews with developers talking about how they’re “listening to the community” plus footage of streamers playing the game and having loads of totally not fake fun.
• New Halo and Gears of War teased. No release dates.

Nintendo

• The new Star Fox racer thing will be revealed. It’ll look mediocre, but everyone will go apeshit over it because it’s “a great fit for the Switch.”
• Metroid Prime 4 trailer. No gameplay.
• Super Mario 3D World port for Switch confirmed.

Ubisoft

• New Splinter Cell confirmed with a Q1 2019 release date.
• Watch Dogs 3 revealed. It will take place in London but all we’ll see is a teaser trailer. General 2019 release date.

EA

• There will be footage of Anthem being played by streamers with lots of blatantly fake team communication. I will throw up while watching.
• EA will brag about how it has listened to the community and confirm that Anthem will have no “pay-to-win” loot boxes, conveniently leaving the door open for cosmetic loot boxes.
• Far too much time will be spent talking about changes to sports games that no one gives a fuck about.

Bethesda

• Fallout 76 release date confirmed for October, however the beta will start in July.
  • Access to the beta will be restricted to those who have pre-ordered the game. It’ll basically be an “early access” launch, but they won’t call it that because Sony doesn’t allow early access on PSN.
  • Fallout 76 will not be on Steam. Bethesda will launch its own platform to collect 100% of all that microtransaction money.
  • No mention of microtransactions but it’ll be obvious they are in the game.
  • Fallout 76 will technically have a story in the same way that Destiny and The Division had stories. i.e. it will be paper-thin and little more than an excuse to get players to the end-game.
• Doom 2 teaser. Release date for first half of 2019.
• “Starfield” reveal. No release date.

Other

• Capcom will show off Resident Evil 2 Remake. It will be a substantial reimaging and not just an HD touch up like Resident Evil HD.
• Square Enix will show a trailer for its Avengers game but there won’t be any gameplay.
• Activision will announce a new Crash Bandicoot game in the style of the original trilogy.