E3 is right around the corner, and speculation about what Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft are bringing is running rampant.
Nintendo announced earlier this year that they would not be holding their annual press conference as they had in years past. They are instead opting for a series of Nintendo Direct presentations, as well as demos available at Best Buy retail stores.
However, it is believed that the company will still be making quite a few announcements regarding the Wii U and titles for its home and handheld consoles. More information on Pokemon X and Y, and possibly a U.S. release date for Pokemon Rumble U, are rumored to be revealed at E3.
Additionally, Nintendo will reportedly be bringing 3D Mario, Mario Kart, The Wonderful 101, Mario and Luigi: Dream Team and the new Pikmin to be displayed on the show floor.
According to an IGN forum member who claims to work for Nintendo, a number of big title announcements are also on the docket, possibly aimed for an E3 window. Capcom is supposedly working on a Resident Evil remake for Nintendo, a new Star Fox is rumored to be in development and Disney is expected to announce a Star Wars title or two for the Wii U.
Sony, meanwhile, will be holding a press conference where it has been confirmed they will finally reveal the design of the PlayStation 4. In addition, next-gen titles such as Battlefield 4, Destiny, Wolfenstein, Killzone and Drive Club are expected to be on display, if not playable in some form.
Microsoft took the opposite path with their recent Xbox One unveiling event. They showcased the console's design and many of the technical features, but did not reveal much in terms of gaming. Previous reports have pointed toward E3 as the second stage of Microsoft's promotional plan, where they're rumored to be showing off the full lineup of launch titles.
The company's Xbox One reveal event was met with a mostly underwhelming response from consumers and analysts, with Sony's stock taking a significant upswing on that day. It is expected that they will be coming out swinging for E3 in an effort to even the marketing pace with Sony.
A big announcement from Rare is expected, with many gamers hopeful that it could be a new Banjo Kazooie title. In addition, Microsoft has revealed that the console is set to have 15 exclusive titles in the first year of the Xbox One.
Among these are rumored to be Ryse, Gotham Racing, Forza 5 and new games from Respawn Entertainment and Lionhead. Announcements, trailers and possibly gameplay demos for the latter two are rumored to be big ticket items for Microsoft's booth.
Considering it's Microsoft, it can also be expected that something Halo-related will be shown, whether it's the new title in the current trilogy or a teaser for the recently announced television series.
Outside of the big three, EA is reportedly bringing a huge Star Wars presentation to the conference. The company recently signed an exclusive deal with Disney and is no doubt excited to show the world the fruits of their development.
E3 will take place on June 11 through June 13 in Los Angeles.
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