As we head toward the middle of 2015, we see that the gaming industry stands at a crossroad. Video game publishers are fighting tooth and nail to earn the attention of gamers, but it’s more difficult than ever to create something unique and memorable. Soon, the investments of the biggest names in gaming will be met with either the admiration they seek, or the rejection that has claimed many.
E3 2015 is on the horizon, and it’s swooping in fast. Running from June 14th through the 18th, nearly every major publisher will be in attendance. They bring with them the latest build of their best upcoming games, as well as announcements that want to drum excitement. This annual event will summon widespread discussion and signal the arrival of a new alumni of games.
In the gallery below, we’ll go over which publishers you should keep an eye on at this year’s E3, as well as what you can expect from each camp.
Movers and Shakers: Publishers to Watch at E3 2015
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Bethesda Softworks schedules a press conference
Bethesda doesn't release games often, but when it does it has a huge impact on the video game industry. It's been quiet for more than a year, and will end its silence with its very first E3 2015 press conference on June 14th. Many believe that the long-awaited Fallout 4 will be announced, or even a new The Elder Scrolls game. While that is yet to be confirmed, we know that at the very least that the next-generation of Doom will finally reveal itself.
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EA is behind two of the biggest upcoming games
This year EA has a lot that it can lean on. We know that its sports franchises, including Madden NFL and FIFA, will get show time. That isn't what people are talking about most, though. Star Wars: Battlefront's release tie-in with Star Wars: The Force Awakens is one of the biggest deals of 2015. Showing gameplay footage from the title as well as debut footage of the upcoming Mass Effect are likely and exciting prospects.
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Konami's future is uncertain
Konami has remained in the spotlight for the past couple months due to several rumors indicating that it's moving away from producing AAA titles to instead pursue a life of mobile gaming development. The death of Silent Hills has made that nightmare seem like a reality. Nonetheless, Konami is yet to release one of the most anticipated games of the year, Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain. With a booth rented at the show, there's room for the company to prove that it's committed to producing rockstar titles if it desires.
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Microsoft is battling back
A fierce battle in North America has been waged between Microsoft and Sony. Both publishers/manufacturers are making big moves in an effort to topple the other. While Xbox One sales have fallen behind the PS4, it appears that Microsoft will be making a big deal out of E3 2015. A Gears of War remaster has been leaked, and it's possible that a new Age of Empires is on the horizon. Also, nobody is sure what is brewing at Rare Ltd., which means that a new Banjo Kazooie or Battletoads may be in the cards. There's room to show off each of these games in addition to Halo 5: Guardians and Forza Motorsport 6, two of this Fall's most exciting releases.
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Nintendo has a release calendar to fill
With the delay of The Legend of Zelda Wii U, Nintendo is in a spot where it needs to perform better than ever to keep the Wii U on store shelves. Thankfully, it has a few games to show off, including Xenoblade Chronicles X, Star Fox Wii U, and Mario Maker. As usual, there should be at least one unannounced game that surprises Nintendo's audience, and that might be an Animal Crossing for Wii U or maybe even a new Mario game. Its 3DS sales have begun to fall off, so it'll be interesting to see what it does to keep sales in the green moving forward.
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Sony has momentum and no plan to stop
Sony's support of independent developers and strong first-party studio library is soon to pay off as its Fall line-up has been shattered by the delay of Uncharted 4: A Thief's End. God of War 3 Remastered, Deep Down, Everybody's Gone to the Rapture, Street Fighter V, and Until Dawn are certain to be in attendance, but are only enough to make Sony's showing adequate. There's definitely more planned, and the several unaccounted for Sony first-party developers may hold the secret. A surprise showing from Team ICO with The Last Guardian and Polyphony Digital with Gran Turismo 7 could be the bomb shells it needs.
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Square Enix will have its strongest showing in years
Square Enix isn't big on surprises, but it will likely have the strongest line-up of any third-party publisher at E3 2015. Recent announcements of Deus Ex: Mankind Divided and Just Cause 3 are sure to be followed up with new media at the event. To reinforce the publisher's prominence in the industry it'll bring along Final Fantasy XV and Rise of the Tomb Raider, two of the biggest games coming out in the next 12 months.
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Ubisoft is strong on diversity
Ubisoft has a lot going on for this year's E3. Assassin's Creed Syndicate is sure to be a star in its line-up, moving the series to the Victorian Era for the first time. The Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege Closed Alpha earned the respect of many tactical shooter fans, and a new build will be debuted at the show. Speaking of Tom Clancy games, Tom Clancy's The Division may have been delayed to 2016, but it's confirmed to be at the show. As far as unannounced games go, a new Watch Dogs game is a prime candidate given that its existence has been leaked on several occasions.
