The Microsoft E3 2019 press conference is bound to be a major one as it’s the only console maker actually doing a traditional presentation this year. With Sony absent and Nintendo premiering a pre-recorded video, Xbox has an opportunity to win over some fans before the next generation of consoles begin next year. There’s a lot riding on this year’s show, so expect the company to show up in a big way with some unannounced surprises and gameplay reveals. A key to its success will be showing off first-party titles, which has traditionally been a weakness for the company.
Check out our Microsoft E3 2019 conference preview so you know exactly what to expect from Xbox this year when it streams live on Sunday, June 9 at 4 PM ET.
Microsoft E3 2019 Conference Preview | Confirmed titles
Since it is scheduled for a 2019 release date, we’ll get the big reveal of Gears 5 and a more specific launch window. As we know from last year, the third-person shooter will star Kait Diaz, who is trying to figure out her family origins and where the Locust came from. The Gears of War 4 follow-up marks a significant shift tonally as all past games have starred a member of the Fenix family. However, it looks to be largely more of the same from a gameplay perspective as the footage we’ve seen looks a lot like the previous installment.
Another one of E3 2018’s highlights was the unveiling of a new Halo title. Called Halo Infinite, it will once again focus on the exploits of Master Chief and takes place after Halo 5: Guardians. 343 Industries has been vague in giving out too many details, although the studio has teased that it will continually evolve similar to Fortnite. This year’s press conference will serve as our first good look at the first-person shooter and hopefully we’ll see what sort of multiplayer innovations 343 is planning.
We also know that we’ll be seeing a new Forza title at the show, as is the yearly tradition. Since last year saw the release of Forza Horizon 4, we can expect a more traditional, simulation Forza Motorsport to come out by Turn 10 Studios. The team always tend to have a few new features and tricks up their sleeves, so it should offer up more than just a bunch of even prettier cars.
Microsoft E3 2019 Conference Preview | What to expect
Microsoft hasn’t shown much about the upcoming Battletoads game since revealing it last year. The total silence has been pretty worrying for fans. However, the console maker will probably look to ease everyone’s fears by showing it off at E3 2019. Developed by DLaLa Studios, the cooperative beat ’em up will feature hand-drawn graphics and look to faithfully recreate what made the originals so beloved. It’s supposed to release later this year, so a release date should be announced if it is still sticking to that schedule.
Another scheduled 2019 release that needs a final trailer and release date is Ori and the Will of the Wisps. The sequel to Ori and the Blind Forest will see Ori once again return for more Metroidvania action. Interestingly, it will use auto-saving rather than manual save points, fixing one of the complaints many had about the original. The story will focus on Ori learning its destiny and exploring the world outside of the forest of Nibel, where the first game took place.
Microsoft has been setting expectations high and Phil Spencer revealed that there will be a total of 14 first-party games shown off during the show. It looks likely that we’ll get updates on both Gears Tactics and Gears Pop, plus we’ll see what many of their newly acquired studios are working on. On top of that, it looks likely that we’ll get a new trailer and launch window for Obsidian Entertainment’s The Outer Worlds. This will be a great opportunity for Microsoft to show why gamers should care about their exclusives and why they should have an Xbox or gaming PC.
Microsoft E3 2019 Conference Preview | What is rumored
It looks like we might already know what one of the newly acquired studios is going to announce. According to the rumor mill, DmC Devil May Cry and Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice developer Ninja Theory is working on a new action game called Bleeding Edge according to a recent patent. Not a ton is known at the moment, but it’s rumored to be a co-op game coming out in 2020 release. It is expected to have a sci-fi theme, which is a drastic departure from its recent titles.
One of the most exciting rumors is the return of the beloved Fable series from Playground Games, which is best known for the Forza Horizon franchise. The reboot is said to have been in development for several years, but is being targeted for the next generation of consoles rather than Xbox One. That means we won’t be seeing it very soon, but Microsoft hasn’t been above teasing a game early like with Halo Infinite. Supposedly, a trailer will be shown this year and we’ll have to wait until 2020 to get a good look at what its gameplay will be like. Either way, the news is music to the ears of Fable fans that have been waiting for the action role-playing game to return.
The most exciting rumor is that Microsoft has two new consoles to announce. Its next-gen system, which was previously known as Project Scarlett, is still currently unnamed, but it is said there will be two different SKUs. One will allegedly be a more budget-conscious one, while the other will be more powerful.
For gamers on a budget, they’ll be looking at what Microsoft is internally calling Lockhart. It’s essentially their successor to the Xbox One S. Meanwhile, the more powerful system is being called Anaconda and will look to rival the PlayStation 5 in all hardware aspects. Seeing how Sony already went and revealed some of the specifications, expect Microsoft to show off its own console ahead of Sony’s official reveal. Both systems are expected to release no earlier than fall 2020.
While it’s not certain that all of these rumors will pan out, it looks like the Microsoft E3 2019 conference will be well worth your time. GameRevolution will have live coverage of this and every other press conference during E3 2019.
