The last couple of E3s were pretty lackluster. 2013 was everyone not named Sony shooting themselves in the foot, 2014 was damage control from previously shooting themselves in the foot. Some brief summaries of their current standings:
- Microsoft: No secret here, the hardware-pushing and especially the advertised DRM functions had the XBox One's head in the mud before it even left E3 2013. They fortunately rescinded most of the DRM stuff and fixed their glaring mistakes by 2014, but it's still been on life support and probably will continue to be if they don't get a spectacular showing in 2015.
- Sony: Conversely, they used Microsoft's conference as an example and pretty much said "hey, here's what we're not going to do" and they've been coasting on that epic burn for a couple of years straight. They know they're the console frontrunners and aren't afraid to flaunt it, and not having to do any damage control their conferences have been best ones so far. That said though, their domination over Microsoft has officially run its course, so let's hope they haven't gotten to complacent, because lest we forget that they too have been pushing their hardware a bit too hard...
- Nintendo: Poor Wii U. For all of Nintendo's great conferences that can be called nothing but a labor of love, it hasn't been helping their console at all. What has been helping it is that they actually brought a few console-selling games to E3 2014, and if they can keep doing that they may yet bring it out of the abyss. Really, Nintendo's big mistake with the Wii U was (again) pushing their hardware and assuming this would help meet sales projections, when really they should've just held off until they had a halfway-decent library of games for it that the original Wii didn't already have. With Mario Kart 8 and Splatoon hitting the shelves (I hesitate to mention SSB4 since it's on the 3DS as well), they've gradually been turning this around, and E3 2015 is their big chance to breathe some life back into their console.
- EA: They just haven't done anything spectacular over the years. It's mostly just been extending their old IPs and over-promoting their sports games. Nothing really interesting.
- Ubisoft: Similar case as EA's, but they're better at presenting and holding interest. Still though, nothing really outstanding.
There, that should bring you about up to speed. E3 2015 will certainly be a thing. Most of the companies have nowhere to go but up, lest they ultimately crash and burn. As for Sony, it'll be interesting to see what they have in store now that their "console frontrunner" status has lost its relevance over the last couple of years.
...And, now, to make sure this post isn't
completely off-topic: what do you think the odds are of
Shantae: Half-Genie Hero being promoted at E3 2015? Maybe with a new release date? (If there isn't one already, if there is then I can't find it.) WayForward doesn't need anything spectacular, just a friendly reminder that the game-in-development still exists. It would do wonders for their notoriety and maybe give Shantae that kick of exposure she needs.
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