E3 2019 Rumor Roundup
The down-low on all the rumors being discussed in quiet whispers in the lead up to E3 2019.
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Well, it's about time for E3. The season when leaks abound, trailers launch, dates are solidified, and press conference jokes fail to land. E3 2019 will set the tone for the year to come, and quite an important year, as it's looking more and more like the swan song for the current console generation. And in some cases, this is when E3 2019 rumors start to swirl.
Biggest E3 2019 Rumors
It's around this time when tantalizing tidbits about surprises to come start circling around forums and social media, some true and some not so much. We've combed through the ranks to find the most intriguing, plausible, and noteworthy scuttlebutt among the list of E3 2019 rumors.
Next-Gen Xbox
The biggest announcement rumor surrounds the next Xbox, sometimes called the Xbox 2. Rumors like the ones from last December indicate Microsoft is likely working on a pair of consoles. One would be a slim-style, the base model, and the other a more powerful Xbox One X successor. It's said to have backwards compatibility and a lot of powerful hardware. This one is likely, as Microsoft is the only console manufacturer giving a traditional press conference this year (Nintendo is doing a Direct, and Sony will not be in attendance).
Follow our Xbox 2 guide for more information as it comes out.
FromSoftware and George R.R. Martin Collaboration
Rather than finishing his book series, it's rumored that George R.R. Martin has been collaborating with Souls developer FromSoftware on a new video game. Given credence by his blog post where he says "I've consulted on a video game out of Japan" and further reported out by Gematsu, this one seems fairly likely.
Though FromSoftware is hot off the heels of Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, it's not impossible to think they're at the earlier stages of development in a new game, enough to at least put a name on a screen. They were also confirmed to be working on two unannounced games alongside Sekiro back in January, so this is a pretty likely rumor.
Dragon Quest and Smash
Here's an interesting one: a rumor that the next DLC character for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is going to be a Dragon Quest character. It started when a data-mined leak correctly guessed the first two DLC fighters, Pirahna Plant and Joker. It didn't seem like much, but the rumor's gained steam thanks to Shonen Jump teasing some "surprising" Dragon Quest news coming in early June.
Does it still sound a little far-fetched? Yes, but it would be a solid get for the series, especially overseas. Chalk it up as a maybe.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt on Nintendo Switch
The most recent rumor to cause a stir is that The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is coming to the Nintendo Switch. This is easily one of the rumors I most want to happen, but it seems implausible. Set aside the demand for graphics this would need and just examine the rumor itself. The original source seems to be an advertising leak from a seller on ResetEra, which is the same sourcing from last year's ultimately false Witcher 3 on Switch rumor. Another leak from ResetEra, that Panic Button is developing the port, was proven false by a member of Panic Button on Reddit. Sorry folks, this one doesn't seem like it's in the cards.
Nintendo's New Switch
Rumblings about a Switch model revision have been bouncing around for some time now. The current scuttlebutt is that there are two revisions coming later this year, one that is light but less powerful and one that is an upgraded, Pro version of the Switch. Nintendo has shot down speculation that these would be announced at E3, telling Bloomberg "we have no plans to announce that at this year's E3 in June."
But in the same report, two anonymous sources tell Bloomberg we can expect to see a "new, cheaper" version of the Switch by the end of June. So while it may not necessarily be at E3, a Switch revision might still be possible within the general vicinity of E3. Plausible on a technicality?
Watch Dogs 3
Right now, all we know is that Watch Dogs 3 is set in London, and is in development. This is according to a report from Kotaku, buried within a larger report about the next Assassin's Creed. Alongside a suspicious tweak to Watch Dogs 2's ending back in 2017, it's safe to assume that Watch Dogs 3 is a strong possibility at this year's Ubisoft press conference.
Assassin's Creed
In the same vein as Watch Dogs 3, news of the next Assassin's Creed came via a teaser from another game, this time The Division 2. The easter egg suggests it will be Viking themed, developed under what Kotaku reports as a 2020 Assassin's Creed, code-named Kingdom. We probably won't see anything concrete, but a teaser or stinger is pretty likely.
Ubisoft Subscription Service
This is fresh off the press, as ResetEra users noticed a placeholder image in the Ubisoft store on May 26 for an "Ubisoft Pass Premium." While this is admittedly thin, it isn't too outlandish. Origin and Microsoft already offer passes for their games, and Ubisoft publishes enough games a year (alongside a healthy enough back-catalog) to entice prospective subscribers. This would surprise me, but not leave me awe-stricken.
Those are your lot for E3 2019 rumors. If any more juicy stories break in the coming days we'll be sure to add them to the list.
For all the news and a full timetable, check out our E3 2019 schedule. If you're after information on the individual presentations, there's our guide pages to the Nintendo E3 2019 show, the Microsoft E3 2019 show, the Square Enix E3 2019 show, the Bethesda E3 2019 show, and the Ubisoft E3 2019 show.