What to Expect from Sony, Nintendo, and Microsoft at E3 2016
We take a look at the big three console holders heading into gaming's marquee event.
This article first appeared on USgamer, a partner publication of VG247. Some content, such as this article, has been migrated to VG247 for posterity after USgamer's closure - but it has not been edited or further vetted by the VG247 team.
Sony
Are you ready for the PlayStation VR? No? Well too bad, because PSVR is going to be front and center for Sony this year.
Launching virtually unchallenged in the console space, Sony is hoping that the PlayStation VR will be this holiday season's big ticket item. Though at $399 the base PSVR unit is still priced like a premium gadget, Sony is banking on the PlayStation 4's large install base, which was recently reported to be sitting around 36 million units, to drive sales. It's not a bad strategy given the hype that has been driving VR as the next big thing in the gadget sphere. In that light, the PSVR appears destined to be a hot item when it launches in October.
With all that in mind, it's fair to say that the PSVR will take up a big chunk of Sony's E3 press conference, as will the PlayStation 4K ("Neo") - a new PS4 SKU that can output at 4K and is reportedly designed to accomodate PSVR (Update: It's been confirmed).
For those who aren't interested in the new hardware, there will also be plenty of games to look forward to at Sony's event. Last Guardian, No Man's Sky, and Gravity Rush 2 are all expected to get a big push at E3, and it wouldn't be a surprise to see the Final Fantasy VII remake put in an appearance as well (albeit a limited one - this year is all about Final Fantasy XV). Rumors also point to a new Red Dead Redemption game, which would be very welcome.
Sony's press conferences tend to be big and overstuffed, but they've gotten rather good at hitting it out of the park with surprise announcements and exclusives. If this year is anything like the last couple press conferences, then expect Sony to be the talk of E3 once again. - Kat Bailey
We're at E3 next week, covering the year's biggest gaming event. Be sure to check out all our coverage on our E3 2016 hub!