Our E3 2017 Xbox Predictions

Apr 28, 2017

By: Max Cannon

E3 2017 is just around the bend. Recently, I dropped my predictions of PlayStation's announcements during E3 but this time we'll be looking at what Xbox is bringing to the table. E3 2013, which was an insanely successful event for Sony, really soured the launch of the Xbox One. However, in recent years Xbox has begun to turn the ship around, reshape their public image, and become a brand that's focusing on gamers first. Here are our E3 2017 predictions for Xbox.

Head of Xbox, Phil Spencer, on the E3 stage.Courtesy of Windows Central

1. Scorpio Gets An Official Release Date and Reveal

The console's official announcement wrapped up Microsoft's E3 2016 press conference, and last month Digital Foundry gave a detailed examination of the guts powering the machine, but we haven't actually gotten a real look at the Scorpio's box. At the same E3 show, Microsoft announced a holiday 2017 release window but no firm date. A few rumors have been circulating of an October release for the still unnamed Scorpio.

E3 2017 would be an awesome showcase for the official box and a great opportunity to drop the "Scorpio" codename and begin the marketing push for the real Xbox name. Some rumors suggest that the console will be called the Xbox One X, to parallel 2016's Xbox One S. My thoughts? They'll drop the Xbox One branding and go with something a little less attached to their former and unenacted policies.

Xbox's first look at the inside of Scorpio.Courtesy of Xbox

2. Halo 6

I wanted to like Halo 5: Guardians, I really did. But 343i's latest game was definitely a letdown, though it sold very well. Between the misleading marketing, frustrating boss fights, and surprisingly low levels of Master Chief, I wasn't thrilled with the direction that Halo 's newest development team was taking the franchise. Don't get me wrong though, I wouldn't fully write off Bungie's replacement, Halo 4 had my favorite single-player campaign in the series.

Following Phil Spencer's comments on IGN's Podcast Unlocked, it would seem that the team behind Halo's success is fully aware of the audience's disdain. Recently it was confirmed that whatever is next for Halo, the Master Chief will be the center of attention and the only playable character. 343i is a competent team and seem fully equipped to bring back gaming's last great mascot. Bring on the Halo.

Halo's Xbox One reveal was heavily Master Chief focused.

3. A Lot of New Games

While I would agree that some gamers gravitate toward the more powerful platform, what really sets one console apart from another is its library. PlayStation 4 has always had my heart because of its variety of awesome exclusives, Uncharted, inFAMOUS, Ratchet and Clank, Heavy Rain, the list goes on and on. There are some quality Xbox exclusives as well, Halo, Gears of War, Quantum Break, but the variety isn't as wide as PlayStation's. I think that's about to change.

Xbox has been mostly quiet for the past couple of years in terms of its library. I suspect that we'll see some more games to really make the Xbox lineup sing. Some of these we may already know about (a potential release date for Cuphead and Below would be nice) but I suspect Xbox has some mysteries up its sleeve. My hope is that those games will be on a level similar to God of War, Spider-Man, Days Gone, and Death Stranding.

Is this the year we finally see the release of Cuphead?

Xbox has been experimenting with older games making a resurgence lately. Phantom Dust was an original Xbox title that was announced for an Xbox One remake a few years ago. Though that remake was canceled, a remaster is coming sometime soon. Voodoo Vince, an Xbox platformer from the early 2000's, was recently rereleased with a little less than ideal fanfare. Bringing back some of the dormant Xbox franchises that are ripe for a remake would be a great shot in the arm for the brand. Fingers crossed that Xbox's very own Mario Party type game, Fusion Frenzy, makes that leap onto the current generation.