It’s early June once again, and that can only mean one thing: E3 2021 is just around the corner.
The biggest video game gathering of the year was put on hold last year as the world dealt with a pandemic, but it’s back this year in an all-digital format, and nearly all of the companies behind your favorite games and systems will be involved.
Running from June 12-15, the three day event will include major keynote presentations from Nintendo, Sony, Microsoft, as well as major developers such as Square Enix, Ubisoft and EA.
A big part of E3 has always been the reveal of new games and systems and so it’s no surprise that the lead up to E3 always has a very active rumor mill.
With that in mind, we’ve put together a list of the 5 most interesting E3 rumors currently making the rounds, along with the likelihood of us seeing them become fact in a few days/
Will We Finally See the Nintendo Switch Pro?
At this point, it’s anyone’s guess if the Nintendo Switch Pro will make an appearance at E3.. After all, we’ve been hearing about a possible Switch Pro since at least 2018. These latest rumors largely echo what we’ve heard in the past, but something felt different about this latest wave besides the fact that they popped up around E3. The intensity with which they popped up, and the fact that they were coming from different corners of the tech and gaming world, including outlets such as Bloomberg, suggests there’s some merit to this most recent rush of speculation..
So what should we expect from Nintendo’s rumored new console? For starters a beefier CPU and GPU that will enable games to run at higher framerates and resolutions, including 4K. The new system will feature a 7-inch OLED display, that will keep the same 720p resolution but make use of an OLED panel for improved picture quality. It’s also believed that the console will feature an integrated Ethernet port, which has become essential for anyone who plays any competitive multiplayer games on the switch. The Switch Pro is also expected to have a more expensive pricetag of $399.
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New 3d render pic.twitter.com/icYRLvQkZm
— Shigeryu (@ShigeryuInsider) June 4, 2021
That said, Nintendo has not announced any sort of plans for a live event, and even if the pre-recorded Nintendo Directs have become Nintendo’s primary method for revealing its biggest games, they tend to show off new hardware with a more traditional press event.
BOTW2 or Bust
It’s been two years since Nintendo revealed that they were working on a sequel to its 2017 masterpiece The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and shared a short video. Since then…nothing. If the E3 Nintendo Direct doesn’t finally pull back the curtain on BOTW 2, give us a metric ton of gameplay footage and announce a 2021 release date, we could see Nintendo stans angrily wreaking havoc on the internet.
And while we already know that the game will take place in the same world as BOTW, there are still so many questions to be answered. Will it be an open-world adventure? Is Ganondorf set to return once again as the main baddie? And what is up with that mysterious green hand?
The Marvel Cinematic Universe Is Primed to Collide with XCOM
XCOM has grown into one of the biggest tactics/strategy video game franchises over the years, and so news of XCOM3 would be buzzworthy enough. But even more surprising (and arguably more exciting) is that Bloomberg industry insider Jason Schreier has sources telling him that Marvel has teamed XCOM publisher 2K Games and developer Firaxis Games for a new project referred to as Codename CODA. While it’s still uncertain if this will be an official XCOM game or just integrate many of its turn-based mechanics, it’s exciting either way.
Given how well games like Mario vs Rabbids turned out (which is basically an XCOM game featuring Nintendo’s biggest characters), the XCOM formula is one that can work well in a variety of settings, and we’d be hyped to see what they do with the likes of Phoenix, Spider-Man and Iron Man.
Yes this 2K leak is real but I'm not sure all of it is going to be at E3. Can't wait for Marvel XCOM though https://t.co/6TxZSk8hDa
— Jason Schreier (@jasonschreier) June 3, 2021
Halo Infinite Inches Closer to Completion
Halo might not carry the same weight it did 20 years ago, but it’s still one of the greatest franchises and new entries in the series still bring the fans out of hibernation. We already know that Halo Infinite is in the works for the Xbox Series X, but we haven’t seen much of the game since the release of a new trailer last fall that left fans feeling a little lukewarm.
But we don’t expect things to stay that way. Halo is one of Microsoft’s oldest and biggest IPs, we’re guessing developer 343 Industries has been hard at work trying to refine those aspects of the game that failed to win over the masses. Aside from rumors of overhauled visuals and gameplay modes never before seen in a Halo game, we’re also fully expecting a release date of some sort to be announced, with rumors of that happening in September. The game had previously been slated to release in 2021, after all.
Big Final Fantasy News Could Be On the Horizon…but It’s not the Final Fantasy You’re Thinking Of)
Given that Final Fantasy XVI still seemed to be in the early stages of development when it was announced last fall, it feels like a stretch to expect developer Square Enix to reveal much more than a mini-teaser this year. But if recent buzz is any indication, there could still be some big Final Fantasy news on the horizon at E3 2021.
According to Video Games Chronicle, Square is preparing to reveal a Final Fantasy game that would be a PS5 exclusive and be separate from the mainline games. Given the many different forms Final Fantasy games have taken over the years, this could be anything. But we wouldn’t be mad if Square has been hard at work on a sequel to Final Fantasy Tactics, which is one of the greatest turn-based strategy games ever made.