E3 2021: Our Safe, Risky, and Way Out There Predictions

Written by The GN Staff on 6/1/2021 for PC   PS4   PS5   PSVR   QW2   RIFT   STA   SWI   VIVE   WMR   XBO   XBSX  

Every year the conversation lingers about whether E3 should even exist. Despite that, it took a global pandemic in 2020 to actually cancel E3's 25-year run. But E3 is back. In the form of an all-digital event running from June 12–15. It'll be live press conferences and a four-day-long video stream. What do we think is going to come out of E3 2021? Here are our safe, risky, and way-out-there predictions for what is still the biggest video game conference in the industry.

Russell Archey

Safe
I wouldn't be at all surprised if we get something Smash Bros. related announced, most likely the next new character. As for who it could be I'd have no idea seeing as how Nintendo is pulling from franchises never seen in Smash before, some barely appearing on Nintendo systems. Then again Nintendo did just release Joe and Mac for the SNES Online service so maybe Nintendo will decide to plop them into Smash somehow.

Risky
Nintendo announces The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time/Master Quest and Majora's Mask for the Switch, as well as Oracle of Seasons/Ages getting the Link's Awakening treatment but coming out as two separate games. While I'd imagine something Zelda 35th anniversary will be announced, I'm putting this under "risky" because we know that both the remastered Skyward Sword and Breath of the Wild 2 are underway, so I wouldn't be too surprised if Nintendo doesn't want another couple of Zelda games being worked on at the same time.

Way Out There
Konami announces that in celebration of Castlevania's 35th anniversary we get a brand new 3D Castlevania title, or at the very least a collection of the 3D games including Symphony of the Night, Castlevania 64, Legacy of Darkness, Lament of Innocence, and Curse of Darkness. Maybe that's not that way out there but considering we already have the current Castlevania Collection and it's getting a physical release, this still seems like a stretch.

Charlie Coleman

Safe
Microsoft will have their biggest E3 in recent memory. Being the first E3 post-launch of the new consoles, Microsoft need a big show to really show off their upcoming exclusives. Sony's PS5 already has a few compelling exclusives out during the launch window but the Series X has sorely lacked games like that. Halo Infinite will no doubt steal the show with a new gameplay segment that'll look night and day compared to the lackluster gameplay showed off last time. Starfield will be there and it'll likely get a release date in 2022. They won't be alone though and Microsoft will focus on AAA game after AAA game all coming to the Xbox ecosystem exclusively.

Risky
Elden Ring WILL be at E3 2021 and it WILL get an official release date. Ever since it was first teased, Souls fans like myself have salivated over Elden Ring and desperately waited for any drips of info. In face, fans have been so desperate that it's kind of turned into an internet meme at this point within the gaming community. I made this prediction last year and I got burned - the pandemic has no doubt affected the development cycle but I feel good about this one despite it being a bit risky.

Way Out There
Nintendo announce that Xbox Game Pass WON'T be coming to the Switch and instead launch their own absurdly expensive competitor that includes some older Nintendo platform games to rival Xbox Game Pass. Nintendo knows that software is king and I don't believe they'll let Xbox into their walled garden. Instead, we'll see the Nintendo equivalent of Game Pass and it'll be at least double what Xbox Game Pass costs.

Elliot Hilderbrand

Safe
Switch Pro. I said it. It's happening. Way to many rumblings for this to not happen if it's going to happen before the holiday season. Nintendo doesn't care about microchip shortages, it's coming and I need to start saving. Also a new smash character.

Risky
No date on Breath of the Wild 2. If we do get a date it's March 2022. I think the Pokémon remakes are going to be the holiday game this season for them, and we know Pokémon Legends: Arceus is coming in December. I hate to say it but we'll get very little about Breath of the Wild 2.

Way Out There
Cyberpunk 2, joking. The Elder Scrolls VI comes out this year would be a dream. Microsoft and Sony announcing they've solved the problem of console shortages would be nice as well.

Randy Kalista

Safe
Bethesda loves E3. They even call their E3 presentation "BE3." They sneak easter eggs into their pre-show backdrops. They launch AAA stuff within six months of announcement, and they launch mobile game the day of. They even bust out Todd Howard when there's a Real Big Huge Announcement. So, my safe prediction is that this year they bust out The Todd Howard, and he's here to tell us that Starfield launches this year.

Risky
While Epic Games can't disclose details of its ongoing trial against Apple, Epic will still craft a heroic-looking video of themselves, portrayed as relentless underdogs, taking on the Evil Empire of Apple, all in the name of the common good and the everyday gamer. CEO of Epic Games, Tim Sweeney, tries to turn himself into a meme, though the internet only picks up on it as a Hello Fellow Kids attempt.

Way Out There
Geoff Keighley, renowned video game journalist and host of The Game Awards (in which the trophies are affectionately referred to as The Keighleys), makes his first premature announcement of his retirement from the industry. There will be a tear-jerking montage where he's shown typing out reviews for Kotaku, trying to rein in a Josef Fares interview, and him as a sophomore in college playing Half-Life with a beardless Gabe Newell. This being a premature announcement, Keighley will be pulled out of retirement only months later to rehost every gaming conference, award show, and Doritos/Mt. Dew ad space available. He is added as the first living person to the World Video Game Hall of Fame.

Joseph Moorer

Safe
Nintendo will expand on their online service with Game Boy Advance titles. They'll also finish Smash by revealing the last 2 characters. And Microsoft will reveal at least five whole exclusives, including the release date of Halo. Also we will be told that Final Fantasy 16 will be a 2022 release. Capcom will reveal Street Fighter 6 and 10 more games for Capcom Arcade Stadium.

Risky
Wind Waker and Twilight Princess HD as a double pack to kick off the 35th anniversary. And of course, N64 Nintendo Online. All the Zeldas on one system. Sega also announces a new 3D sonic. Capcom will reveal Marvel VS Capcom 2 HD Online. One of the characters in Smash will unfortunately be Waluigi.

Way Out There
Xbox Game Pass comes to Nintendo Switch Pro, which is the only way you'll be able to play it, and that Nintendo switch pro will release in November. N64 mini. And Super Smash Brothers Melee will a part of Nintendo GameCube from their online service. Capcom will reveal Marvel VS Capcom 5. One of the characters in Smash will be the late Satoru Iwata.