What To Expect from E3 2012

Much of the hype behind E3 involves rumors and speculation. Every year, anticipation grows as June draws near and electronics and gaming manufacturers ready their products for debut. Here’s some of what we’ve heard and what we know about E3 2012.

Rumors

Let’s start with the rumors.

Consoles

For the most part, speculation for E3 surrounds the big 3 gaming consoles. Microsoft, Nintendo and Sony all have rumors floating around their hardware products. Rumors abound about Microsoft and Sony unveiling their next-gen consoles, while Nintendo may have playable WiiU’s at the show.

Games

• Skyrim DLC
• Demo for Resident Evil 6
• Halo 4 release date and gameplay footage
• Demo for Assassin’s Creed 3
• GTA V release info and gameplay footage
• Epic Mickey 2 release info

The Real Deal

Let’s put the rumors aside and touch on what we actually expect from all that speculation.

Consoles

There won’t be new consoles for both Microsoft or Sony. For one thing, if they were this close to release something would’ve already leaked out by now. In Microsoft’s case, they’ve specifically denied it which seems like too much effort to be misdirection. In reality, we expect to see a brief glimpse at the potential for a next-gen console mixed in with all the compelling game promos and media entertainment features of current consoles.

Microsoft

Expect a lot of talk about Kinect. Not only has Kinect been a focal point for Xbox, but Kinect is now being ported to the PC division the work with Windows as well. We predict a bunch of Kinect titles with likely on stage exhibitions of its use. Whether or not Microsoft has another Xbox on their minds or not, they’ll probably reference a next-gen console at some point. It will be very brief and barely a taste to get fans excited.

Nintendo

There is some truth to the WiiU rumors. Nintendo does plan on revealing more WiiU details and probably a launch date. The rumor floating around is November and we have no reason to doubt that. Nintendo is typically a cycle ahead of Microsoft and Sony so a release this year makes sense.

Sony

The Playstation brand has done well to promote blu-ray and as a reward, it seems they’ve managed to keep a strong foothold despite a late start to the current console cycle. While we don’t expect an announcement about a PS4, it goes without saying that Sony will make haste in order to prevent a late start to the next generation consoles. Much like Microsoft, expect cinematics or, if fans are lucky, a mock-up shell of what the next Playstation console will look like. Actual details are improbable at best.

Games

Your guess is as good as anyone’s when it comes to games. Things can change at the last minute, but odds are that the rumors we’ve highlighted are for the most part true. The one that may be a bit sideways is the Skyrim DLC. It could very well be released at the event, but don’t be surprised if it’s released shortly after to work out any last kinks.

Other News

Valve has been confirmed for E3 2012. The makers of Half-Life missed E3 2011 much to the dismay of fans and this year could be exciting. Many are wondering whether Valve is ready to reveal details about it’s new ‘Steam Box‘ console which would be direct competition for Xbox and Playstation. If Valve is serious about a Steam Box then now is a great time to get gamers excited about their product since two of the three major console makers aren’t talking hardware this E3.

Beyond gaming, attendees can expect more overly huge TVs, many with 3D enhancements of some sort. More little gadgets than you can shake a stick at and hopefully that one device that has everyone saying, “Wow, that’s a great idea!”

Your Thoughts

So what are you looking forward to at E3 2012? Tell us your thoughts and opinions in the comments!

The watch is on until June, make sure you check back with us for E3 2012 coverage and stories on your favorite things.

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