The next chapter of the Electronic Entertainment Expo is right around the corner but first let’s take a minute to preview some of the things we might see.
SONY
Most gamers would consider Sony the definitive king since their announcement, and launch, of the Playstation 4.
They’ve outsold Microsoft (more than seven million units shipped) and virtually captured the support of everyone, including those online, who even dubbed the Xbox One the “Xbone.”
So, now once again Kings of gaming, what should we expect from them during E3?
Expectations:
Expect a (bigger) announcement for Unchartered 4. After making an appearance, via teaser trailer E3 2013 (see video here), and rumors swirling about a movie adaptation, it would be the perfect time to show fans what their new console is capable of with one of their best franchises.
Something else you should expect 
is more information, and publicity, about Project Morpheus virtual reality goggles. Yes, these VR goggles debuted already, but after Oculus Rift, was snatched up by Facebook, this could finally be the year to bring some legitimacy to VR for home gaming.
MICROSOFT
More than any other current console, and perhaps in history, we couldn’t find ourselves further from Microsoft’s original announcement of the Xbox One.
Nearly everything has changed. After they tried to ram rules, regulations, unchangeable features and the must-use always-on Kinect down our throats, Microsoft has done a complete 180. Though they currently trail Sony (seven million compared to five million units shipped) the excitement around their E3 conference should be pretty lively.
Expectations:
Expect Master Chief to make appearances early and often. Halo 5 was originally teased during Microsoft’s gaming event last year (see video here) but provided us with almost nothing to go off of. We hope to see actual gameplay footage of Halo 5 in “blistering 60 FPS.” We should also expect to see more about another Xbox exclusive title “Sunset Overdrive”
NINTENDO
At this point everyone has all but given up on the Wii U. It might not be the time to throw in the towel just yet, however.
Mario Kart 8 is selling at an unbelievable rate, with console attachment rate an nearly 80 percent. It’s the first real sign of life we’ve seen out of their new console, and even though Nintendo won’t be making a major in-person announcement, we should expect them to carry that momentum throughout the expo.
Expectations:
Expect most of their conference to focus on their next installment of Super Smash Bros. The announcement is expected to include a release date, tournament dates and more character announcements.
We should also expect to see more information regarding one of their best (and safest) franchises: Pokemon. They announced earlier this year that remakes of Pokemon Sapphire and Pokemon Ruby, dubbed Alpha Sapphire and Omeag Ruby, were coming out for the 3DS.
RECAP
So, who has the most riding on this year’s E3?
Can Sony keep up their dominant performance and maintain their lead over the competition? Can Microsoft really convince us they are willing to ditch the Kinect and return to making games that will push the Xbox one to its limit? Can Mario and Super Smash Bros be enough to save the suffocating Wii U? I guess we’ll have to wait until June 9 to find out.
WHERE TO WATCH
If you can’t make it to the event don’t worry Twitch has you covered. They’ll be bringing the full event to your mobile devices as well as your PC, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Playstation 3, and Playstation 4.
Here’s the full schedule of events: E3 2014 full events schedule
