GAMING: Hoping for a Solo run at E3 show

It might sound like a bad exam result, but E3 has deserved top marks in recent years, writes Ronan Jennings.

The gaming industry’s biggest event, otherwise known as the Electronic Entertainment Expo, has regained its status as a fantastic event full of surprises and excitement.

This year’s event takes place from June 12-14 in Los Angeles and here are the five announcements we expect — and the five we don’t.

What we expect:

1. A new Star Wars game will be revealed

Solo might be hitting cinemas this week, but the Battlefront games have been flying solo on consoles for a while now. The time has come for a proper, fully fledged Star Wars action adventure or open world game to take us to a galaxy far, far away. Except an adventure game along the lines of Uncharted or Assassin’s Creed in terms of structure, with plenty of microtransactions and an online element.

2. A new From Software game

Dark Souls is arguably the most iconic game of the last seven years, and was followed by the equally beloved Bloodborne. So a new game from the same developers, From Software, is big news. The thing is, we expect this game to be something different entirely — not a Souls experience, but a fresh start for lead developer Hidetaka Miyazaki. Watch this space.

3. The return of Splinter Cell

Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell took our breath away 15 years ago, being one of the most visually impressive and expertly designed games on the original Xbox. Leading man Sam Fisher also took people’s breath away, usually by putting them in a choke hold from behind. A recent Walmart leak indicated that a new, revamped Splinter Cell might be coming at E3. Sneaky!

4. ‘Cyberpunk 2077’ gameplay will be shown

There can’t be many of you that haven’t played The Witcher 3, widely considered one of the best RPGs ever made. CD Project Red are following up their magnum opus with a sci-fi adventure based on the world of Cyberpunk 2077, a pen and paper role-playing game. Expect to see gameplay for the first time at E3.

5. Square Enix announce ‘Chrono Trigger’

Chrono Trigger is one of the world’s most loved Super Nintendo games. It received a sequel on the original PlayStation, but the first game remains the high watermark. Square Enix released a remake of Secret of Mana recently — we’re guessing they’ll do the same for Chrono Trigger, to the delight of fans everywhere.

What we don't expect:

1. Bethesda won’t announce ‘Elder Scrolls 6’

It’s been seven years since Bethesda released Skyrim and, if the sky was their limit, they certainly reached it. Skyrim has been released on umpteen platforms and sold millions upon millions of copies. However, despite rumours, the wait for the next Elder Scrolls will go on — don’t let your hopes get sky high.

2. No major hardware announcements

The console lifecycle tends to be around five years, but we’re expecting that tradition to change. While both Microsoft and Sony are technically due a new generation, neither will announce one. Microsoft might announce a VR platform, but even that is doubtful.

3. Nothing big from Nintendo

Nintendo had a stellar year and they don’t often use E3 to make major announcements any more, preferring their own direct updates. Despite a surprisingly strong showing last year, the most we can expect this year is Metroid Prime 4 gameplay.

4. No new ‘Assassin’s Creed’ gameplay

This is a risky guess, considering Ubisoft tend to release a new Creed game almost every year. There are rumours Creed is heading to ancient Greece next, but don’t expect more than a trailer or superficial details.

5. Not so many Battle Royale games

Fortnite has taken over the world recently. The game, itself inspired by Brendan Greenes’ Battlegrounds, is prompting other developers to consider how they might build on the Battle Royale concept even further. Expect many of them to realise the gravy train has passed and Fortnite is years, and not just two weeks, ahead of the competition.