E3 2015: What to expect from Microsoft’s media briefing
When Microsoft takes the stage to lead the first of the gaming’s big-three media briefings, they’ll have a chance to take the lead in the console wars.
Microsoft didn’t get off to a great start with the Xbox One since its announcement in early 2013. In their 2014 E3 (Electronic Entertainment Expo) media briefing, almost a year after the release of the console, Microsoft placed the focus solely on the games themselves. However most of those games were annual releases (i.e. Assassin’s Creed and Call of Duty) and third party content.
Going into their media briefing on Monday (12 pm EST, Spike TV), Xbox is aiming to bring out even bigger guns after announcing their 1 TB console and their $50 price drop on the 500GB console, now at $349.
Xbox boss Phil Spencer has promised “new, exclusive IP at E3” and marketing head Aaron Greenberg has promised a lot of surprises.
@Masih3KA We should have new exclusive IP at E3. I'm trying to make this E3 more about 1st party than past E3s.
— Phil Spencer (@XboxP3) April 19, 2015
While most of the focus in this year’s E3 may be on virtual reality gaming – not only selling their respective VR devices but also selling the concept of VR console gaming – the spotlight will continue to shine on the content themselves.
In Microsoft’s case, the focus has to be on their first-party games.
We will see a Halo 5 Guardians, Forza Motorsport 6, and Gears of War announcement. Fans could also expect a segment where they talk about Xbox on Windows 10 and a demo with their Oculus VR headset. The presentation should also include a “business-like” portion that talks about the state of the company’s present and future.
Microsoft may have drawn first blood in the VR race when they announced a surprise partnership with Facebook-owned Oculus VR that will bundle Xbox One controllers with the Oculus Rift headset when it ships next spring. Xbox One games will also be playable in a virtual home theater courtesy of Windows streaming technology being developed to bridge both the PC and Xbox platforms.
As far as non-first party games, we’ll see Rise of the Tomb Raider during Microsoft’s media briefing since that’s a timed exclusive, along with the indie-game Elite: Dangerous, an IP that Microsoft hopes to propel them towards the same indie-gaming ranks that Sony currently leads.
Spencer tweeted that he’s “trying to make this E3 more about first party than past E3s.”
If there’s any time for Microsoft to claw back in the console wars, it’ll be Monday morning in Los Angeles.
But, for the first time in a long while, Xbox won’t have the focus of the 90-minute conference. With the announcement of Windows 10 arriving just a month-and-a-half after E3, look for Microsoft to talk about PC gaming for the first time in a long while.
“Microsoft for a number of year hasn’t paid attention to PC games,” Gartner research analyst Brian Blau said. Microsoft has allowed Valve, with its online Steam store, to be PC gaming’s go-to spot. Microsoft can capture some of that back with Xbox One running on Windows 10.
After focusing on the entertainment value prior to the Xbox One’s release in November 2013, Microsoft has listened to its fans and critics and focused on the hardcore gamers. This has helped them claw back into the console wars while Sony seems to stick to its course, placing a stronger focus on the casual and indie gamer.
The Xbox One has more momentum going into their E3 presser Monday than they had in the past few years. Spring 2015 has been quite the turnaround for Microsoft’s console as hardware sales in May were up 81 percent from the same point last year, according to market researcher NPD Group. Whether or not they can capitalize on that momentum remains to be seen and could be seen this holiday season.
For the first time in a long, long time Microsoft has a chance to take the lead in the console wars. While Sony is still the favorite to “win” E3, Microsoft has a chance to hit them where it hurts: new first-party and indie content.
Now we just have to see if Microsoft’s guns are big enough to compete with Sony’s consistent cannons.