PlayStation puts the final nail in Xbox’s coffin, next gen consoles now have price points and release dates, Wii U owners will have to wait until 2014 to get some decent games, and indie developers share in the limelight.
If you didn’t have the tenacity to wake up at 3am to watch the E3 live streams, don’t worry! Rachel Barnes tells you everything you need to know about the future of gaming in her recap of the 2013 Electronic Entertainment Expo — E3.
The biggest highlight of E3 this year was PlayStation's thorough enjoyment at burying Microsoft and the Xbox One. With the Xbox One focusing more on the home entertainment aspect, including a lot of interaction with your TV and less features for the gaming community, the PS4 was able to completely crush its only real competitor and definitely came out on top after the event.
Despite Microsoft taking notes from their failed Xbox One press conference prior to E3, where they focused almost solely on the console's home entertainment and television interactivity, Microsoft managed to dig itself a deeper hole without even mentioning the word television once at E3. Xbox One games will now have to be uploaded onto the console, and though they will not require discs to play them after the initial upload, the games will require online authentication, making sharing and buying used games a thing of the past.
An internet connection is also a must for the console as it requires you to connect online at least once every 24 hours. The console also has a new indie game policy, with some indie publishers coming out and saying they will be required to have a publisher to sell their games on the Xbox, forcing some away from the console.
Despite all of this, there are a few amazing games that will be exclusive to the console, such as Dead Rising 3; the next instalment in the very successful Halo franchise; Forza Motorsport 5 and more, making it a must-buy for some gamers. The Xbox One has a release date of November 2013 and an Australian price point of $599.
PlayStation really did not have to do much to come off as the better choice for the gaming community. Their smug conference seemed to simply focus on the fact that they are not doing what Microsoft has done with the Xbox One. The company even released a parody video of “how to share games on the PS4” which simply involved one step: giving the disc to your friend. Although gamers will now have to have a PlayStation Plus subscription to play online games, the console's recently announced region-free status seems to have put the final nail in the Xbox coffin.
And don’t even get me started on the exclusives: the seven-years-in-the-making Final Fantasy XIV; brand new IP from Ready At Dawn, The Order 1866; Killzone Shadow Fall and so much more. Though there is no release date yet, it should also be out around November 2013 with an Australian price point of $549.
When it comes to the console war, Nintendo knew it simply could not compete with the gaming giants but frankly did not seem to care. Focusing on family and multi-player gaming, they announced several games for their struggling Wii U, including a brand new Smash Brothers game as well as a new 3D Mario game which seemed to have some people thinking about finally purchasing the one console they never thought they would own.
Ubisoft seems to be the publisher to beat this year, with their brand new IP The Division coming out on both next gen consoles and shaping up as the game to look out for. Bungie unveiled their new shooter Destiny, which will also be out on both consoles and looks like it could take MMOFPS to new heights. Other notable games included Kingdom Hearts 3 (finally!); Mirrors Edge 2; The Witcher 3; Wild Hunt; Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag; Battlefield 4; and Call of Duty: Ghosts.
Indie games also had a more prominent place at E3 this year despite Xbox seeming less welcoming to them. Sony announced people will be able to self-publish games on the PS4 and said it is the “most open and exclusive platform for developers”. With several indie developers already on the PS4 bandwagon, including titles like Oddworld: New n’ Tasty, Rays The Dead, Transistor, and many more, this seems to be the console for indie games.
The Expo definitely gave credit to indie game developers this year, showcasing the amazing talent and originality of the little guys making great games. The Electronic Entertainment Expo never seems to fail to get the gaming community excited about the future of gaming and this year was no exception.
Regardless of what side of the console war you were on, E3 showcased every aspect of gaming. With next gen consoles ensuring gaming is being taken to the next level and game developers continuously making games that engage the community, E3 has shown us that everyone has a place in the future of gaming, and it’s going to be awesome.
