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What we’re expecting from Electronic Entertainment Expo 2013

It’s that time again: E3 starts next week, and for video game fans, it’s like Christmas in June… or at least a hint of what they will likely be asking for on their holiday wish lists.

On June 10, E3 will kick off with keynote presentations from Microsoft, Electronic Arts, Ubisoft and Sony – yes, all on the same day – followed by three days of game journalists testing out all of the newly announced and soon-to-be-released titles on the show floor.

[ Full Coverage: Electronic Entertainment Expo 2013 on Yahoo! Canada News ]

We’ll be providing coverage during the week at our E3 Control Centre, including live coverage of the keynotes. Before we jump into that next week, though, here’s what we’re expecting to see from the companies, and a little of what we’re hoping we will get a glimpse of from the three big console companies at this year’s show.

Microsoft

After a largely underwhelming (and kind of confusing) presentation by Microsoft in May, gamers are chomping at the bit to get some concrete information about the gaming experience on the company’s next-generation console, the Xbox One. While that first presentation largely focused on how the Xbox One will become a home entertainment centre, complete with television integration, Microsoft has said that their E3 keynote will focus much more on games.

What we’re really waiting for, though, is a concrete answer to the always-online controversy. While, it may not be addressed in the keynote itself (more likely on the Xbox website, like where the most recent glut of info on the topic was posted), E3 will be the ideal time for Microsoft to give some concrete answers on the issue and give gamers a clear picture of what the Xbox One will and won’t let you play.

As for what games we hope to see, Microsoft will be unveiling some of the 15 Xbox One exclusives it has in development, including eight all-new franchises, Game Spot reports. We’ll hear more about Call of Duty: Ghosts, Quantum Break and Forza Motorsport 5, and if you’re into longshots, we might even get some information on Halo 5, Fable 4, and Crackdown 3, which appeared on this list that surfaced online. And Microsoft has said that they’ll be showing off more exclusive titles later this summer at the GamesCom show in Germany.

Sony

If Microsoft is making it all about games, I don’t know what you would call the haul Sony is bringing. Forbes reports that 40 games will be announced for the PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3 and PS Vita at the show. In a post on the PlayStation blog this week, Sony teased some of the games we can look forward to seeing, including Beyond: Two Souls, Destiny, DriveClub, Gran Turismo 6, inFAMOUS: Second Sun, Killzone: Shadow Fall, Killzone Mercenary, The Last of Us and Tearaway.

So what are we hoping to see most at E3? The console. Sony’s earlier reveal of the PS4 – if you can really call it a reveal – didn’t include a console, just the controllers and some footage of what the technology is capable of. It’s pretty much guaranteed we’ll actually find out what the console looks like.

Where’s Nintendo?

In case you haven’t heard, Nintendo won’t be making an appearance at this year’s E3, at least not in the form of a keynote presentation. They’ve cast aside the conventional announcement model (much like Apple has done for years, and what Microsoft will now be doing having said this year was their last CES) and have opted instead to democratize E3 and bring it to the people. Nintendo will be making announcements of upcoming games and products on its official YouTube channel, as well as its official E3 site, Facebook page and Twitter account.

Nintendo will also be letting fans test out new games across the United States, having partnered with Best Buy to demo products in 89 stores. Another 21 Canadian Best Buy stores will be hosting events in cities in Ontario, Quebec, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, B.C. and Nova Scotia – you can see the full list here. Playable demos will be held on Wednesday June 12 from 4pm to 8pm and Saturday June 15 from 1pm to 5pm (all times local).

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