Not only was this week the most anticipated E3 in recent memory, it was also chock full of surprises. From unexpected game reveals, interesting new IPs, to some truly unanticipated console policy decisions, here are some of the expo's biggest moments.
Mirror's Edge 2
I'm sure EA's business department can't be happy with this decision, but if this is the start of the publisher's quest to get fans to like them again, they're on the right track.
Killer Instinct
The reveal of a new Killer Instinct game is surprising enough, but Microsoft took it to the next level, stunning fans with the news that it would be a downloadable, free-to-play title, with character unlocks handled through microtransactions. You could almost literally feel all of the excitement draining from that room.
The Division
Ubisoft ended their press conference by dropping one of the most ambitious looking new IPs of the week. Considering we new practically nothing about this game going into the presentation, the slow reveal of those multiplayer features was a sight to behold. And that final segment of surprise PvP before enging the preview? Oh Ubisoft, such a tease.
Nintendo Skips E3, Makes It Work
Nintendo's decision to opt out of its annual E3 press conference seemed strange and counter-productive. However, their Nintendo Direct meeting proved that it didn't need the expo to get the word out about its lineup. From Zelda, to Mario, to some insane Super Smash Bros. announcements, Nintendo managed to steal a lot of the thunder from both Microsoft and Sony this year, and they did it all without even showing up.
Kingdom Hearts III
Mirror's Edge fans might have been very patience in waiting for a sequel, but it's nothing compared to what the patience of the Kingdom Hearts fanbase. Well, eight years later, it is finally officially... in development. Still, it's better than nothing, and easily one of the most surprising moments of Sony's presentation.
Battlefield 4 Brings Down a Skyscraper
EA's Battlefield 4 demo was easily one of the biggest highlights of the expo, with the publisher assembling a 64-player match on stage, complete with destructible map terrain, vehicular combat, and the spectacular and unexpected collapse of an entire skyscraper. How the heck they pulled that off is a mystery, but that preview had just about every single fan on the edge of their seat.
Xbox Done
By far the biggest surprise of the expo was the overall chilly reception the Xbox One received. The result of an awkward reveal, some mind bogglingly arrogant design choices, and a PR meltdown on a catastrophic scale, what Microsoft hoped would be the Xbox's triumphant week turned into a veritable PlayStation 4 commercial.
The fact that Sony received resounding applause for announcing "features" that have been gaming staples since the beginning of home consoles is a pretty big indicator that Microsoft is in some hot water. Combine this with Sony's lower price point, superior hardware specs,
With just months to go until the next-gen console launches, the latter is going to need to do something major to keep themselves from losing big this holiday season.
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