It is worth noting that E3 will be all-virtual, another sign that a year on the COVID crisis remains. However, Microsoft will be returning to tradition with a bumper event at the conference. As the name suggests, the Xbox & Bethesda Games Showcase will be all about upcoming titles. Interestingly, Microsoft is going all in on its recent purchase of Bethesda, through the multi-billion-dollar acquisition of ZeniMax Media. At E3, the company is making it loud and clear it now controls the triple A game developer and will be running it closely with Xbox. While Microsoft has hinted that Bethesda games could continue to be available cross platform, I suspect announcements at E3 will focus on Xbox exclusives. That will include the much anticipated Starfield, which is Bethesda’s next major game release. Originally slated as a cross-platform game coming to Xbox and PlayStation, that could now change. In fact, I would bet a dollar that Microsoft will announce Starfield as an Xbox exclusive. We will also probably get a launch date and news that the game will be available to Xbox Game Pass users.
E3 Event
Microsoft says the show will run for 90 minutes and will reflect excitement about its acquisition of Bethesda: “You’ve told us how excited you are about welcoming Bethesda into the Xbox family, so we know you’re going to want a front-row seat to the Xbox & Bethesda Games showcase – a 90-minute show packed with everything you want to know about the epic gaming lineup coming out of this partnership, the incredible games coming to Xbox this holiday, upcoming releases on Xbox Game Pass, and more.” I expect to see a glut of games discussed, including Fable, Halo Infinite, the next installment of Forza horizon, and State of Decay. That is probably scratching the surface. As for the event, it happens on Sunday, June 13, 2021, at 10AM PT. Tip of the day: Tired of Windows 10’s default notification and other system sounds? In our tutorial we show you how to change windows sounds or turn off system sounds entirely.
