E3 (Electronic Entertainment Expo) is often described as “The Super Bowl” of video games”. It is the trade show event where most major video game companies announce new products for the upcoming year. This is similar to other events like the Apple press conferences, which show new Apple products. The trade show takes place in June, but there are still lots of speculation and rumors circulating around this year’s E3 show.

Nintendo for example has confirmed they will be showing their new console, codenamed the NX, at E3 2016. Their last video game console, the Wii U, was released in 2012. The Wii U was the successor to the Wii in 2006, which was considered a huge success selling over 100 million units. However, the Wii U has been considered a flop selling just over the 10 million mark. The NX will shape the future of Nintendo as a company, possibly deciding if they will release another console after this. The latest rumors from patents and other leaked info is that the console will be a hybrid between a regular game console (Wii, Wii U, PlayStation 4) and a portable gaming console (3DS, PS Vita).

While Nintendo is creating a new console altogether, Microsoft and Sony may be changing the video game console business as we know it by releasing mid-generation upgrades to both their consoles. Microsoft has already said they will be releasing an upgraded version of the Xbox One, and Sony has leaked that they plan to do the same for the PlayStation 4. This idea is nothing new in other markets. Apple releases mid lifecycle upgrades to their phones, such as the iPhone 6 vs the iPhone 6s. It is the same phone, just slightly upgraded. This is the idea that console manufacturers want to push. This idea will change the whole dynamic of video game consoles, given that currently you can buy a PlayStation 4 and guarantee it will play the games you want for the next six or so at a good quality. This may change that comforting idea to many video game console owners. The concept right now is very vague, but is certainly happening as major reputable sources have confirmed it such as Kotaku and Giant Bomb.

Besides the console manufactures making some changes, new games and software are also announced. Some major games confirmed to be shown at E3 are: the new Call of Duty game for 2016, Gears of War 4; Final Fantasy XV, Titanfall 2, Mass Effect Andromeda, Persona 5, a new Legend of Zelda game and many more. Other games not confirmed, but are rumored to be shown at E3 include: a sequel to Red Dead Redemption, Watch Dogs 2 and a Superman game made by the Batman game developers Rocksteady. There is bound to be much more revealed at E3. E3 will commence with press conferences from June 12 to June 14 and the show floor will be June 14 to June 16.

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