The hottest trends at E3
5 things gamers will want to watch,
As video game fans continue to pile into the Los Angeles Convention Center for the Electronic Entertainment Expo, trends are starting to emerge. The event, which runs here through Thursday, not only highlights the hardware and games players can expect this holiday but also provides a sense of the direction the developers and publishers behind them are headed. USA TODAY’s Brett Molina takes a look at five trends that emerged during this year’s E3:
1 GET READY FOR 4K GAMING
With the launch of Sony’s PlayStation 4 Pro last year, video game players with a 4K-supported TV got their first taste of 4K gaming. Get ready for it to ramp up with the arrival of Microsoft’s Xbox One X this November.
Microsoft plans on updating several of its games for 4K, while third-party game publishers including Activision Blizzard have updated or will update their games to support the higherquality video resolution.
The bigger question is how soon will more Americans get their hands on a 4K TV to reap the benefits of higher-powered home consoles. The Consumer Technology Association forecasts as many as 1 in 4 U.S. households could own a 4K TV by the end of the year.
2 WHAT HAPPENED TO VR?
Outside of Sony with its PlayStation VR platform, and publisher Bethesda Softworks boasting three VR titles in the works, talk about the once-exciting technology seems to have quieted down.
Few companies shared details on the next steps for VR. Microsoft, which had been expected to reveal a VR component to its Xbox One X console, said nothing on the subject.
The move coincides with a flattening out in interest and awareness for VR, Magid Advisors president Mike Vorhaus says.
“After years of hype and speculation, this has clearly been a year of consolidation and retrenchment in terms of consumer awareness and interest in VR,” he said. “As more people buy and use more VR devices, and as more content becomes available, the interest in VR will take off in the next few years.”
3 ESPORTS STAKES ITS CLAIM
Computing giant Intel announced a significant partnership with competitive video gaming organizer ESL to help power its competitions worldwide — and a $1 million prize for the top Counter-Strike: Global Offensive team.
Electronic Arts revealed a larger competition kicking off this fall tied to its soccer franchise FIFA. Even Nintendo is dabbling with competitive gaming through a series of tournaments at E3 tied to games for its new Switch console.
However, Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime stressed this isn’t part of a larger push into eSports just yet. “We’re focused on the community,” he said. “We’re not focused on leagues or that space.”
Awareness of eSports has continued to increase in recent years. According to research from Magid, 49% of consumers this year said they heard of eSports, up from 41% the year before.
“Our data suggests that in the future, eSports will be as popular and important to viewers as golf is today,” Vorhaus said.
4 MORE MICROTRANSACTIONS COMING TO CONSOLES
One of Electronic Arts’ potential blockbusters, Star
Wars Battlefront II, is switching to a post-release model where players will see more consistent updates to the game, as well as the chance to buy “crates” to add more in-game items.
Meanwhile, Bethesda Softworks announced Creation Club, a hub where players can acquire items such as costumes or weapons for video games Fallout 4 and
Skyrim. Players will use in-game credits acquired by making real-world purchases through the PlayStation and Xbox store platforms, as well as PC service Steam.
The strategy is common in the mobile space, where free-to-play games allow users to purchase items or in-game currency to augment their experience.
5 OPENNESS AND DISCOVERY BECOMING A BIGGER DEAL
A word used often by designers when describing their experiences: surprise. Their method for injecting more surprise in games is by making them more open, with the opportunity to find hidden treasures. Games like God of War, which until now have featured more structured gameplay paths, will open up to offer more chances for players to explore. Nintendo is implementing a similar strategy in adventure game Super Mario Odyssey, shifting toward a “sandbox” style experience where players can roam and approach the adventure however they choose.
The openworld concept has been a staple of games for years. However, it appears to be on the rise, perhaps sunsetting the days of linear, tightly-tailored experiences.