Our E3 2017 predictions are rolling on today, with the focus on Nintendo!
Nintendo has seen an amazing turn in fortunes and public perception this year with the release of the Nintendo Switch. Even though the Nintendo Wii sold insanely well at first, its sales also basically fell off of a cliff around 2008/2009, meaning the company had almost a decade of negative mindshare and poor sales. There was even a worry amongst gamers, myself included, when the new system was revealed at a terrible event that had all the hallmarks of old, stuck-in-the-past, stubborn, Nintendo.
All of that changed, however, when the Nintendo Switch released. Once gamers finally had the hardware in their hands, it no longer mattered what silly things Nintendo's reps said or did at a press conference; the tech was fantastic, and we had Breath of the Wild to go with it. All was well in Nintendoland for the first time in too, too long.
So, with all this momentum and good will, Nintendo will look to capitalize and produce a memorable E3 showing. If everything on this list comes to fruition, Nintendo will stand a good chance of winning E3, as it were. So, let's put on our hype hats and get started!
Breath of the Wild DLC
This one is a no-brainer. We already know that DLC packs are coming (we even know what's in the packs), but it seems obvious that we will get a real look at them here.
DLC Pack 1 will come with new armor, a new challenge mode titled Trial of the Sword, a hard more, Hero's Path Mode (which allows you to track your path throughout the world), and a Travel Medallion that allows fast travel. I wouldn't be surprised if this was briefly discussed, then announced to release then and there.
The second DLC Pack is the more interesting of the two, as it comes with a new dungeon and new story content. Nothing more is known about this DLC pack as of now, but following the release announcement of DLC Pack 1, I would expect a trailer for DLC Pack 2. This would give fans a reason to go back to Breath of the Wild, as well as stay excited for the title for the remainder of the year.
Mario x Rabbids: Kingdom Battle
Now for the worst kept secret heading into E3 2017 -- well, not counting Assassin's Creed: Origins.
Mario x Rabbids: Kingdom Battle had been rumored for several months before it was leaked back in May -- and it is a dead lock for E3. The game, which is being developed by Ubisoft, supposedly features turn-based combat, two-player local co-op, and, predictably, a ridiculous sense of humor. Also, despite what the title suggests, Mario won't be the only playable character, as you'll also get to take control of Luigi, Yoshi, Peach, and Rabbids dressed as the aforementioned icons.
Mario x Rabbids: Kingdom Battle is reportedly coming this fall to the Nintendo Switch, making it one of Nintendo's biggest holiday releases. With that in mind, we can expect a full reveal, with gameplay and a release date, during Nintendo's Spotlight. This will likely be a fun title but not the Mario game everyone is desperate to see.
Wii U Ports
Before Nintendo gets to the big guns, I believe the company will announce a few more Wii U ports. Since the Nintendo Switch released, it has become a haven for overlooked games seeking a second life. Many games released on the Wii U to zero fanfare, no matter how good they may have been.
One such title I would expect to see is Xenoblade Chronicles. We're getting a spiritual successor to the 2011 Xenoblade on Switch, so it only makes sense for the majority of the Switch adopters to get a chance to play the original.
The same could be said for Super Mario Maker, Yoshi's Wooly World, Bayonetta 2, and Super Smash Bros. for Wii U. There's a lot of games that Nintendo could justifiably port from the Wii U, not to mention older titles like Super Mario Sunshine or Super Mario Galaxy 1 & 2. So don't be surprised if a chunk of thNintendodo Spotlight is devoted to games you've already seen or played!
Super Mario Odyssey
Super Mario Odyssey came as a surprise to many when Nintendo revealed it back in January. Not because we weren't expecting a new Mario title, but because the setting took everyone off-guard: New Donk City, pitting our hero in a realistic location for the first time.
Seeing Mario run around a New York-style city was weird but awesome -- although it was jarring to many. But that was only part of the reveal, which then showcased a variety of beautiful locales, including a vast desert and a lush forest, keeping with the theme of real-world inspired locations.
Odyssey is the first open-ended, exploration-based Mario game since Super Mario Sunshine way back in 2002! That's incredibly exciting because both Sunshine and Mario 64 are two of the best video games of all-time, and it's been far too long since we've gotten such a Mario game.
This is Nintendo's next big game, and we can expect it to take center stage during the E3 Spotlight. We will hopefully get a lengthy gameplay demo as well as a specific release date!
SNES Classic Mini
Another poorly held secret, the SNES Classic Mini seems destined to be fully revealed at E3 and released later this year.
Last year, Nintendo revealed the NES Classic, a mini version of the original Nintendo Entertainment System, equipped with 30 built-in games. The system was marred by constant demand issues -- whether real or manufactured by Nintendo -- before being discontinued after five months and selling 2.3 million units. The system was not only a complete shock to everyone but quickly became the most sought-after toy of the year!
With all that in mind, a follow-up seems inevitable. Pretty much the second the NES Classic Mini was announced, gamers were calling for the Super Nintendo to get the same treatment. An SNES Mini -- surely with a longer controller cable or even a wireless controller -- could also come with 30 built-in games, including Earthbound, Chrono Trigger, A Link To The Past, Super Mario World, Super Metroid, Donkey Kong Country, Final Fantasy III, and Super Mario Kart. That short list of games alone would be worth the price tag!
We can expect a reveal of the SNES Classic Mini at E3, along with a price tag, release date, and hopefully a lot more stock than the NES Mini.
Xenoblade Chronicles 2
Xenoblade Chronicles released on the Wii in 2011, and it received critical acclaim. The pseudo open-world RPG blew expectations out of the water and proved itself to be more than just a Monster Hunter/Final Fantasy clone.
A follow-up wasn't expected when it appeared back in January when the Switch was revealed, especially considering Xenoblade Chronicles X only released two years ago on Wii U. To say the least, it was a nice surprise.
Xenoblade Chronicles 2 was also a sight for sore eyes because it was another huge open-world title for gamers to look forward to after Breath of the Wild. Beyond Zelda, there haven't been a lot of big titles for Switch gamers to sink their teeth into, but Xenoblade can give them exactly that.
I would expect Xenoblade Chronicles 2 to sell very well on the Switch, so Nintendo will want to heavily promote it. The game is due for release sometime this year, so we should be seeing a lot more of it at E3.
Metroid On Switch
Nintendo has said this current E3 will focus on games coming this year, but I expect one surprise to come at the end -- and that's a new Metroid. Metroid is one of Nintendo's longest-running and most mishandled franchises. Some gamers will argue that point but the fact of the matter is Nintendo has neglected the iconic series and it's struggling as a result.
Of course, we know Metroid doesn't sell well. Every time you hear someone question why we don't get more Metroid games, the reason is pretty simple: it doesn't make enough money. Contrary to popular opinion, Metroid is not as big of a franchise as people think, at least not in regards to sales numbers. The highest-selling entry in the franchise is Metroid Prime on GameCube, which sold 2.82 million copies. Wii Music sold better.
All that being said, I do think there is ample reason for Nintendo to make a Metroid game on the Switch, and I believe the company has been doing just that. Nintendo isn't deaf and the company heard the community the second it announced Metroid Prime: Federation Force at E3 2015. The backlash to the 3DS title was severe and, if they hadn't already known it, the bigwigs at Nintendo would've quickly realized how beloved the series was.
With that in mind, it seems inevitable that Nintendo would have commissioned a full-blown Metroid title for the Switch. This is a perfect opportunity for Nintendo to shed all of the baggage that comes with Metroid and make a fresh start; a new story, a new setting, even a new protagonist.
Of course, that's just one idea. The new Metroid could also be a sequel to Other M or Prime 4.
Well, there you have it, our predictions for Nintendo's E3 2017 Spotlight. As has become customary, Nintendo will not be hosting a live showcase like Sony or Microsoft, but a Direct video that will come to us at 12 p.m. EST on June 13.
The E3 Spotlight will be followed by a Treehouse stream, in which Nintendo will showcase the games coming in the near future. This could be a huge E3 for Nintendo; the company will look to give Switch owners plenty of reasons to be excited for the next 6-12 months, and also give potential buyers a reason to dive-in and see what all the hype is about.
The E3 2017 briefing will focus largely on Super Mario Odyssey, which is going to be Nintendo's big fall game. That alone is reason enough to get excited about E3, but we should be getting at least a few more announcements.
Let us know in the comments your wildest dreams and what you think is actually going to happen! Don't forget you can find more of our E3 predictions on GameSkinny by following the links below:
Published: Jun 7, 2017 11:28 pm