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It’s time for the Christmas of Spring, or as it’s more commonly referred to as, the Electronic Entertainment Expo! E3 has been the biggest event in the video game industry for years now, a place where developers and publishers gather to announce their big, new titles for the next twelve months and beyond. Anticipation is at a fever pitch right before the curtain lifts on the first day of the convention, and fans across the globe wait with bated breath to hear what’s next for their favorite series, and maybe even something brand new to enjoy.
Nintendo finds itself in a curious position this year. E3 2014 was largely a hit, with a lot of hype built around the then-impending launches of Super Smash Bros., Splatoon, Captain Toad, and many other games, a lot of which were genuine surprises for those watching the Nintendo Direct. Amiibo was also looming on the horizon, and spirits were high by the time the lights went off at the L.A. Convention Center. Still, there was something to be said of the lack of announcements for series like Metroid and F-Zero, and currently there are a myriad of questions swirling around Nintendo just a scant week before it tips its hand during this year’s broadcast.
Will Nintendo be sneaking in a surprise glimpse of NX and its mobile titles? What are Retro Studios and Next Level Games up to these days? Will Star Fox be dropping this year as promised? No one can say for sure, but Nintendojo is ready to make some educated guesses about the future of everyone’s favorite video game company. So sit back and get a bingo card ready for June 16, as we’re about to make our E3 2015 predictions!
New Amiibo
Pretty much a no-brainer here, but there’s still some mystery as to which characters or series will be getting the toys-to-life treatment. Though Nintendo has stated there won’t be any footage of its next Legend of Zelda entry, that doesn’t mean the company can’t tease fans a little bit with the reveal of Amiibo figures that will tie-in to the new game. Star Fox getting some kind of Amiibo set could be within the realm of possibility. It also seems likely that further details will be dropped about Amiibo cards, which so far have only been shown in conjunction with the upcoming release of Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer. It’s been expressed by Nintendo in the past that the cards could be used to offer a second release of sorts for out of stock Amiibo figures, so it’s possible E3 might finally bring an update on the status of that.
NX and Mobile Don’t Make the Show
Nintendo has been adamant that this year’s E3 will not play host to a reveal of either the company’s upcoming NX console or mobile titles, and it seems likely that will be the case. Nintendo president Satoru Iwata already announced at a recent investors meeting that NX wouldn’t be bowing for another year, and with the ink barely dried on the DeNA deal, mobile games would seemingly be too early in development to have anything substantial to unveil. Stranger things have happened, however, and Nintendo could still throw a curveball at everyone by bringing one or both of the two new endeavors to L.A. this year, but the safe money seems to be on having to wait a little longer to see either one.
New Mario Game for the 30th Anniversary
Seriously not trying to be facetious by saying that, as it has been a fair stretch since the last time fans got hold of a proper new Mario game, 2D or 3D. With it being Super Mario Bros.‘s 30th anniversary, it would be a major missed opportunity to have Mario Maker as the sole plumber-platforming title hitting Nintendo’s consoles. Odds are high that Nintendo will dazzle the crowd with news of red ‘stache’s return. Which system this potential new Mario game (or games) might appear on is up in the air, but expect Nintendo to make a real show of this milestone in the same vein as what the company did for the Year of Luigi.
DLC Bonanza
Nintendo has proven itself as the premier maker of downloadable content in the video game industry. From Fire Emblem Awakening to Mario Kart 8 to Super Smash Bros., Nintendo’s forays into additional game material has been fairly implemented and highly successful for the company. Iwata has been quoted as saying that DLC for Smash Bros. and Mario Kart 8 will continue to be a priority for Nintendo moving forward, so E3 would seem the perfect time to get out word of what that DLC for the two games will be. It’s also likely that further Amiibo integration will be announced for both existing and upcoming titles, in the form of new costumes, items, game modes, or a combination of all three.
Something Old Becomes Something New
Metroid, F-Zero, EarthBound, Wave Race, Advance Wars, Golden Sun– the list of Nintendo franchises on the back burner is pretty extensive, and with both Retro Studios and Next Level Games working on mystery projects, there’s a glimmer of hope that one of them will be primed for a comeback. And yes, “primed” made me think of Metroid “Prime,” too, and yes, I too really would love to see the words “Metroid Prime 4” emblazoned on marketing all around the L.A. Convention Center. Whatever bombshell is dropped will likely have the Internet abuzz for months afterward, but keep expectations reasonable; Ice Climber 2 probably won’t be coming fans’ way anytime soon!
What do you think Nintendo will be revealing at E3 this year? Let us know in the comments!
