It's almost that time of year again, where the biggest names in video games get together at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) in Los Angeles to draw the world's attention to their shiny new machines and blow the lid off some never-before-seen experiences.
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Of course one of the most exciting aspects of the whole thing is watching the major conferences as they happen, and exchanging hot takes with the thousands of other fans on Twitter, so here's our one-stop guide to all the major events of next week, what you're likely to see and where you can watch it live. (All times in AEST.)
Microsoft
Surprisingly — given the latest consoles are only a few years old — this E3 could be a big one for hardware, with Microsoft leading the charge. Rumour has it that the company has not one but two new Xbox One consoles in the pipeline, including a more compact model this year and a more powerful model in 2017. This could be the place for Microsoft to explain the rationale behind its move to more frequent hardware updates, as well as the increasing parity between Xbox and Windows. The company is also long-rumoured to be introducing some kind of direct support for the Oculus Rift VR headset for Xbox, which would help combat Sony's PlayStation VR. In terms of games, look for updates on co-operative horror shooter Gears of War 4, strategy title Halo Wars 2, open-world destruction simulator Crackdown 3, as well as more details on intriguing artsy stuff like ReCore, Sea of Thieves, Below and Tacoma. New announcements are also on the cards (yes, car fans, Forza is a good bet).
Microsoft takes the stage on Tuesday at 2.30am. You can tune in live at xbox.com/en-AU/e3.
Sony
Rumours of a more powerful PlayStation 4 predate the Xbox rumours, and it's possible that Sony forced Microsoft's hand in developing a more powerful machine (with Nintendo also launching a next-generation machine next year). If Sony has a new PlayStation, possibly with 4K capabilites or closer ties to PlayStation VR, it's possible we'll see it at E3. Then again they might prefer to reveal it on home turf at PlayStation Experience later on. Speaking of VR, expect it to dominate Sony's conference as the new headset comes out this October. Launching in Australia at $550, it will be the most accessible game-focused VR product on the market, and Sony will want to drive awareness. Beyond lots of VR game announcements, expect quite a few surprise game reveals as well as new looks at caveman-meets-robot-dinosaurs RPG Horizon: Zero Dawn, android dystopia story Detroit: Become Human, the long-awaited The Last Guardian. Gravity Rush 2, Gran Tourismo Sport and possibly No Man's Sky would be good picks to get fresh details. Final Fantasy may have a presence here as well.
Sony's briefing kicks off on Tuesday at 11am, and you can see it live on YouTube right here.
Nintendo
Once the mighty third pillar of big E3 announcements, Nintendo has backed away in recent years, preferring to reach fans on its own terms through streamed video presentations throughout the year. In 2016 it is not having a conference, will not be talking about next year's mysterious NX console, and claims it is only bringing one game to the E3 show floor. But that doesn't mean the company isn't planning to make an impact, inexplicably booking more floor space at the convention centre even than Microsoft. All of it will be for just one game: the brand new Legend of Zelda title last seen in 2014. Press have been told to put aside 90 minutes for the Zelda demo, so expect a huge amount of new details and the massive game expected to launch next year on both Wii U and the brand new unreleased console.
A day-long livestream dedicated to Zelda will begin on Wednesday at 2am. On Thursday, the stream will continue with new details on other upcoming Nintendo games. You can tune in at e3.nintendo.com.
Other must-watches
EA PLAY, Monday at 6am: Expect to see Mass Effect, Battlefield 1, Star Wars, Titanfall, Need for Speed and lots of sport. ea.com/play2016
Bethesda showcase, Monday at midday: Dishonored 2 should show up, as well as new content for DOOM and Fallout 4. A Skyrim remaster is rumoured, as is a new Wolfenstein and Evil Within. twitch.tv/bethesda.
Ubisoft conference, Tuesday at 6am: Watch Dogs 2, For Honor, South Park: The Fractured But Whole, and Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Wildlands will all be there. Expect at least one completely new game too. twitch.tv/ubisoft
Activision has opted out of the E3 conference stakes, but will have new Call of Duty, Destiny and Skylanders content on the show floor.
Of course ther are many other game-makers which will reveal titles at the show but don't have their own conferences, and they will instead ally themselves with Microsoft or Sony to make the announcement. Rockstar for example, of Grand Theft Auto fame, is rumoured to be unveiling Red Dead Redemption 2, and we know thanks to leaks that a new Injustice game — the fighter based on DC Comics superheroes — is on the way.
