Note: You can see our predictions for the Bethesda studios here.
Xbox E3 2021 Predictions: 343 Industries
It’s been three years since the reveal of Halo Infinite at E3 2018 and one year since the disastrous gameplay demo that saw backlash across social media. It’s likely we’ll finally get (another) release date at the Xbox conference, and a look at the improvements 343 Industries has made since last year.
Xbox E3 2021 Predictions: The Coalition
The studio behind the Gears series is working on a new IP using Unreal Engine 5 and Gears 6. However, it’s a coin flip as to whether The Coalition will show either this year.
Xbox E3 2021 Predictions: Compulsion Games
Phil Spencer counted Compulsion Games’ new IP among the titles he’s most excited for. It’s supposed to be a mix of Uncharted and Bioshock, but no other details have been revealed. This might get a showing as it’s likely been in development for a few years.
Xbox E3 2021 Predictions: Double Fine
Psychonauts 2 is finally on schedule to release two years after its anticipated launch window. As such, it’ll likely be getting a big push from Xbox at E3 2021 and a proper release date announcement.
Xbox E3 2021 Predictions: The Initiative
We got a brief reveal of a Perfect Dark reboot at The Game Awards 2020 that The Initiative is developing. We may get a proper trailer at E3 2021, but it’s probably still pretty far off from release.
Xbox E3 2021 Predictions: inXile
inXile reportedly has multiple new RPGs in development, including an untitled AAA FPS RPG. However, that’s all the information we know about what the studio is working on so far. We’ll likely get to see at least one of its titles at E3.
Xbox E3 2021 Predictions: Mojang
While Minecraft is its bread and butter, Mojang has been expanding that franchise into new territory recently. Minecraft Dungeons released to decent reviews, but Minecraft Earth flopped, so it’s anyone’s guess what the studio’s move will be. We might just see some info about the next big Minecraft update, which is as exciting as a new game announcement for many fans.
Xbox E3 2021 Predictions: Ninja Theory
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7im9BFEHzEs
Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 has been a title Microsoft has continually highlighted in Series X|S marketing material, and it’s obvious that this is a flagship franchise for them. We’ll more than likely get a trailer and release date for Hellblade 2, a broader reveal of Project Mara (like a final title), and possibly a look into The Insight Project.
Xbox E3 2021 Predictions: Obsidian
Obsidian is one of Microsoft’s busiest studios, with five titles in the works. We’ll almost certainly get more info about Avowed. Other than that, we don’t know the status of the other four projects, but we’d bet we’ll see at least one of them.
Xbox E3 2021 Predictions: Playground Games
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M2yHPZtdtck
Fable, Fable, Fable, baby. Fingers crossed that we finally get a look at the Fable reboot the studio is working on, but we’re not going to hold our breath. There’s a much more solid chance that we’ll see the next entry in the Forza Horizon series, which will likely come out in Q4 2021/Q1 2022.
Xbox E3 2021 Predictions: Rare
Sea of Thieves is still chugging along, so expect an announcement about new content. Rare is also working on Everwild, and it may be far enough along in development for a trailer drop.
Xbox E3 2021 Predictions: Turn 10
Turn 10 is overhauling the ForzaTech engine and rebooting the series as “Forza Motorsport.” Since Forza Horizon 5 is likely coming out this year, we probably won’t see anything from Turn 10.
Xbox E3 2021 Predictions: Undead Labs
After Microsoft acquired Undead Labs, it began work on State of Decay 3. It’s a coin toss on whether the devs will show this game as we haven’t heard anything about it other than it exists.
Xbox E3 2021 Predictions: World’s Edge
Age of Empires 4 is due out later this year, and Microsoft founded World’s Edge specifically to boost that brand. We’ll probably see a major reveal on this title in the Xbox showcase.