E3 is just around the corner folks and you know what that means. That’s right, wildly inaccurate predictions as to what will appear at the show. The Player 2 crew has once again gotten together and gazed into their crystal balls (there was a 2 for 1 special at Kmart) and have put their E3 predictions on the virtual page for everyone to tease them about in 2 weeks time. Now it is Bethesda’s time to shine.
E3 2016 Predictions – Bethesda
Sarah Ellen
Safe Bet
The recent promotional material for Bethesda’s E3 showcase highlights our favourite Dovahkiin as well as other key stakeholders in Tamriel so I’m putting bets on Elder Scrolls Legends. A strategy card game that has the noticeable similarities with Hearthstone is going to be difficult to market (look at how many people threw up Battleborn against Overwatch and see who is still standing!), but Elder Scrolls Legends does have some context-specific mechanics that differentiate it enough.
Fairly Likely
It is reasonable to expect that we will get an update on Bethesda’s stealth-action sequel Dishonoured 2, given its current release scheduled has it pegged for November 2016. The promoted gimmick is the opportunity to choose to continue your protagonist from the first game or to explore the story of recently-turned-outlaw Empress Emily Kaldwin (or play both, which is probably what everyone will do). The Bethesda showcase will provide an opportunity for more gameplay footage that highlights some of the key differences between Emily and Corvo.
Wishful Thinking
Remember when Elder Scrolls Online didn’t have any of those pesky online issues and you didn’t have to deal with other people? Those were great times. Those were Skyrim times. We need those times back. We need our beloved Dovahkiin rendered in next-generation console greatness, especially for the poor Playstation 3 players like myself. Don’t let that be our Last Dragonborn, Bethesda – let the Dragonborn last with a next-gen release.
Stephen del Prado
Safe Bet
Bethesda may not have a lot of IP’s under their belt but what they do have works. They’ll be very comfortable revealing more about Dishonored 2 as well as announcing DLC for Doom. To cap this off, Fallout 4 will receive some more DLC with the price of the Season Pass rising once again. Elder Scrolls Online is mentioned uncomfortably, with further content scheduled for all 10 of its players.
Fairly Likely
Bethesda has less than a minute left to go during their conference. They want to show the audience “a little something they’ve been working on….”. Lights out, and a short teaser trailer for Elder Scrolls 6 plays with a release date set for early 2018.
Wishful Thinking
Following the reveal of Elder Scrolls 6, Bethesda announce a new approach to the franchise – rather than delivering the game whole, they see Elder Scrolls 6 as an extended episodic gaming experience similar to Hitman, whereby regions of the world will be released steadily, beginning with a return to the island of Vvardenfell.
Paul James
Safe Bet
Dishonored II – 2015’s headline act of Fallout 4 is a hard act to follow but Bethesda has given themselves a handy start in 2016 having already locked in Dishonored II for a November release. Expect it to be the headline act at their briefing this year with extensive gameplay shown revealing the cast and many of the new powers at your disposal. If it’s anything like its predecessor the Dishonored II will be one of the biggest games of the year so expect E3 2016 to be its major coming out party.
Fairly Likely
Fallout 4 DLC – Arguably the biggest game of 2015 is still far from done. Fallout 4 has received two DLC packs as of now and the Season Pass isn’t done yet. While hardly the marquee showing, expect Bethesda to at least talk a little more about what’s next out of the Fallout 4 Season Pass.
Wishful Thinking
Next Elders Scrolls – Given that Todd Howard and his team aren’t even totally finished with Fallout 4 yet, it’s nigh on impossible that we’ll see the net entry in the famed Elders Scrolls franchise. That all said it’s been a long time since Skyrim, and with the engine that will power the game likely done, thanks to Fallout 4, so perhaps we’ll be in for our first tease of the game. Should all this fortunately play out, don’t go expecting the game until at least 2017 though.
Adam Rorke
Safe Bet
I figured that last year’s E3 was to excite and tease us with some big titles and that this year will be the one to deliver the goods. Dishonored 2 was one such game, we got an awesome looking trailer and then we got told to sit back down and wait our turn. Well dammit, 2016 is here and we’ve waited long enough, Bethesda know this and surely we’ll see a lot more news on gameplay dynamics, story and the new protagonist. I expect a lot of detail to drop on this gorgeous looking game!
Fairly Likely
Sadly for Bethesda, blacklisting media outlets hasn’t stopped the leaks coming out and we already seem to know that Fallout 4 is getting an expansion. As of now we only have some minor leaks on its theme and setting, so I’m expecting full details to be announced during their conference.
Wishful Thinking
It’s been too quiet on the Elders Scrolls front. Surely they’re working on a successor to Skyrim and maybe, just maybe, we’ll see something right at the end of their closing presentation, a simple “Oh yes, we also have this little thing to show you”. The lights them dim and like an orchestra bellowing out the reverberation of magnificence, a new Elders Scroll title slowly lights up with a quick video teaser, only to be drowned out by cheering and clapping from the crowd. Make it happen Bethesda.
Stevie McDonald
Safe Bet
Last year, a Dishonored sequel was my Pie in the Sky prediction. This year, given its November release date, it’s a safe bet that the game will have a presence at Bethesda’s second ever E3 conference. What a wonderful world it can be at times!
Fairly Likely
Fallout 4 was Bethesda’s major draw last year, so it’s fairly likely they will make some sort of related announcement this year. More DLC perhaps? Another tie-in game? Who knows!
Wishful Thinking
It’s been 10 years since Prey was released and 5 years since Prey 2 was announced. Though it was subsequently cancelled in 2014, there are rumours the sequel wasn’t cancelled so much as shelved indefinitely – and Bethesda is going to want to pull some punches to match the success of their inaugural E3 conference…
Matt Hewson
Safe Bet
Well, Dishonored 2 is the obvious one here. Spooky, stealthy backstabbing is going to be at E3 in a big way and why not? The original surprised everyone with its steampunk setting and tight gameplay so Bethesda are sure to give the sequel plenty of air time at E3.
Fairly Likely
I think it is likely that we are going to see a new game from MachineGames. The studio that so successfully brought Wolfenstein back into the hearts of gamers has been quiet since the release of The Old Blood so enquiring minds want to know what they are up to. More Wolfenstein? A new IP? QUAKE? Hopefully, E3 sheds light on what the studio are working on.
Wishful Thinking
I mentioned Quake right? Well, A successful return for both Wolfenstein and Doom surely means that Quake is on the cards right? Hopefully, they don’t fluff the multiplayer again though.
James Swinbanks
Safe Bet
Dishonored 2 – I honestly have no idea what Bethesda might be bringing to E3 this year, given that Fallout 4 was their last big trump card, and Doom came out to roaring applause, so it seems like Dishonored 2 would be their next big focus given the success of the first game. I’m looking forward to seeing plenty more on this, too, as the first game was just brilliant.
Fairly Likely
Battlecry – Ok, so this is actually more unlikely than likely, but considering we heard about it at last year’s E3 and have heard nothing since, I would expect to get at least some kind of update as to how this is tracking along. Especially as Bethesda is hosting another
Wishful Thinking
The next Elder Scrolls game – I’m not a fan of The Elder Scrolls Online, but as far as the usual Elder Scrolls games are concerned, I would not be at all upset if Bethesda turned up and showed off a little teaser to at least hint at what the series future is. It is, however, unlikely. Given Todd Howard’s previous comments about three different projects happening at Bethesda HQ right now, we could be hearing about a new IP instead, which wouldn’t be a bad thing, either.
Jenn Christodoulou
Safe Bet
Fallout 4 DLC. It surprises me that there hasn’t been much news surrounding this as yet, considering all the hype that came with last year’s announcement. Not being into this series myself I’m not too phased either way, but I know more Fallout will make a lot of people happy so bring it on.
Fairly Likely
More DLC for Elder Scrolls Online. While people still play it the company may as well flog it.
Wishful Thinking
Elder Scrolls VI is what I want to see from this company this year. I know chances are slim if the news surrounding the title has been anything to go by, but hey, wishful thinking is just that, right?
Other E3 2016 Predictions
Microsoft – Sony – Nintendo – Square Enix
