Microsoft is gearing up to take a full swing at E3 this year, further evidenced by the recent revelation that more than a dozen Xbox Game Studios titles will be on display during its June 9 briefing.
It seems like the E3 briefing schedule and showroom are in a constant state of flux these days, but Microsoft is still holding down its early Sunday afternoon stage presence during this year’s event. Heck, they’re even returning to the convention center for a major showing after being absent in 2018.
We’ll dig deeper into the causes behind all of that in a moment but, for now, here’s the official word from Microsoft’s Phil Spencer concerning what fans can expect during the 1 p.m. games showcase.
Just finishing our final E3 rehearsal here with the team in Redmond. Feel really good about the briefing. Lots to show. We have 14 Xbox Game Studios games in the show this year, more first party games than we've ever had in the show. Fun times. #XboxE3
— Phil Spencer (@XboxP3) May 30, 2019
So, according to Spencer, Microsoft will have more first party games at this year’s E3 briefing than ever before. Assuming they’re making room for third party offerings, too, it looks like Microsoft’s live event will be packed with games.
But that’s only part of the full picture. A more robust Xbox Games Pass for PC offering will receive additional details at the show and, of course, we’ve got that new hardware to keep an eye on. With the next generation lurking just around the corner and Sony deciding to skip this year’s E3 entirely, Microsoft is taking advantage of the extra breathing room to try and make an argument for gaming with Xbox in the years ahead.
The Xbox One has been cruising in neutral for a while now, but Microsoft has been working behind the scenes to prepare for what comes next. They’ve scooped up a bunch of talented developers, have branched out with their various streaming and subscription models and will likely have some beefy hardware to show off once E3 rolls around. Even if you’re not a fan of Xbox, it’s pretty exciting to know that one of the biggest names in gaming is about to reveal its hand for the next generation.
