While Sony and EA look like they're skipping E3 this year again, Microsoft continues to make the convention a major event in its planning. With 2020 being the launch year of next-generation consoles, Microsoft's focused on making E3 something "special." That word comes from Xbox boss Phil Spencer. Spencer took the time to reply to a fan question on Twitter, something he's known to do. In his response, Spencer couldn't help but share his excitement about E3.
The question that was posed to Spencer was two-part. The first asked how planning for E3 and "all things Xbox" was going, while the second part asked Spencer's thoughts on Ori and the Will of the Wisps. Regarding E3 2020, Spencer was more than willing to share his excitement. "Console launch years are just special," Spencer says. And while he isn't up for revealing any specifics, Spencer does feel comfortable building up some hype.
"Next E3 meeting is today," according to Spencer, showing just how far in advance Microsoft is planning the big event. "Tons to talk about between now and E3 & deep portfolio of XGS games for E3." The "deep portfolio" comment should be especially exciting for Xbox fans looking forward to later this year.
Right now, relatively little is known about Xbox's plans for the Xbox Series X holiday launch. There's Halo Infinite and Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2 confirmed from Xbox Game Studios. If Xbox truly belives it'll deliver a "deep portfolio" come launch, then those two games are likely just the start.
Xbox Game Studios has 15 studio subsidiaries now, after all. Many of those studios have known active projects, like Rare's Everwild, Double Fine's Psychonauts 2, and inXile's Wastelands 3. Other studios are still a grand mystery. Playground Games is likely working on both a new Forza racing game and a new RPG. Obsidian just finished The Outer Worlds and is certain to have something else in the works. Meanwhile, The Initiative, Xbox's newest homegrown studio, remains a complete mystery.
E3 may not be the juggernaut of an event that it used to be, but that isn't going to stop Microsoft from trying to make it the biggest and best Xbox event of the year. Spencer is already so excited about it that he's comfortable talking about it with fans on Twitter. Now comes the hard part– Xbox has to deliver on all of the hype. Or at least, it will have to deliver in four months when E3 2020 comes around.
The Xbox Series X console is set to launch holiday 2020.