Over the past four days, you've read our predictions for the big three platform holders (Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo) and third parties. Beginning today, we reframe the conversation to look at what the companies need to do to lift their grade over last year's performance.
We kick things off with Microsoft. As is often the case, our post-E3 issue featured report cards for each of the companies.
We noted that Microsoft's Phil Spencer (new to his position as head of Xbox at the time) took a humble approach on stage. He noted that community feedback helped shape the Xbox One updates that had rolled out since launch and were planned for the coming months.
We liked the presentation of Halo: The Master Chief Collection, were mixed on Fable Legends, and pleased to see Conker's face (though maybe not as a Project Spark add-on). Rise of the Tomb Raider was certainly a surprise, but since we wouldn't find out until Gamescom that it is a timed exclusive, the impact on Microsoft's stage at E3 was lessened.
Here's how we summarized Microsoft's presentation last year:
Microsoft’s performance is a step up over last year, but it still failed to make a good case for its new hardware. With all of the cross-generation and cross-platform content, the reasons to own an Xbox One specifically are still few. Yes, plenty of good games are coming to the system this year, but the most memorable moments of the press conference came in the post-2014 section.
That means that Xbox One owners will have had their consoles for over a year before the compelling, exclusive games start releasing with any regularity. The long-term projects look interesting, but that doesn’t do much good if the console’s immediate future hinges on a bunch of Halo games you’ve already played.
Microsoft's final grade for its E3 2014 presentation?
There's certainly room for improvement, as the Xbox team inched just above "average." Let's see how Microsoft might boost that a bit.
First-Party Exclusives
Last year, Microsoft featured Halo: The Master Chief Collection, Halo 5: Guardians, Sunset Overdrive, Crackdown, Fable Legends, Scalebound, and Phantom Dust. Had we known then how The Master Chief Collection would turn out, it's safe to say that C+ would have taken a hit.
This year, Gears of War will be at E3 in some fashion, and the big marketing push for Halo 5: Guardians will likely begin. With many unknowns for this holiday, if Microsoft wants to raise its grade, here's what we need to see:
Give us an open beta window for Fable Legends.
This title was first announced at Gamescom 2013. If it's not ready yet, we have concerns that it won't ever be.
It's time to dish substantial information about Crackdown.
It's been teased for long enough. It's time for Microsoft to show us how this series is going to be reimagined for the Xbox One.
Halo 5: Guardians needs to impress jilted fans.
343 Industries has some ground to recover. The Master Chief Collection made a mess out of masterpiece. Halo 5: Guardians can't just have a good showing. It needs to win back those who feel like the series should have ended when Bungie left.
Tell us what Scalebound actually is (with gameplay footage).
Last E3 brought a flashy cinematic trailer for Platinum's Scalebound. It wasn't clear exactly what the game is or how it's played, which doesn't give us much to legitimately get excited about. Microsoft and Platinum need to wow us.
Show us what Rare has been working on.
The Rare name carries a lot of weight with gamers. If the studio is working on something for core gamers (its last title, Kinect Sports Rivals, was a flop), go big. Fans want to see Rare attached to a game they want to play...with a controller.
Extra Credit
Keep Phantom Dust alive.
After reports that the original vision for the Phantom Dust reboot was scrapped, we were left wondering if it's still a property Microsoft is exploring. If we don't hear anything about it, we'll assume it's dead and a significant announcement from last year has fizzled. That'll hurt when the marking period closes.
Announce a Fable game that honors the series' legacy.
Despite Peter Molyneux's lofty and often unfulfilled promises about the Fable series, the franchise has earned a following. Fable Legends might be set in Albion, but it isn't the action-RPG diehards are looking for. News about a traditional Xbox One Fable game would go over well.
Deliver a Gears of War remaster done right.
The concept of a remastered Gears of War collection has been shot down, but an April 2015 report indicates that the first game in the franchise might be getting a coat of polish. But to win points with a definitively weary audience, it had best be loaded to the gills and much more than just Gears of War 1 all over again.