subject: The E3 2010 Primer: Microsoft [print this page] Bungie Reassures Us about Halo Reach Bungie Reassures Us about Halo Reach
In case you've missed the news, Bungie is no longer a second-party company to Microsoft. While they may be publishing future titles under Activision, they've said that they are committed to Halo Reach, and E3 is where we're going to see that commitment, as well as a ton of media. Most of what we see will probably pertain to the single player, but there will be stats from the recent multiplayer beta, and possibly even a look at what they've changed based on that feedback. What we won't see, though, is who will be taking up the Halo series after Bungie is gone.
The Stars Come Out for Fable III
Even if you try to ignore everything that gets said about Fable 3, it's hard to ignore that it's got quite the cast behind it. While we're likely to see the game's mastermind, Peter Molyneux, talk about the game, we might also see some of that talent come out to give a boost to the presentation. We'll hear a lot more about Fable 3, regardless of who is saying it, including a release date and if it really is coming to Windows computers. If it is, hopefully we'll hear about a Fable 2 port as well.
Epic Concludes Gears of War
With an April release date, this year is the only E3 that Epic will have to show off Gears of War 3, and you can bet that they're going to have some playable footage, most likely showing off some of the more striking changes to the series, mechs and underwater combat included. We may also hear what surprises the multiplayer component has in store to keep the title competitive with Call of Duty and Halo.
Something New from Rare?
It's been awhile since we've heard of any big retail games coming from Rare, so it's very likely that we'll get to see something from them at E3. Being that they are owned by Microsoft, it will most likely be a title for Natal. This could mean that there will be a new franchise debuted, or we'll see an existing franchise brought into a world without controllers. If the controls were done right, a sequel to Kameo: Elements of Power would make a nice companion to Natal's family-friendly marketing, though so would a more traditional Banjo-Kazooie title.
With Natal on the horizon, Microsoft might not be taking many gambles at this year's E3 conference, but the content they're likely to show off should be more than enough to keep 360 owners interested even if they don't feel ready to trade in their controllers. Next time, we'll take a look at the final member of the big three: Nintendo.
