E3 is once again taking place this year after the 2020 event had to be canceled due to the ongoing pandemic. However, E3 2021 will be a free, digital event, starting on June 12th and finishing on June 15th. There's a whole host of rumors currently circulating about what can be expected from the showcase.
While a range of high-level companies such as Sony and EA skipping the event this year, others such as Nintendo, Warner Bros., and Microsoft have all been confirmed for E3. Thanks to the attendance of these developers, various leaks, and other interesting pieces of news, there are already some great indications about rumored announcements and reveals which could take place.
Nintendo Switch Pro
Easily the most heavily rumored and anticipated announcement for E3 is that of Nintendo's new iteration of the Switch. Supposedly titled the Nintendo Switch Pro, there's a lot of information available regarding the HD capabilities, backward compatibility, and other unique features of the new console.
While nothing has been confirmed as of this writing, it seems that fans have been eagerly awaiting the news of the console for a great deal of time. If Nintendo did not have plans to make the official announcement at E3, then it's unclear where or when the console could be featured next.
NBA 2K22
2K are well renowned for their sports series, from the NBA titles to the more recent acquisition of the WWE license. It is the former video game line that has been at the center of a recent leak, which may have revealed Dirk Nowitzki to be the cover star of the title.
NBA 2k22 hasn't even been announced yet, but, with the combination of the leak and the fact the 2K will be present at the event, it's extremely likely that the video game will be showcased at E3. That's great news for NBA fans, although they'll have some work to do in order to rebound from their previous slew of uninspired sports titles.
Marvel XCOM
Another 2K leak has revealed that the company may be working alongside Marvel and Firaxis to create a turn-based strategy game involving the famous comic book characters. Marvel has recently demonstrated great interest in expanding its video game lines.
With the release of multiple Spider-Man games from Sony and Insomniac Games, as well as the debut of an Avengers title from Square Enix and Crystal Dynamics, it's not too surprising to see Marvel branching out once more. Marvel XCOM is another sure bet for E3 if the production rumors are true.
Wonderlands
Another major piece of news from the 2K leaks was that of a Borderlands spin-off, potentially entitled Wonderlands. Of course, very little is known about the project, but E3 could be the ideal place to showcase the brand new video game title for the first time.
What has been revealed about the GearBox title, however, is that it would include the main character Tiny Tina, and therefore continue the continuity of the previous installments. Fans of the Borderlands franchise will likely be thrilled with the news, and, with so many leaks, 2K may be forced to reveal the game soon regardless of their plans.
Breath of the Wild 2
Nintendo is looking to have a huge presence at this year's E3 despite the individual events they have also been holding. With the upcoming 35th Anniversary of Zelda, it's the perfect time to feature the Breath Of The Wild sequel. A trailer for the game was released during 2019's E3.
Recent rumors have seen the release date bumped to 2022, however, and teased that Nintendo may have more to say on the project very soon. Considering it's such a huge series in the Nintendo sandbox, it wouldn't be too surprising to see the title make headlines during their presentation.
Pokémon: Brilliant Diamond And Shining Pearl
The news that The Pokémon Company would be revisiting the Sinnoh Region for the remakes Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl certainly resulted in fans asking a range of questions that are still yet to be answered. The trailer did tease a 2021 release date.
Recent rumors and leaks have suggested that Nintendo will be featuring the titles as part of their E3 presentations, though, so that they can show off the updated graphics. It's plausible that this could be connected to the release of the Nintendo Switch Pro.
Metroid Prime 4
Metroid Prime is one of Nintendo's most well-renowned modern Nintendo series, and fans have been looking forward to its fourth installment ever since its initial announcement at E3's 2017 event. In the years since, though, it has gone back into development a handful of times, eventually restarting the production process.
With the news that the new Nintendo Switch is inbound, there's plenty of rumors indicating that Metroid Prime 4 might be capitalizing on the capabilities of the next-gen console. E3 2021 might finally be the time to showcase what the studio has been working on.
DC Titles
Warner Bros. Games have already been confirmed for the event, and there are a few video game titles that might be showcased at E3. Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League and Gotham Knights are both being rumored for E3, though they won't likely see release for quite some time.
While Gotham Knights has been delayed until 2022 and DC does have another Fandome event taking place in 2021, the expectation is that Warner Bros. will want to keep fans happy by displaying some of their gameplay footage.
Halo Infinite
Microsoft had proudly released footage for the Xbox exclusive Halo Infinite in the past to mixed reviews. Nonetheless, the studio has moved forward with the project, and there are expectations that the title will be showcased at this year's E3. The upcoming reveals might not be as exciting as one might hope, however.
Rumors suggest that the main updates to the title include improved graphics, though nothing state-of-the-art enough to take full advantage of the capabilities of next-gen consoles. What's more, there's also a suggestion that the main focus of the presentation will be on a huge multiplayer mode in Halo Infinite Online.
Guardians Of The Galaxy
Square Enix has been previously trusted with a Marvel title. The Avengers might not have garnered the critical acclaim the studio was expecting, but, at the very least, both Square Enix and Crystal Dynamics have a solid plan to support the title and continue to upgrade its features.
It might be shocking to some that Marvel would trust them again with a huge IP, but rumors suggest that not only will a Guardians Of The Galaxy game be in development at the studio, but it will also be one of the company's key highlights at E3.