This year’s virtual Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) saw big announcements from gaming giants Sony and Microsoft. Sony focused on showcasing exclusive titles for its PlayStation platform, with trailers for games including “Horizon Forbidden West,” “Spider-Man 2,” and “Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade.” Meanwhile, Microsoft focused on its hardware plans and showcased upcoming Xbox exclusive games such as “Halo Infinite” and “Forza Horizon 5.” They also announced the acquisition of game publisher Bethesda Softworks and the introduction of Xbox Game Pass, a subscription service that gives users access to a library of over 100 games.
E3 2021: Sony and Microsoft Go Head-to-Head with Big Announcements
Introduction
The Electronic Entertainment Expo, also known as E3, is the biggest annual event in the gaming industry where developers and manufacturers showcase their latest products and announcements. This year, E3 was held virtually due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Among the many participants, Sony and Microsoft went head-to-head with some big announcements.
Sony’s Announcements
Sony focused on showcasing their exclusive titles for their PlayStation platform. They kicked off their presentation with a gameplay trailer for their upcoming game, “Horizon Forbidden West.” The game is a sequel to “Horizon Zero Dawn” and set in a post-apocalyptic world where giant robotic creatures roam the Earth. The trailer showed the game’s protagonist, Aloy, exploring a new environment filled with lush landscapes, underwater environments, and giant elephant-like machines.
Another big announcement from Sony was the reveal of “Spider-Man 2,” which will feature both Peter Parker and Miles Morales as playable characters. The trailer teased a new villain, Venom, and showed off advanced web-slinging mechanics.
Sony also announced a remake of their classic game, “Final Fantasy VII,” titled “Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade.” The game will feature improved graphics and new story content exclusive to the PlayStation 5.
Microsoft’s Announcements
Microsoft focused on showcasing their plans for the future of gaming. They announced that they are working on new hardware, including a new streaming device, and a next-generation console currently known as “Project Scarlett.” They also showcased several upcoming Xbox exclusive games, including “Halo Infinite” and “Forza Horizon 5.”
One of the most anticipated announcements from Microsoft was their acquisition of game publisher Bethesda Softworks. With this acquisition, Microsoft now owns popular game franchises such as “The Elder Scrolls,” “Fallout,” and “Doom.”
Another big announcement from Microsoft was the introduction of Xbox Game Pass, a subscription service that gives users access to a library of over 100 games. The service will now also include access to select PC games.
Conclusion
This year’s E3 saw some big announcements from both Sony and Microsoft. Sony focused on showcasing their exclusive titles for the PlayStation platform, while Microsoft focused on showcasing their plans for the future of gaming. Both companies left gamers excited for what’s to come.