E3 2019 Predictions – EA
With E3 under two weeks away it is time for the P2 team to get together and do what they do best, make wildly inaccurate predictions about what is going to appear at the big show. Even though it seems like E3 is a little bit smaller this year, we are still excited to see what rolls out. Now it is time for EA, we wrote these before their very boring schedule was released so we realise this is very unlikely, but we are hoping for some surprises in the Microsoft conference from EA as a substitute.
Laura Thornton
Safe Bet
I’d expect some Sims 4 news, considering the game’s still having new content released as recently as a few months ago, if not news about the next main instalment in the franchise. I’d also expect some more details about Respawn’s Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order.
Fairly Likely
News or updates for Apex Legends and Anthem seem likely, despite the rocky launch of the latter. Anthem’s launch also makes me doubt whether we’ll see much in the way of new IPs from EA this time around, but never say never.
Wishful Thinking
The smallest breadcrumbs of Dragon Age 4. In recent months, Kotaku’s Jason Schreier has written about what went wrong with Anthem and the state of the Dragon Age franchise, and reported that Dragon Age 4’s development has been rebooted, so it’s unlikely we’re going to hear anything from the world of Thedas for a long time (which begs the question – why they’d release a teaser last year if the game is supposedly nowhere near release?).
Paul James
Safe Bet
EA already had a number of financial tentpoles, mostly stemming from their sports division, but when they acquired the Star Wars license, they created another, one they’ve not really taken proper advantage of until now. Jedi Fallen Order, a Respawn developed Star Wars game is EXACTLY what we need right now to counter the sour taste that still exists in the mouths of those who picked up Battlefront or its sequel. In Vince Zampella I trust, and it’s the game I’m most anticipating out of EA’s E3 showing. It’s a sure thing.
Fairly Likely
An investor report a few months ago spoke of a new Need For Speed as well as a new Plants V Zombies console shooter, so one has to think that means another Garden Warfare sequel. Those games have a fantastic personality and are immediately accessible no matter your level of online shooting experience. It has meant that both games to date have been received quite well and have sold accordingly. It stands to reason that we’d get another game and the investor report seems to back that all up. Here’s hoping we get the debut
Wishful Thinking
Whatever the new Dragon Age is, given the feedback the world has given to EA and Bioware as a response to Anthem, as well as Jason Schreier’s brilliant reporting, it has left me of the mind that the newest Dragon Age, a game that was teased at last years Geoff Keighley produced/hosted Game Awards might be left in the oven a bit longer before finally being revealed. There’s a dark cloud around Bioware right now, so they need to make every opportunity a winner, leaving me to think we have to wait a bit longer before we see what the new game looks like. I’d love to be proven wrong though.
Chris Button
Safe Bet
We’re definitely going to hear about the latest and greatest addition to the FIFA series, FIFA 20. It’s gonna have men in matching uniforms running around in it, women too, playing soccer in pretty boutique stadiums. EA is gonna come out and talk about how improved the engine is, plus the player models will be so realistic you can practically lick the individual sweat drops off of Lionel Messi’s face. There will also be lots of talk about balls. So many balls. They’ll claim FIFA 20 will have the “best ball physics of the series”, and that’s not even including the soccer ball.
Don’t mistake my jest for disdain – love sports games, but this is pretty standard fare for EA.
Fairly Likely
Anthem will receive another roadmap of content updates and fixes to see it become closer to the vision BioWare intended. Perhaps a version 2.0 of sorts will be announced to entice players back to hopefully a more satisfying, feature-rich game. Sea of Thieves rebounded after a lean content offering at launch, so there’s no reason why Anthem can’t bounce back.
Wishful Thinking
Although contradictory to my previous statement, BioWare will take the stage to show off some early footage and concepts for Dragon Age IV, boasting that it will be a purely single-player experience tied to the studio’s deep RPG roots. And to tide fans over, they’ll launch a slick visual novel experience for mobile to play through all the major story moments from the first three games, DLC inclusive.
Adam Rorke
Safe Bet
Like the rest of their Video Game Industry brethren, EA has released a CG teaser for their new Star Wars game that looks to follow the Jedi Knight series. As a fan of these games myself, I couldn’t be more excited to see some actual gameplay footage with some badass Force abilities and played in a similar fashion to the games that paved the way before it.
Fairly Likely
Apex Legends was one of those games that came out of left field and took off like an Elon Musk rocket with a car in its payload. It would seem that no one, including EA, was expecting it to be as popular as it was, because we’ve barely seen a smidge of new content since its initial release! Not blind to when they’re on a good thing though, EA will likely start announcing a whole bunch of new content in the way of characters, guns and abilities that will be coming before the year is out.
Wishful Thinking
I’m going to write this in a purposely overly-cynical / hyperbole fashion, but how about releasing a game that looks good, plays well, but isn’t screwed up by smashing it with loot-box style or equally annoying components.
Shaun Nicholls
Safe Bet
No doubt about it, Jedi Fallen Order is the game that a lot of players are waiting for. It has been a long time since we have seen a good single player Star Wars experience and after dropping the trailer last month we are sure to see the Force in action in a decent gameplay demo.
Fairly Likely
While Dragon Age 4 has been in development for a while, there has been talk that the direction of the game had been completely changed. How far into development they are is unknown, but I would not be surprised if we at least get a teaser about the next Dragon Age instalment.
Wishful Thinking
I don’t know why but I have never gotten into the last two Battlefield games focussed on WWI and WWII. I am more of a fan of the modern combat and weapons seen in Battlefield 4. With Battlefield V only being released last year there is not much of a chance of it happening but a guy can dream.
Matt Hewson
Safe Bet
Who likes sports because we have all the sports for you. Soccer, Basketball, NFL and Ice Hockey. All for you and all slightly better than last year. Death, taxes and EA Sports games are the only certainties in life and this year will be no different. This is great news if you like one of these four sports, not so great news if you don’t. I am actually keen to see more improvement on NBA Live, if only to put pressure on 2K to get rid of their appalling microtransactions in NBA 2K.
Fairly Likely
Some sort of progress update on Dragon Age 4. I mean Bioware is in desperate need for a win right now, any win at all so this seems like a good chance. I, along with many others, used to have such high regard for Bioware but after Anthem and Mass Effect Andromeda that regard has almost completely dissipated. Don’t stuff this one up guys, this is probably your last shot.
Wishful Thinking
I am going to put two things in here. The first is that they sell the Jade Empire IP to Microsoft so Obsidian can create the sequel we all deserve. The second is that EA actually did something useful with the Star Wars licence. They don’t even need to be amazing new games, full HD-remakes (ala Last Guardian) of the Knights of the Old Republic or X-wing/Tie fighter franchises would be more than enough to get them into my good books. I am sure Respawn’s title will be a cracker, but one good game in 4 years is a pretty poor effort.
