If you’ve already read the first two parts of this series, you’re probably excited to see how the last decade or so stacks up to the olden days, right?
Who won E3 2015?
E3 2015 was dominated by the “Summer of Dreams” announcements at Sony’s show. “The Last Guardian,” “Final Fantasy VII Remake,” and “Shenmue III” were among the biggest bombshells dropped in succession on an E3 stage. I candidly remember saying at the time these games came with huge asterisks, but it ended with “Uncharted 4,” they showed “Horizon Zero Dawn,” and grabbed “Street Fighter V” as an exclusive.
I still cannot believe they let a Kickstarter campaign on stage, and it was for “Shenmue III” of all games.
Microsoft had a killer showing, with backwards compatibility being the first real reason Xbox started to turn the ship around post-Don Mattrick. This was also the first time we saw “Cuphead,” “Gears 4,” and “Quantum Break.”
EA dazzled us with “Mass Effect: Andromeda,” “Plants vs. Zombies Garden Warfare 2,” and “Battlefront.” Ubisoft quietly killed it with “South Park: The Fracture But Whole,” “For Honor,” that awesome “The Division” trailer, and “Ghost Recon: Wildlands.”
Square Enix brought “Nier Automata,” “Rise of the Tomb Raider,” “Kingdom Hearts III,” and “Hitman.” Not too shabby.
Nintendo had a bad show, so let’s continue to ignore them like we did the last few years where they made games for the floundering Wii U.
And then Bethesda head Todd Howard might have ended E3 with the very first presser of the week. The first gameplay footage of “Doom” crushed it, “Battlecry” was a new IP that raised eyebrows, “Dishonored 2” looked fantastic (still does), and of course there was the surprise drop of “Fallout Shelter.” And who could forget the hype machine that was “Fallout 4?” I think that ended up being the Game of the Show, and for good reason.
Who won E3 2016?
It would be simple to hand this off to the first real footage of “Breath of the Wild,” and call it a day. But I’m not a simple man, and you’d know that if you’re still reading by this point. Microsoft had “Project Scorpio,” EA had “Titanfall 2” and “Battlefield 1,” but the real winner this year was Sony and the orchestra playing in the “God of War” music to start the show.
Coupled with “Days Gone,” “Detroit: Become Human,” the shocking “RE7” trailer, “Final Fantasy XV,” and ending with Insomniac’s “Spider-Man,” Sony had a hell of a show and a hell of a PS4 line-up those next 12 months.
Who won E3 2017?
Looking at this year, Nintendo won by default! I think I have an inkling as to why, pun intended.
It’s stunning how sweet and simple it all was. And let me be clear: the moment of E3 might have been “Beyond Good and Evil 2,” but Nintendo had two “Metroid” games. TWO. One was 3D and one was 2D! Are you kidding me?
The one-two punch of present and future with “Metroid Prime 4” and Cappy the hat on a dinosaur — that show was just too much to handle. I don’t remember the last time my jaw literally dropped watching a trailer for a game I have already seen! “Super Mario Odyssey” truly is a treasure — my GOTY that year.
Won Won E3 2018?
I had Microsoft written down as my best showing at E3 that year, and apparently, the competition was so lackluster a single “Cuphead” DLC trailer won me over.
But it wasn’t just “Cuphead,” or there being any other real press conferences that were worthwhile — MS had a good show! “Cyberpunk 2077,” “Battletoads,” and “We Happy Few” was hype back before it came out. “Forza Horizon 4,” “Sea of Thieves,” and “Ori and the Will of the Wisps” were all dynamite.
Who Won E3 2019?
I want to say Keanu Reeves won E3. I want to be able to tell you CD Projekt Red won, “Cyberpunk 2077” won, and that Microsoft showing “Halo,” “Gears,” “Elden Ring,” and “Psychonauts 2” was enough. I truly wish I could tell you that.
But I can’t. I can’t tell you that, because looking back at Nintendo’s Direct, they brought the goods. “Animal Crossing: New Horizons,” the only “Breath of the Wild” sequel information we’ve gotten in two whole ass years, two “Smash Bros.” DLC character reveals, “Luigi’s Mansion 3” and Gooigi, “Cadence of Hyrule,” and some other fun surprises were enough to edge out Microsoft.
Who Won E3 2020?
No one. There wasn’t a show. Woof.
Who Won E3 2021?
Microsoft had it in the bag, but it slipped right through their fingers. It was their show to lose, but another company managed to win it fair and square. No, not Miyazaki and “Elden Ring,” although that was the best trailer of the show. No, the winner was…
The fifth official 2D “Metroid” game, a new “Warioware,” “BOTW 2” release year and gameplay, “Tekken” in “Smash Bros.,” and a Super Monkey Ball collection remaster? And that’s all like, this year? Nintendo wins hands down. Sorry, Microsoft, you had a great show too, but, “Metroid Dread?” Come on. That’s an automatic win.
Image Credit: Sony
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