E3 2015 Winners & Losers: Day One

Welcome to the first actual day of E3 2015! Unlike the battlefield that was Day Zero, today was a little more chilled. Despite this, things still happened. Some of them were great. Some of them were not.

Today’s events included press conferences from Nintendo and Square Enix, along with the first (and maybe last) dedicated show for PC gaming. It’s also the first day we were able to hit the floor, play some games and ask some questions, so you’ll find highlights and lowlights from all those things below.

LOSERS

PC GAMING SHOW – It sounded so good in theory! Give the PC, normally a neglected platform at the big show, an E3 platform of its own. In execution, though, maybe there’s a reason it’s left in the dark for the week. Despite the best efforts of the show’s host, the ever-lovable Day9, this show was a snoozefest. Interviews were awkward, footage was often underwhelming and the brand intrusion from AMD was a bit much, even within the context of E3.

Don’t get me wrong, there were cool games on show here. This just wasn’t the way to show them off. If this is going to happen again next year, there will hopefully be some lessons learned!

NINTENDO – I know, there’s a reason Nintendo’s E3 shows are often a letdown. There are Nintendo Directs for the good stuff. But still! Even taking that into account, today’s showing was bleak.

And what the hell is up with that Metroid game?

PERSONA 5 – Persona, I love you. I love you so much that a new Persona 5 trailer was literally the one and only thing I was genuinely looking forward to from this E3. Instead, we got the same trailer we saw a few months back. It was even still in Japanese. This game is supposed to be out in a few months! Super disappointing.

WINNERS

HOLOLENS – Oculus Rift still gets all the headlines, but Microsoft’s own VR offering (well, technically it’s Augmented Reality, not Virtual Reality) is quietly winning people over. Super-impressive Minecraft and Halo demos will do that for ya. Provided they don’t glitch out (which the Halo one did while Stephen was playing).

GENEI IBUN ROKU – Aka Shin Megami vs Fire Emblem. Just look at this fucking trailer

PLEASE UNDERSTAND (THESE PUPPETS) – OK, so not all of Nintendo’s show was a disappointment. These puppets will, Act of God/Crusader Kings III reveal aside, end up being my favourite thing about this year’s E3. I would buy a plush Iwata over an Amiibo any day of the week.

KINGDOM HEARTS III – I can’t stand Kingdom Hearts, but I am assured by my colleagues that this trailer was very much a winner.

DEUS EX: MANKIND DIVIDED – I can very much stand Deus Ex, and I can assure you this trailer was a winner

PLANET COASTER – Well, this looks like something millions of people around the world might slowly and quietly grow to love. Guess the PC show wasn’t a complete write-off.

And that’s it! Know that if a game/trailer/piece of news isn’t here, that’s because it was found to be palatable/acceptable/inoffensive. Join us tomorrow for more freshly-baked hot takes.