Following on from MCV Pacific's mid-show impressions last week, we look at the direction games and hardware are heading in the next year.
Microsoft held its ground on a new console announcement, instead option to trot out new entries in some of gaming's biggest franchises, and relegating new IP to the downloadable end of the spectrum.
SmartGlass, a new software innovation which allows your Xbox to integrate seamlessly with a huge variety of mobile and tablet devices was Microsoft's big announcement on the hardware side. It aims to let people learn more about the shows they watch and interact with their entertainment in new ways, facilitating the already-prominent desire many people have to play with their smaller toys while watching TV.
For more on Microsoft, check out our interview with Microsoft's Interactive Entertainment Business CMO Yusuf Mehdi here.
Sony also held off on any new hardware announcements, instead pushing The Last of Us and hosting several other big franchises at its press conference, while announcing Beyond: Two Souls from the creators of Heavy Rain.
On a hardware tip, Sony revealed Playstation Mobile, a services aimed at relaxing the strict rules about acquiring Playstation Certification for independent developers, a move which is clearly aimed at making Vita and Playstation 3 more viable targets for a raft of smaller titles.
For more on what Sony's plans are, check out our interview with President of Sony Worldwide Studios Shuhei Yoshida here.
Nintendo was always going to be the focus of this year's E3, with a sincere direction for the WiiU revelaed fully for the first time and heralding the beginning of the next generation of consoles.
The WiiU will join the fierce television competition between Microsoft and Sony, rolling out Hulu, Netflix and Amazon Video (although whether or not these will be available in Australia or New Zealand at launch remains to be seen), as well as confirming that it will be possible for the WiiU to handle two controllers at the same time.
Games revealed for the highly anticipated follow-up to the Wii include a new Pikmin title, New Super Mario Bros U, Batman: Arkham City Armored Edition, ZombiU, Scribblenauts Unlimited, as well as announcements of several key franchises coming across to the platform at a later date, such as Darksiders 2, Mass Effect 3, Tekken Tag Tournament 2, Aliens: Colonial Marines and Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor's Edge.
The show pushed in exactly the directions one would expect, with Sony and Microsoft being cautious and coy, giving Nintendo its moment in the sun as the rest of the industry waits to see if it can make lightning strike twice.
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