E3 2015 is just under two weeks away and we are starting to see the trickle of pre-show info increase into a steady stream. Each year sees the big three console manufacturers jockey for position in a competition to create a buzz about their machines and games: a contest for mind-share among the consumer.

The three console makers’ will be entering E3 2015 from very different positions, and with very different goals in mind for future success. It’s easy, maybe somewhat lazy to claim that all three are looking to capture the most market share. Of course that is the ultimate desire for each company, however, how realistic are the chances that the Wii U is going to come from behind and over take Sony and their PlayStation 4? It’s an unrealistic goal for Nintendo right now, however it may not be so unrealistic in the future.

A few days ago, we began this series with a look at Sony and how they may want to position the PlayStation 4 for the rest of 2015 and beyond.  Today, we take a look at Microsoft and their potential plans for the near-future of Xbox One at E3 2015. Please keep in mind that this article is based solely on my opinion and speculation. I don’t have any inside info on what may or may not be presented at their respective conferences and I may be entirely off-base on my predictions, however if I somehow manage score at least a 90% on those predictions I respectfully request that you honor my mental acumen by sending me a box of cookies.

So let us continue our look at the big three with the 8th generation underdog Microsoft.

Microsoft began the Xbox One journey by sort of self-handicapping themselves with an initially underwhelming, media-focused reveal, and then following that up by infuriating the gaming community with, shall we politely say unpopular, DRM (digital rights management) requirements, which they later ended up dropping prior to the console’s launch. Because of this, and the much more focused launch of the PS4 by Sony, the house that Windows built has an approximately 10 million unit gap standing between them and their rival Sony in the great 8^th generation console race. This might seem like an insurmountable mountain to climb, however I think that it is a gap that the Xbox One can actually close. It’s difficult to put into words, but there is an energy surrounding Microsoft as they enter E3 2015 that I don’t think the other two have. Microsoft has made a lot of bold moves to put the Xbox One in a position where it can succeed.

• They have shown a willingness to listen to what the consumer wants. First by dropping the afore-mentioned DRM business prior to launch and later ending the requirements of the machine being paired with the under-utilized Kinnect device by offering the Xbox One without the motion-tracking camera.
• They were very aggressive with pricing of the Xbox One last holiday season, and I fully expect them to continue that strategy this year. The removal of Kinnect allowed Microsoft to bring the price of Xbox One below the price of the PS4 during the 2014 holiday season. Further discounts offered during that time brought the price of Xbox one down even more; a move that can easily be repeated this holiday season.
• They have already been surprisingly aggressive with the marketing for their 2015 marque title, Halo 5, which has a release date of October 27^th, but started seeing television ads running for the product beginning in February. It’s an insanely bold move for any publisher to run wide-spread ads for a game when it is still six months from release. Six months is a lot of time for developers to run into a snag which would require a delay of release. In fact, I can not recall ever seeing a company run an ad for a game that was so far from its release date. So what I’m trying to say is that if Microsoft is showing that level of confidence in that one product, especially considering the debacle that was the launch of 343 Studio’s remastering of the Halo franchise, Halo: Master Chief Collection, which many say is still not functioning properly.

Forza Motorsports 6 is one of Xbox One’s big exclusives.

What Microsoft needs to do (which is the same thing that Sony and Nintendo needs to do) is capitalize on their first-party lineup, which has to-date been much more robust than Sony’s, as well as continue to draw a clear distinction between the Xbox One and the PlayStation 4. Microsoft can also continue to be aggressive as far as the price point of the Xbox One, which will give them a chance to make a case to those who already own a PlayStation 4 to go ahead and purchase an Xbox One as well. Halo 5 will of course take center stage for Microsoft during their E3 2015 press conference, and their timed exclusivity deal with Square Enix for Rise of the Tomb Raider will mean a large spotlight on that title as well. Forza Motorsports 6 will receive a showcase and rumors are persisting that a proper sequel for Gears of War will make its debut.

What kind of gaming applications will augmented reality bring? Microsoft will likely give us a clue about what their Hololense has in store for gamers at E3 2015.

Microsoft is also expected to show off their vision for virtual reality at E3 2015. The Hololense will focus on augmented reality, the display of holographic images over what we are actually seeing in real-life, as opposed to Morpheus, which will enclose the player within the gaming world displayed by the headset. Again, Microsoft will have to draw a clear distinction over Sony’s VR solution, as well as explain why VR is the future of gaming. Microsoft may have an edge on this front, as Hololense may have a wider array of practical applications than Morpheus.

Bottom Line

Sometimes it’s good to bee an underdog, because  most people love to back an underdog. Microsoft has a chance to play the role perfectly, which in my opinion, makes them the most exciting company to watch at E3 2015. If they can continue to be aggressive with their exclusive titles and pricing, then I think they will surprise a lot of people with the sales they generate by the end of the year. They need to approach E3 2015 with the same attitude that Sega had towards Nintendo with the marketing of the Genesis in the early 1990’s. If they can do that, while delivering on the promises they make this year, then I expect the general buzz surrounding Xbox One by the holiday season to be irresistible.

Predictions

Microsoft will come out swinging at E3 2015. I expect a price drop to $299 and a possible hardware revision to be announced. A recent leak suggests that they will be offering a 1TB model for $399 as soon as 6/15, which I suspect is true. It’s also now an open secret that Gears of War 1 is getting a remastered edition for this year and we may see a tease for an all new Gears title. It’s also pretty apparent that Rare is going to re-launch their classic brawler Battletoads, however there is a juicer Rare related rumor that has been persistent for the past few months regarding a revival of the N64 classic, Banjo Kazooie. One has to wonder if an announcement for a new Banjo Kazooie game would have the same impact that it would have had months ago since the Kickstarter launch of Yooka-Laylee; which is a 3D platformer in the same vein as Banjo and is being developed by a number of ex-Rare developers.

Will the existence of Yooka-Laylee put a damper on any potential Banjo Kazooie 3 announcement? Time will tell.

Microsoft will put all rumors and speculations to rest when they host their E3 2015 press conference live, Monday 06/15 AT 12:30PM EDT.

Next, we will look at Nintendo and how they can position themselves for success at E3 2015.

And of course, stay tuned to Nerd Bacon as we bring you continuing coverage of all the happenings at E3 2015.