Microsoft E3 2011 Press Conference Predictions: Halo remake, PGR5, Perfect Dark 3, Gears 3, MechWarrior

Written by Brian Lelas on June 06, 2011

Xbox 360 News: Microsoft's E3 2011 2011 Press Conference begins at 9:30 Pacific time, but we have predictions ahead of all of the announcements.

Update: Video: Halo 4 trailer for Xbox 360 from the Microsoft E3 2011 Press Conference

Microsoft has been very quiet in the lead up to E3 2011, with known titles Gears of War 3 and Forza Motorsport 4 the only confirmed items in full playable form at the show. That means there are still plenty of secrets being kept under wraps. But the Xbox E3 2011 Press Conference 9:30 Pacific start time should kick off the announcement of several new games, including a new MechWarrior title, being developed exclusively for Xbox 360 by Piranha Games. It's said to be using the latest version of Unreal Engine 3.

Microsoft Game Studios will internally have three untitled projects in the works, one at its Soho studio, one at Vancouver and one at their Family studio. It remains to be seen what these titles will be, but there's a fair chance that they will be Kinect games. The focus is likely to be on Kinect this year, as so far Microsoft hasn't really delivered the games to match the quality of the hardware. Child of Eden is to be the main Kinect title at E3, likely in playable form. We'll also find out if Kinect's ambitious Project Milo is canceled or still an in-development project.

Microsoft is in danger of alienating the hardcore gamer market if it doesn't bring the bigger developers on board with their favorite gadget. It will take a huge title from a team with high caliber such as Epic, Bungie or Capcom to convince this demographic that Kinect is anything other than a casual alternative to Wii. And who knows, maybe at E3 we will see such a title. If we will, it is being kept very tightly under wraps up until now.

343 Industries is expected to take center stage at Microsoft's press conference and the developer is assuredly exposing one of the worst kept secrets in gaming today: the Halo: Combat Evolved remake for the Xbox 360. Rumor has it that Project Gotham Racing 5 will be announced, but with no developer known at present since the handing over (and subsequent closure) of Bizarre Creations to Activision.

Microsoft will likely give some time to Remedy Entertainment, which is almost certain to announce an Alan Wake sequel at E3. There is no clear indication of what Rare will be taking to E3, but the smart money is on Perfect Dark 3. After the disappointing Perfect Dark Zero, the studio are eager to silence critics. With Mass Effect no longer exclusive to Xbox 360, and Gears of War 3 set to be the finale in that series, there is need for a new mascot for the 360 and Joanna Dark might just be the match for Sony's Nathan Drake, star of Uncharted 3, if Rare can bring the PD series back in style. On the other hand, perhaps Rare will surprise everyone with another Banjo-Kazooie title.

One thing is for sure about Microsoft's E3 showcase and that is that they will be the only one of the three console developers not showing off new hardware. Sony has its new handheld, almost certainly called PS Vita, and Nintendo is about to kickstart the next generation with Project Cafe, Wii 2 or Wii HD. I think that Microsoft has a real opportunity to deliver on the actual games front this year and hope that they spring a few surprises on us, which is what E3 2011 is all about.