Virtual reality, 4K gaming, esports, and entertainment-based commerce are among the new developments expected to be highlighted this week during the Electronic Entertainment Expo in Los Angeles.
Kicking off tomorrow and running through Thursday at the Los Angeles Convention Center, the gaming-focused E3 Expo, now in its 23rd year, is open to the general public for the first time. The Entertainment Software Association (ESA), which organizes the event, made 15,000 tickets available for purchase in February.
Another first for this year’s expo, the E3 Coliseum, will feature two days of panel discussions and presentations designed to “connect video game fans with the biggest names in entertainment.” The E3 Coliseum, being staged by The Game Awards show producer Geoff Keighley, will be streamed live on Twitch, with a number of presentations also being made available to participants via Facebook.
Microsoft Reveals ‘Project Scorpio’
Many companies have already started previewing new products and services to be officially unveiled over the next few days. Microsoft, for instance, announced yesterday that it would be releasing a new Xbox device for 4K gaming, the Xbox One X, in November.
Developed under the code name “Project Scorpio,” the Xbox One X is designed to provide “immersive true 4K gaming when paired with a 4K display,” Microsoft said in a statement. The company also took the wraps off 42 new or redesigned games created with the Xbox One X in mind, including a role-playing game called Ashen, a post-apocalyptic multi-person game called The Darwin Project, and a new version of Minecraft that will be playable not only only gaming devices but on mobile devices, VR devices, and Windows 10 PCs as well.
Priced starting at $499, the Xbox One X is set to hit the market on Nov. 7. Games and accessories for the Xbox One will be…