It’s that time of year again. E3 2019 is in less than a month and we’re looking to see perhaps the most interesting E3 yet. Sony is skipping the show for the first time in over two decades. It’s also worth mentioning that the show is more consumer friendly than ever. Finally, the next generation of consoles looms in the near future. That being said, Microsoft will likely drop hints at their next Xbox, but not without giving the Xbox One a last hurrah. With games like Gears 5 and Halo Infinite, the Xbox One isn’t out of steam just yet. E3 2019 will be Microsoft’s time to prove that, and we have some predictions for their upcoming press conference.

1. The Last Night Reemerges

We predicted this last year, as it’s been since 2017 since we’ve last seen Odd Tales’ The Last Night. The title went through some controversy, gained a publisher, and then hit a roadblock at the end of 2018. It was announced that the game was delayed and the developer was seeking additional funding. We haven’t had any updates since then, but E3 2019 might be the best time to show the game again.

The pixelated Blade Runner homage left audiences captivated when it was shown at E3 2017. The Last Night combined a retro art style with modern lighting and effects to create a unique style. It was originally supposed to release for the Xbox One and PC last year, but the progress on the game is currently unknown. Hopefully we see the game in Microsoft’s Xbox Briefing this year, and maybe with a release date announcement too.

2. Forza Motorsport 8 Announcement

This one is a given. The Forza series has been an annual franchise since Forza Motorsport 4 in 2011. Switching off between Forza Motorsport and Forza Horizon entries, it gave a little breathing room for Turn 10 Studios and Playground Games to develop their respective games. With Forza Horizon 4 releasing last year, surely, this means we can expect Forza Motorsport 8 this year. E3 is notorious for being the time Microsoft announces these games, so it would line up with their pattern.

The only thing that might make this year interesting is the release of Forza Street. Releasing for PC and coming later to mobile, this spin-off was developed by Electric Square. Nobody really expected it, but it’s unknown if this would effect Microsoft’s Forza plans this year. Forza Motorsport 7 added dynamic weather to the Motorsport series, so it’s likely that will return. Forza Horizon 4 added changing seasons, so perhaps that feature might make its way to Forza Motorsport 8?

3. New Compulsion Games Project

Compulsion Games was acquired by Microsoft to be part of their Xbox Game Studios last year. They released We Happy Few shortly after this announcement, releasing patches and DLC since then. While We Happy Few still has some DLC to release, it’s likely that Microsoft has assigned them a new title. What that title may be is a mystery, but we could take a few guesses.

The likely choice would be a brand new IP, something that Microsoft sort of needs right now. While Microsoft has a slew of dead franchises to revive, they would likely attach their original developers. Compulsion Games only has two games under their belt, so it’s hard to gauge what they can do. Hopefully we find out at E3 2019.

4. Viva Piñata Returns

While Rare is definitely working on the new Battletoads game, it’s very possible that they’re working on another game. Nintendo has gained great success with the Animal Crossing series, with fans awaiting the eventual Switch release. Microsoft may want to take advantage of that demand by releasing their own life sim.

The Viva Piñata series has been dormant for the past decade, though the series got a little attention again with the release of Rare Replay. That being said, a lot could be gained with a brand new entry in the series. Of course, this isn’t the only Rare franchise that could be revived, but it’s definitely one of the most deserving.

5. Nintendo Partnership

It’s been no secret that Microsoft and Nintendo have been pretty close lately. The Nintendo Switch recently gained titles like Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice and Cuphead, one being a game from Xbox Game Studios’ Ninja Theory and the other being a previous Xbox console exclusive. This isn’t a coincidence, and it’s been a long time coming since Microsoft and Nintendo allowed consumers to play Minecraft together.

Microsoft and Nintendo being this close could mean a lot of things. Fans have speculated that Banjo & Kazooie could make their way into Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. While this is definitely possible, this team-up could go so much further. What if Nintendo allowed an exclusive title to release on the Xbox? Or even a collaboration between the two studios involving their own franchises? The possibilities are practically endless. It would also be fun to see Nintendo involved in another E3 presentation after being involved in Ubisoft’s two years in a row.

6. Next Xbox Tease

E3 2019 might be a little too early to do a full reveal for Microsoft’s next console. Speculated to release late 2020, they’ll likely save that for a different event. That being said, that doesn’t mean they won’t drop a tease at E3 2019. Perhaps it will be a quick tech demo, or maybe even a short glimpse of the future.

This would likely close their presentation, leaving fans on a cliffhanger. It’s a pretty common strategy and it’s likely going to give them an advantage. With no Sony at the show this year, the ball is in Microsoft’s court to wow the crowd. How much they decide to do that is entirely up to them.

That’s it for our Microsoft Xbox predictions this year. Do most of these choices seem like a sure thing? Do you have any predictions yourself? Sound off in the comments and let us know! We’ll be in attendance of the Xbox Media Briefing this year, so we’ll see it first-hand when it gets announced. Tune in tomorrow for our Nintendo predictions!