E3 2019 preview: EA Play predictions and expectations

EA once again kicks off the week of E3 with their very own showcase. The question is, will a new format bring good fortune after another rocky year?

Outdoor temperatures won’t be the only things heating up in the early summer. The gaming world is set for the year’s biggest news dump and showcase with the annual Electronic Entertainment Expo in Los Angeles.

Leading off the E3 festivities again this year will be Electronic Arts, as their annual EA Play event will take over the Hollywood Palladium on June 8-9. For those watching at home, the livestream is set for a 12:15 p.m. EDT (9:15 p.m. PDT) start time. 

It’s set to be a different format than years past, as EA has promised more gameplay presentations and less talk. The publisher has even released a schedule of events, so we know exactly what’s going to be shown and when to expect it.

Suffice to say, EA needs a good presentation after another rocky year of releases. Last year’s big showcase titles like Anthem and Battlefield V both underperformed critically and commercially for the company.

On the opposite end, however, free-to-play battle royale Apex Legends became a smash hit. Sports franchises like Madden NFL and FIFA remained near the top of the sales charts for last year, despite some more mixed critical reception than normal.

That all said, EA Play could offer the publisher a clean break to gain new focus and introduce some new titles to the fold. But first, it’s time for a few predictions: What will it have in store? What probably won’t be there? We think we have some of those answers, so let’s dive in!