PlayStation Versus Xbox at E3 2015, Who Won?

Focus

You would think with how Microsoft and Sony are both competing for the dollars of gamers all over the world, they would have a uniform focus going into E3. It would make sense for the Xbox and the PlayStation to try and show the same things (while attempting to one-up each other). But, it turns out that both companies had the same goal, yet different methods of approach.

Xbox went in with the video game focus. When they weren’t talking directly about games, speakers during the Xbox E3 conference were detailing ways in which the Xbox team was trying to improve the gameplay experience. Whether through VR, AR, or with a new and improved gamepad, the focus was all about the games.

The PlayStation E3 conference, on the other hand, did what they always do. They had a heavy focus on all things gaming, but they also decided to talk about some of their media capabilities as well. It was interesting to see Sony stick to their guns on this, but if it ain’t broken don’t fix it, right? Plenty of games were on the E3 menu, all they had to do was not mess things up, which they managed to do with ease. Long awaited releases were the name of the game, and they surely didn’t disappoint.

Tech

This year, both Xbox and PlayStation made sure to bring some tech to their showings at E3 2015. Both of the big companies took slightly different approaches with how they approached their conferences, but there were some areas where they had the same idea. Like virtual reality.

Sony decided to push the envelope with the PlayStation 4’s VR approach by adding in some multiplayer. RIGS is a mech-based, fast paced, first-person multiplayer game that puts the player at the center of the brutal action. Of course, they still had a few single-player games to tout, but that multiplayer push gave them a strong direction, and really helped to nail down what the company wants to do with VR.

Xbox vowed with their reveal that you would be able to use the Oculus Rift with certain games through Windows 10. They also showed off an impressive demo of a new version of Minecraft made specifically for the HoloLens. What separated the Xbox from the PlayStation 4 wasn’t its preferred method of augmenting your reality, but its new-found backwards-compatibility instead. Soon you’ll be able to play games you own on the Xbox 360 on your Xbox One with all of the benefits of the newer console. They also threw in a fancy new Elite Controller for good measure.

New AAA IP

While almost all video game trailers at E3 are super exciting, there is something truly special about trailers for new IPs. Something that has never been seen (and often never been done) has the power to trump even the most beloved of franchises. And, although it may have been a bit unexpected, both Xbox and PlayStation had something up their sleeves. New games are on the horizon, and they are things of beauty.

Xbox kicked off E3 with tons of video game announcements with Phil Spencer more than keeping his promise about the dedication of the event being to the games. Recore places players in the middle of an adventure dealing with what appears to be technology and magic. Impressive visuals and what looks to be a rather interesting premise are shaping up this title to be something nice. Rare has come out of the shadows to finally bring players something new that isn’t Kinect Sports. Sea of Thieves is an open-world, multiplayer pirate adventure. Finally, players will be able to interact with a world crafted by the creative minds at Rare, for the first time in what feels like forever, as they take to the open seas.

Sony finally showed off the long-rumored exclusive title from first party studio, Guerrilla Games. Horizon is a sort of post-apocalyptic, sci-fi adventure that apparently tasks players with hunting huge technological beasts in a world that the wild has once again claimed. The stunning visuals that Guerrilla Games has come to be known for wowed just about everyone in attendance, as did the meticulous combat.

Exclusives

E3 2015 had no shortage of exclusives for both Microsoft’s Xbox One and Sony’s PlayStation 4. With Bethesda kicking things off in royal fashion the night before, the Xbox team knew they had to impress with some solid exclusives. Aside from Recore and Sea of Thieves, you had Halo 5, Rise of the Tomb Raider, Forza 6, and a couple of others that keep fans in a perpetual state of excitement.

The hype reached a fever pitch once Gears of War 4 was finally announced by not just a teaser trailer, but actual gameplay. The moonlit streets bathed in blood, the large beasts, the Lancer cutting through anything that gets in its way, ah what beauty. Then there were a few indie gems to round out the deal. A new game by The Fullbright Company, Cuphead, Beyond Eyes, and more added variety to the already impressive stable of games.

With the PlayStation E3 conference being at the end of the day, many were wondering if (and how) they could possibly match the announcements made by the other big companies during the day. It turned out that they not only could, but they did so in grand fashion. They kicked things off with The Last Guardian reintroduced for the PlayStation 4. Then World of Final Fantasy showed off a cute little RPG, although it broke a few hearts because people were expecting (hoping for) something totally different. Luckily, hopes were answered once Final Fantasy VII Remake. The amazing world of Horizon was revealed in all of its robotic-dinosaur goodness. A new gameplay trailer for Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End closed off the show to remind us that this latest (and final) entry to this blockbuster series.

Oh, and let us not forget the announcement of a Kickstarter campaign for yet another game that fans have been clamoring for. Yu Suzuki was called onto stage where he unveiled Shenmue III. Naturally, the crowd burst into a riotous uproar of joy and disbelief (tears might have been shed). The PlayStation E3 conference managed to systematically one-up almost every single announcement of the day.

So Who Won?

Although E3 is not a competition. If anything, it’s a celebration and sales pitch to fans all over the world, everyone likes to pick winners. Before getting into who we think had the strongest showing (keep in mind it’s just opinion), let it be noted that both the Xbox E3 conference and the PlayStation E3 conference were both absolutely amazing. Not only were they full of big announcements, but these were easily the best showings from either company ever. I know that this sounds corny, but the only individuals that truly won were the fans all around the world.

But, that’s not what you’re here for, you want to know who was the definitive champion of E3 2015. Yet, the answer to that isn’t so simple. Microsoft’s E3 Xbox presentation dropped some heavy announcements. Backwards compatibility is a big deal and the sheer variety in game titles announced cannot be overlooked. Not only is the Xbox team relying on its tried and true franchises, they were willing to take some risks with some smaller experiences. The only downside (if you can even consider one) is the fact that all of the gameplay reveals were either really safe, or didn’t show much.

The PlayStation E3 conference took a huge gamble by placing all of their money on nostalgia and it payed off in a big way. Opening up with a game that even die-hard fans were starting to lose faith in led to a round of applause that would continue throughout nearly the presentation’s entirety. Almost every single announcement during the presentation trumped the one that preceded it. Tears were shed, childhoods remembered, and wallets everywhere cried. Dedicated to games, and apparently unbridled happiness, the PlayStation E3 conference was wow moment after wow moment. Oh, and some Spotify and Vue as well.

In terms of encompassing all aspects of the platform, the Xbox E3 conference was on point. But, the PlayStation conference delivered on dreams that have been held for years. They managed to close off the day with unparalleled hype and the future is looking like a brighter place because of it. If E3 is about games and excitement, then PlayStation had it in spades.

Who do you feel “won” E3 between PlayStation and Xbox? Were you excited by all of the reveals? Do you think they were on par? Feel free to let us know in the comments.