The Best Things Happening to Gaming in 2017

Project Scorpio

Sure the PS4 Pro beat the upgraded Xbox One to market, but we’d be lying if we said we weren’t looking forward to what Microsoft has cooking. The company didn’t mince any words when they said it will be the strongest gaming console ever, and with how impressed we’ve been with the current generation already, the suspense has us at the edge of our seats.

Nintendo Switch

Nintendo has had a rough go at things these past couple of years, but 2016 has done a bit of work to put the company back on the right track. The stage has been set, and after the official reveal we just can’t wait for more of the Switch. The year will kick off with some long-awaited details (which hopefully include full specs and price), and then the countdown will begin until we get to experience Nintendo in a whole new way.

A More Refined Nintendo Mobile

Nintendo had played its properties very close to the chest for quite some time, letting no flagship characters set foot on another platform. 2016 changed all that when the gaming giant decided to test the mobile markets and so far it’s looking good. There are still a few issues to iron out, such as pricing, and how to measure content vs. value, but we have a strong feeling that we’ll come across a more refined mobile approach in the coming year.

Death Stranding AKA Kojima’s Second Coming (info)

While Death Stranding may be quite a ways off, there’s no doubt that Kojima will continue to play with our emotions with new teasers and information revolving around the mysterious, supernatural title. It will be quite interesting to see what they’ve managed to do with Guerrilla Games’ engine to create something so unique and creepy, yet wholly intriguing.

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

Nintendo loves to reinvent the classics and that’s exactly what’s happening here with Breath of the Wild. Adding in some modern flavor to the timeless tale that keeps Link, Zelda, and Ganon in a constant struggle is a big step for the company, and it’s absolutely gorgeous. This is the biggest game they’ve made in some time and it’s not only closing out the Wii U generation, but will also be ushering in the Switch. Truly an exciting time to be a Legend of Zelda fan.

Horizon: Zero Dawn (they worked side by side with Kojima and it influenced both horizon and death stranding)

Horizon: Zero Dawn caught everyone’s eye the moment when it was revealed thanks to this being a very different game from what we’re used to from Guerrilla Games. An open-world, action-RPG, with crafting and tons of exploration? Things became even more intriguing when the studio started sharing tech with Kojima Productions, which also had them sharing ideas to build their respective games. That has hype levels at an all-time high. After all, everything that Kojima touches is gold.

HoloLens Release?

VR is steadily growing, and Microsoft is planning on joining that area in the near future, but the company has also been busy with HoloLens, an augmented reality headset. It was released in a small batch along with dev kits earlier in 2016, and a bigger roll out is due some time in 2017. With the success of Pokemon GO and how people are taking to VR, Microsoft may have something truly special here, and we’re excited to see the impact it has on gaming.

Post FFXV Square Enix (Time for some info on FFVII Remake, KHIII, etc.)

E3 2017 (exciting every year, but with new hardware hitting in 2017, it’s going to be huge).

E3 is always a huge spectacle. You can expect big games, surprise appearances, and companies vying for your dollar. However, E3 is always at its greatest around the time new hardware pops up. PSVR recently released, then you have the Nintendo Switch, followed by Project Scorpio and I’m sure I’m forgetting something else that will have us throwing money at our screens. That means you can expect the biggest show with the biggest games and most jaw dropping reveals in some time. June, we’re ready.

Exclusives!!!

You already know that every platform is going to be vying for you attention in 2017, especially because of the new hardware set to be unleashed upon the gaming masses. That means exclusives will be pushing the limits of their machines as they bring bigger, more immersive titles to fans. With titles like Scalebound, Spider-Man, The Legend of Zelda, Horizon: Zero Dawn, and Crackdown 3, we’re in for an exciting 12 months.

Red Dead Redemption 2

More PS4 Pro Games

PS4 Elite

Horizon: Zero Dawn caught everyone’s eye the moment it was revealed. The open-world, action-RPG is nothing like what we’ve seen from Guerrilla Games, featuring crafting, tons of exploration, and robot dinosaurs. Things became even more intriguing when the studio started sharing tech with Kojima Productions. Both teams are collaborating on this engine, and that has hype levels at a crazy high.