E3 is always an exciting time for video game fans. Developers from all corners of the industry get together and show off what they're working on, helping to set expectations for game releases, updates, hardware, and more for the coming months and years. Major players like Nintendo and indie developers alike do their best to show up with the biggest reveals they can muster. However, while its competitors will certainly bring some notable games to the table, Nintendo may already have a significant advantage going into E3 2022 because of its known calendar.
Nintendo already started the year strong with Pokemon Legends: Arceus, which has received high marks from fans and critics for its inventive, refreshing design. It also still has some major releases planned before E3 2022 rolls around. Kirby and the Forgotten Land is right around the corner, and it won't be long before Nintendo Switch Sports releases either. Even with these games out of the way, Nintendo is poised to dominate this year's E3 because it still has so much late 2022 content left to cover. If the E3 2022 Nintendo Direct discusses all the company's upcoming games, it will be hard for competitors to muster anything comparably explosive.
Nintendo's Possible E3 2022 Content
Nintendo fans have a lot of new games to look forward to in late 2022. There's the sequel to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, which fans have been waiting on for years now. The game will finally debut in 2022, bringing fans back to Nintendo's open-world take on Hyrule. Fans also now know that Pokemon Scarlet and Violet will release this year, and odds are good that Nintendo will want to use E3 to unveil further details. Aside from these titles, it seems likely that Bayonetta 3 will appear at E3 2022, and if it hasn't released by then Splatoon 3 seems like a shoo-in for the E3 Direct too.
Aside from new games, Nintendo has a lot of potential DLC and free updates to cover. Signs suggest that Nintendo Switch Sports will get expansions after launch; Nintendo could use E3 to nail down the golf expansion's release while announcing other upcoming sports. The recent Daybreak update for Pokemon Legends: Arceus suggests the Pokemon title will also receive bonus content throughout 2022, which ought to tide fans over until Scarlet and Violet. Even Kirby and the Forgotten Land could get a DLC announcement at E3 based on Nintendo's recent enthusiasm about paid expansions. Between new games and update announcements, Nintendo's E3 could be packed.
Unknown Elements of E3 2022
Nintendo fans should bear in mind that these known games may not be the only things unveiled at E3 2022. It seems likely that Nintendo will surprise fans with new announcements or unexpected updates. E3 2022 would be a great time to finally provide release information about Metroid Prime 4 or Pikmin 4, two of the company's most elusive unreleased games. Leaks have also suggested that a new Fire Emblem game is in development, so that could make its debut at E3 as well. When going into a Direct, Nintendo fans should always be prepared for some surprises.
The only thing that seems like it could get in the way of Nintendo dominating E3 is the event itself. New complications from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic have caused E3 2022 to go digital again, and with so little time left before the event happens, some rumors suggest E3 2022 may even get canceled altogether like its 2020 counterpart. Hopefully a digital version of E3 does manage to come together this year. A massive Nintendo Direct is always welcome, but it would feel more special if Nintendo discussed its upcoming projects alongside its peers.