Video Game Odds: 2017’s Big Announcements

I’m not sure what I like better, actually playing video games or hearing what games are coming out next. Big announcements about impending games have become a staple of the industry. As 2017 rolls along there are a few key gaming expos where announcements will be made, new projects will be showcased, and nerdgasms will abound.

Gaming studios love to show off, even if a game is still two to three years away from being released. Developers become shameless braggadocios at the big conventions, like GDC, Pax West/East, Blizzcon, Gamescom, Twitchcon, D23 Expo, Tokyo Game Show, Playstation Experience and of course the grandaddy of them all E3 (Electronic Entertainment Expo).

This year’s E3 takes place in Los Angeles from June 13-15th and, for the first time, will be open to the general public. A lot of big press conferences take place Sunday and Monday before the show itself. This is where some of the big gaming heavyweights announce their big news.

Not all studios release their hottest press in the same way, though. Some, like Rockstar Games, eschew the big conventions and rebelliously release news whenever they feel like it. Last year, they threw out some cryptic messages via Twitter and eventually made their Red Dead announcement with a slick trailer.

That was just one of last year’s myriad announcements that have me yearning for the calendar to turn.

What announcements and details can we expect in 2017, and where will they happen?

You can fully expect Microsoft to get the most buzz with their new console, “Project Scorpio.” Don’t expect a full reveal until E3 in June, but it should finally have a name an actual release date at that point.

Sony released their own 4K console last year, and so their 2017 isn’t going to be about hardware. Instead, expect to see a full slate of game announcements and trailers to get you into a frenzy. Will we see more gameplay action on that new Spider-Man game? My spidey senses are tingling and I believe we will.

Nintendo is releasing its new Switch in March and will be showing it off to everyone at the conventions and expos. A new console obviously requires new games. Although some have already been announced, we can fully expect to see more added. After all, you can’t have a new Nintendo console without a Pokémon game, right?

As we roll into the spring season, let’s set the odds on some of the big video game news and developments that we’ll see at conventions and expos in 2017. Grab your controllers and let’s play. (All odds are for 2017 unless otherwise stated.)

PS4 Odds

Knack 2

• Odds more gameplay footage is shown: 1/3
• Odds Sony announces exact release date: 2/3
• Odds the game is released in 2017: 2/3

Death Stranding

• Odds more gameplay footage is shown: 1/9
• Odds the game is released in 2018: 2/3
• Odds the game is released in 2017: 3/2

Detroit: Become Human 

• Odds more gameplay footage is shown: 1/3
• Odds the game is released in 2017: 1/1
• Odds the game is released in 2018: 1/1

God of War: A New Beginning 

• Odds gameplay footage is shown: 1/4
• Odds there will be a game demo: 1/1
• Odds the game is released in 2018: 2/3
• Odds the game is released in 2017: 3/2

Spider-Man PS4 

• Odds more gameplay footage shown: 1/9
• Odds official name is announced: 1/4
• Odds the game is released in 2017: 2/1
• Odds the game is released in 2018: 3/1
• Odds the game is released in 2019: 4/1

The Last of Us 2

• Odds more gameplay footage shown: 1/1
• Odds the game is released in 2018: 2/3
• Odds the game is released in 2019: 2/1
• Odds the game is released in 2017: 100/1

Microsoft Odds

“Project Scorpio” Odds

• Odds Microsoft showcases console: 1/9
• Odds Microsoft announces official name for console: 1/9
• Odds Microsoft releases the console in 2017: 1/4
• Odds Microsoft pushes the release date to 2018: 4/1
• Odds that multiple VR devices will be able to work on the console: 2/3
• Odds Oculus Rift is announced as VR partner: 2/1
• Odds HTC Vice is announced as VR partner: 9/1
• Odds Scorpio console costs $800-$900: 1/3
• Odds Scorpio console costs less than$800: 3/1

Halo 6

• Odds Microsoft announces Halo 6 and shows a trailer in 2017: 3/2
• Odds Microsoft announces a 2018 release date: 2/3
• Odds Microsoft announces a 2017 release date: 3/2

Nintendo Odds

Splatoon 2 (Switch)

• Odds Nintendo shows a trailer for Splatoon 2: 2/3
• Odds Nintendo announces an actual release date for Splatoon 2 (rumored to be summer 2017): 3/7

Pokémon “Stars” (Switch)

• Odds Nintendo shows a trailer for Pokemon Stars: 2/1
• Odds Nintendo pushes the game to 2018: 2/3
• Odds Nintendo announces an actual release date in 2017: 3/2

Metroid (Switch)

• Odds Retro Studio announces new Metroid game for Switch: 3/1
• Odds Metroid game is released in 2018: 1/2
• Odds Metroid game is released in 2017: 2/1
• Odds that Retro Studio’s new game is not Metroid: 17/3

VR (Virtual Reality Odds)

Doom VR

• Odds Bethesda shows a trailer for Doom VR: 4/1
• Odds Bethesda announces a release timeline for Doom VR: 9/1
• Odds Doom VR comes out in 2019: 2/3
• Odds Doom VR comes out in 2018: 3/2

Fallout 4 VR

• Odds Bethesda shows gameplay on VR headset: 1/4
• Odds Bethesda announces 2017 release date: 3/7
• Odds Fallout 4 VR is pushed to 2018: 7/3

Oculus Rift 2

• Odds Facebook showcases new headset: 1/1
• Odds Facebook announces Oculus Rift 2 release date: 9/1
• Odds Oculus Rift 2 comes out in 2019: 1/1
• Odds Oculus Rift 2 comes in 2020: 11/9
• Odds Oculus Rift 2 comes out in 2018: 200/1

HTC Vive 2 (Oasis)

• Odds HTC showcases new headset in 2018: 1/1
• Odds HTC showcases new headset: 3/1
• Odds HTC continues to showcase Vive accessories in 2017: 1/9
• Odds Vive 2 is released in 2018: 3/2
• Odds Vive 2 is released in 2019: 1/1
• Odds Vive 2 is released in 2020: 9/1

More Goodies

Beyond Good & Evil 2 

• Odds Ubisoft shows an updated trailer: 1/1
• Odds Ubisoft shows gameplay: 50/1
• Odds the game comes out in 2020: 1/1
• Odds the game comes out in 2019: 11/9
• Odds the game comes out in 2018: 50/1

Visceral Games’ Untitled Star Wars Game

• Odds a full trailer is shown: 3/7
• Odds a formal title is announced: 2/3
• Odds game is released in 2018: 1/4
• Odds game is released in 2017: 4/1

Rockstar Games 

• Odds Rockstar actually announces anything at any high-profile convention: 2/1
• Odds Rockstar announces Grand Theft Auto 6: 20/1
• Odds Rockstar shows a full gameplay trailer for Red Dead Redemption 2: 1/4
• Odds Rockstar announces the exact release date for Red Dead Redemption 2: 2/3
• Odds Rockstar releases Red Dead Redemption 2 in 2017: 3/7
• Odds Rockstar pushes Red Dead Redemption 2 to 2018: 7/3

Half-Life 3

• Odds Valve finally announces Half-Life 3: 1/1
• Odds there is no Half-Life 3 announcement in 2017: 1/1
• Odds Half-Life 3 is for VR: 2/3

Star Wars Battlefront 2

• Odds EA and Dice showcase Battlefront 2 gameplay and trailer: 1/9
• Odds EA and Dice announce actual release date: 1/9

Call of Duty (2017)

• Odds Activision showcases Call of Duty (2017) at E3: 1/19
• Odds game goes back in time to WWII London: 2/3
• Odds game goes back in time to Vietnam War: 2/1
• Odds the game goes back to a different time in history: 50/1