Not-E3 2023 Schedule, Predictions, and Pipe Dreams

Just like that, Not-E3 season is upon us once more. Even though the official E3 is cancelled, a whole host of upcoming showcases are scheduled for June 7-15.

So here’s what we’ve got lined up!

Not-E3 2023 Schedule

June 7
Guerrilla Collective 2023 – 9 AM PT / 12 PM ET

June 8
Summer Game Fest 2023 Showcase – June 8 at 12 PM PT / 3 PM ET
Devolver Direct: The Return of Volvy – June 8 at 3 PM PT / 6 PM ET

June 10
Wholesome Direct 2023 – 9 AM PT / 12 PM ET
Future Games Show – 10 AM PT / 1 PM ET

June 11
Xbox Game Showcase – 10 AM PT / 1 PM ET
PC Gaming Show – 1 PM PT / 4 PM ET

June 12
Ubisoft Forward – 10:00 AM PT / 1:00 PM ET
Capcom Showcase – 3 PM PT / 6 PM ET

June 14
Grasshopper Direct – 9 PM PT / 12 AM ET

June 15
RGG Summit – 8 PM PT / 11 PM ET

There are some additional indie game showcases as well, but I’ve decided to save those for potential miscellaneous highlights at the end, along with any notable highlights from Xbox’s extended show on June 13. Like last year, some of the usual E3 names are missing from this list. Sony had a State of Play just a couple weeks ago, so they probably won’t have another showcase this soon. I’d love to see a Nintendo Direct, though.

If any new showcases are announced for this time period, I’ll update the schedule.

Updated to add Capcom and Grasshopper.

Not-E3 2023 Predictions

Some games are already confirmed, such as a gameplay debut for Alan Wake 2 at Summer Game Fest, so I’ll be looking forward to that (even though I’m disappointed in the game being digital-only). Surprisingly, it also feels like a safe guess that Final Fantasy VII Rebirth will be shown. I wouldn’t normally expect Rebirth news until after the release of Final Fantasy XVI, but the official Twitter account has been tweeting one short answer about the game each day, starting on June 2. If they do this for a total of 7 days, it will end right ahead of Summer Game Fest, which has led to widespread speculation that a trailer will be shown there. I also wonder if Death Stranding 2 will appear.

Elden Ring’s DLC also seems possible. All we really know about it is its title, Shadow of the Erdtree. Elden Ring has been out for over a year now, so it feels like the DLC should be shown soon.

In a less likely prediction, I wonder if a new Tales game could be announced. While Tales of Arise only came out in 2021, the gap between it and Tales of Berseria was unusually long for the series. I just hope they don’t have any more mobile games planned, since they seem to send them out to die.

Meanwhile, we already discussed hopes and predictions for RGG’s showcase.

Not-E3 2023 Pipe Dreams

And finally, let’s go over some pipe dreams – things that probably won’t happen, but which I’d love to see.

It’s funny how my list of pipe dreams has slowly come true. In 2015, I made my original list of video game pipe dreams: Ace Attorney Investigations 2 localization, a sequel to The World Ends With You, Bayonetta 3 or a Bayonetta spin-off, and a Tales of Symphonia prequel. Since then, we’ve gotten a sequel to TWEWY, Bayonetta 3, and a Bayonetta spin-off.

In 2016, I updated my list with The Great Ace Attorney localization, Xenosaga HD, Knights of the Old Republic III, a new Professor Layton game, and a true Paper Mario. Since then, we’ve gotten localizations for The Great Ace Attorney and its sequel, a new Professor Layton game (with another on its way), and… well, all right, I’m not sure if I should count Paper Mario: The Origami King.

I no longer feel such a need for Knights of the Old Republic III, though. With the KotOR remake itself in uncertain position, I increasingly feel like a KotOR III would just end up disappointing me. So let’s just consider that one crossed off the list.

In 2017, I added World of Final Fantasy 2 to the list.

Then in 2018, I added two more pipe dreams: Mother 3 localization and a Persona 3 remake. (That last one has been rumored over and over again by this point.)

Finally, in 2021, I updated the list once again to add the the untranslated Tales games, Fatal Frame IV, Crossbell, and the untranslated Yakuza games. Since then, we’ve gotten Fatal Frame IV, Crossbell, and Like a Dragon Ishin.

So as it stands now, my gaming announcement pipe dreams look like:

• Ace Attorney Investigations 2 localization
• Tales of Symphonia prequel
• Xenosaga HD
• A classic-style Paper Mario
• World of Final Fantasy 2
• Mother 3 localization
• Persona 3 remake
• Untranslated Tales games
• Like a Dragon Kenzan and Kurohyo

That’s a surprisingly small list, considering at one point it seemed like it would only ever get longer. Are these games likely to be announced? Definitely not. Will I hope for them anyway? Absolutely. Capcom is on the list of participants for Summer Game Fest, and while there’s basically no chance of Ace Attorney appearing, I’ll hang onto that hope anyway.

What do you expect or hope to be announced at this year’s June showcases? Do you think any companies like Nintendo will announce a showcase for that time frame after all?