E3 2025: The 5 Announcements That Set the Course for Gaming

The video game announcement season is over, leaving a clear picture: fewer risks, more sequels, and a full commitment to portable gaming. We analyze the key announcements, from Resident Evil 9 to the new Xbox console, that will define how we play tomorrow.

The summer season of video game announcements, unofficially known as "Not-E3," has concluded after a week of digital events like Geoff Keighley's Summer Game Fest and the powerful Xbox Games Showcase. While the absence of a centralized event like E3 has been noticeable, the avalanche of trailers and new releases has left a clear map of the trends that will define the industry in the coming years. The outlook is cautious: fewer new and risky intellectual properties, a strong focus on sequels and remakes of established series, and an increasingly intense battle for dominance in the handheld hardware market. Below, we break down the five most important announcements and trends that will shape the future of gaming.

1. The Portable War: Xbox Responds to the Success of Steam Deck and Switch

Perhaps the most significant hardware announcement was the confirmation of a new Xbox handheld console, the ROG Ally X, developed in collaboration with Asus. This move is a direct response to the overwhelming success of devices like Valve's Steam Deck and the Nintendo Switch. Unlike the PlayStation Portal, which relies on streaming from a PS5, the new Xbox handheld will be a native device capable of running games locally, competing directly in the growing portable PC gaming market. The gaming community has reacted enthusiastically, seeing in this device the promise of accessing Xbox's vast catalog and Game Pass in a truly portable form factor, something that many considered a missed opportunity with Sony's approach.

2. The Age of Remakes and Sequels: 'Resident Evil 9' and 'Gears of War' Lead the Charge

If anything was clear this season of announcements, it's that big companies are playing it safe. Sequels and remakes of beloved franchises dominated the events. The most anticipated announcement by many was Resident Evil 9, which, while its official title hasn't been revealed, featured a trailer suggesting a return to the roots of survival horror, with a new protagonist, Grace Ashcroft, daughter of a character from the cult classic "Resident Evil Outbreak."

For its part, Xbox unleashed nostalgia with the announcement of Gears of War: Reloaded, a full remake of the first installment of the iconic series, scheduled for August 26. Added to this is the announcement of Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, confirming the continuation of one of the most profitable franchises in history. This trend reflects an industry strategy to minimize financial risks by appealing to the loyalty and nostalgia of its most established fan bases.

3. Soulslike Mastery: Mortal Shell II and the Quest for the New Elden Ring

The impact of FromSoftware's games continues to resonate throughout the industry. The souls-like genre, characterized by its high difficulty and methodical combat, remains one of the strongest trends. The Summer Game Fest opened with the announcement of Mortal Shell II, the sequel to the acclaimed souls-like game, coming in 2026 and promising to be even more visceral than its predecessor. Other titles like Nioh 3, which was also presented with a playable demo, confirm that developers continue to seek to replicate the successful formula of games like Elden Ring, offering players extreme challenges and dark worlds to explore.

4. Arc System Works' Surprise: 'Marvel Tokon' and the Return of Fighting Games

Amidst so many sequels, one of the most refreshing and surprising announcements was Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls. It's a new 4-on-4 fighting game developed by Arc System Works (the acclaimed creators of "Dragon Ball FighterZ") in collaboration with PlayStation and Marvel Games. The trailer showcased a spectacular art style that redesigns iconic characters like Spider-Man and Doctor Doom with an anime aesthetic, promising accessible yet deep combat. This announcement, along with the confirmation that Final Fantasy XVI is coming to Xbox, demonstrates a renewed interest in the fighting genre and a greater openness among major brands to collaborating on projects that previously seemed impossible.

5. Where is Nintendo? The Strategic Silence and the Shadow of the Switch 2

The most notable absence from the entire season of events was, once again, Nintendo. The Japanese company opted to stay away from the "No-E3" event, a decision that, far from being seen as a weakness, is being interpreted as a calculated marketing strategy.

With the successor to the Nintendo Switch on the horizon, Nintendo's silence is a way of controlling the narrative. By not participating in the summer announcement saturation, they ensure that when they finally decide to unveil their new console, likely at a dedicated event like a Nintendo Direct, they will capture 100% of the media and public's attention. This "counter-programming" approach allows them to manage expectations and prevent their important announcements from being diluted in the noise of the competition, a tactic that has worked perfectly for them in the past and keeps the entire industry on tenterhooks, waiting for their next move.