Microsoft have announced the Xbox One. As E3 approaches, one question has arisen: what now?

Eyes of the world turned yesterday to Microsoft’s reveal ceremony for their input to the next generation of games consoles. What we got was Xbox One. Opinions haven’t exactly been wildly positive on the value of what we learned in the conference, but as E3 looms, everyone will be waiting to see where Microsoft goes next.

Amongst the barrage of information about television deals and improved Kinect integration, it was easily to miss some of the more intriguing points from the conference. One particular tidbit was that the Xbox One will have fifteen exclusive titles in its first year (so far), eight of which will be new IPs. To put this in context, the 360’s first year saw eighteen exclusives, six of those being new IPs. Whether you consider this a step forward or back for the new console, it’s certainly a similar density of exclusives right now, and there is certainly no ruling out more being added to that mix down the line. But in yesterday’s reveal we got very few hints to what the current lineup would be. At E3, this needs to change in a big way. Halo 5 is a likely inclusion to the roster, as are the teased Quantum Break, the long-lost Ryse and some of the current works in progress at Black Tusk. You’d be a fool not to expect some Kinect-only games as part of the mix as well, and Forza 5 will ensure that Microsoft still has a contender to Gran Turismo going into the next console generation. Beyond this, it’s largely a guessing game as to what exclusives will be cropping up in Xbox One’s first year of life. A new Dance Central title is never far from the horizon, and the potential for a series like Crackdown or Fable returning can never be counted out. What’s important, however, is that these exclusives, and the key components of the Xbox One lineup as a whole are the integral part of Microsoft’s E3 keynote on June 10.

It would be silly to assume that Microsoft will go the entire conference next month without delving a little more into the non-gaming features of the One, but the core focus has to be on videogames, as this was a focus that the reveal ceremony lacked. Microsoft did score a mini-coup in netting exclusive Ultimate Team features for FIFA 14, but you got the feeling that a little too long may have been spent giving EA Sports their own soapbox rather than using the time to sell the console itself. It’s all about improving relations with the publisher, though, and if it pays off for Microsoft in the long run then more power to them. This doesn’t change the fact, however, that the situation now is one where Sony has the front foot going into E3. Their reveal, while not even showing the console, had the spotlight right where it needed to be, which is on the games. Hopefully Microsoft will be able to follow suit in Los Angeles, otherwise “advantage Sony” could turn swiftly into “game, set and match”. While not focusing on games, there are still a few unanswered questions that should really be covered in Microsoft’s E3 presser. Unknowns such as the system’s price, the future of Xbox Live and more information on the situation of preowned games on the new console have to be brought up in LA to dissuade fears and speculation. There is more, of course, but Mattrick and Co. will likely have a lot to say when the date rolls around.

What remains of the Xbox 360’s time in the sun is still of importance, but now that the One has been officially revealed, it has to – and will – be centre stage next month. Once again, the eyes of the world will turn to Microsoft, and perhaps this time, their owners will come out with some more positive impressions of the Xbox One.