This is an article setting out to predict the headlines of 2011. In no way am I passing off any of my predictions as confirmed, these are simply my insights. Initially the PlayStation Portable successor was on my list and I had to swap it based on when this article was going to be published.
Marcus Fenix in Mortal Kombat 9
This one can be proved right or wrong in a few weeks or even days. If Sony has Kratos the possibility of Microsoft having their own exclusive character isn't too far fetched. We've seen it happen with Soul Calibur II and IV so it is possible, Microsoft has never been shy about swaying away exclusive content from Sony's hands. So the logical choice would be a Spartan but that was used in Dead or Alive 4. I think Microsoft would go the way of Gears of War since it is the other prominent exclusive franchise the Xbox 360 has that is mature. Marcus Fenix is also a smart bet because Gears of War 3 is launching this fall and this just helps out. Or Horstachio from Viva Pinata doing fatalities, I totally can see that too.
Mutant League Football Climbs Out of the Grave
EA has dipped into a small version of football for XBLA and PSN with Madden Arcade. One of the more requested classic Electronic Arts titles is Mutant League Football. With an NFL lockout threatening next season EA is still planning to release Madden 12. A possible lockout could kill the general interest for it and EA might look into the realm of mutants in addition.
Bully 2
Back in November of 2009 we heard about the composer from the first game listing Bully 2 in his work credit. Since then we've seen Rockstar finish Mafia 2 and Red Dead Redemption, two projects long in the works. The likelihood we see Bully this E3 instead of a Grand Theft Auto V seems likely as no info at all has surfaced about that expected title. Bully has remained in Rockstar's memory, it was included in a TV commercial in Grand Theft Auto IV and is even considered as canon in the GTA storyline.
Kingdom Hearts 3 Will Not Be Announced
Five years after the second numbered Kingdom Hearts game and the best info we have about Kingdom Hearts 3 is from 2009 when Square Enix stated they won't even think about it until Versus XIII was completed. Since the second game was released we have seen three side story releases and another is coming onto the 3DS this year. It's likely Square-Enix sits for another year with Versus XIII pending, a Kingdom Hearts side story pending and a sequel to Final Fantasy XIII pending.
Half-Life 2: Episode 3 Revealed for PS3/PC
The partnership between Valve and Sony will benefit Portal 2 the most. This is the perfect time for Valve to announce Episode 3 for PC and a PS3 exclusive. If there was any time for Valve to get Half-Life the attention it deserves it would be right after Portal 2's release. Fanboys will be screaming about the cake being a lie or not and gobbling up future Valve releases again.
The Last Guardian Misses 2011
Sony is gumming a lot about a game that's been absent or rarely attending media events. There is even a collection of Team Ico's other works being released on the PlayStation 3 in HD. With the best date a Holiday 2011 unless this game unveils itself in detail at E3 it's likely to slip into early next year.
Mega Man X Returns
The Mega Man franchises have had some rough times lately with the creator of Mega Man leaving Capcom, Starforce burned out, and Mega Man was excluded from Marvel Vs Capcom 3. The only love shown lately has been with the previously defunct Mega Man Legends series. So where is Mega Man X? Aside from a Korean MMO released last year he's been nowhere. If classic Mega Man was able to come out of retirement on XBLA/PSN/WiiWare then maybe the same can happen for the robot from 21XX.
Borderworlds Revealed
It's more likely a fifth DLC is released but in the ending to Clap Trap's Robot Revolution Marcus tells us about plans to send the player to other worlds. This is a reference to the announcement of the sequel Borderworlds which we heard about then never really again after the onslaught of great DLC last year. After Duke Nukem Forever I'm willing to bet we'll hear about Borderworlds in detail finally.
Shadow Complex 2
With Chair's work on the Ender's Game...Game ending they seem to have nothing in the works. It's most likely a sequel to Shadow Complex will still happen continuing their love affair with Science Fiction writer Orson Scott Card. The second book in the Empire series which Shadow Complex is based on has been released so where is the sequel to the blockbuster XBLA game of 2009.
