Nintendo’s biggest reveals in E3 history have been largely dominated by its flagship IP The Legend of Zelda, and a host of console announcements.
Juggling the iconic presenters, Reggie Fils-Aimé and Shigeru Miyamoto, Nintendo has never failed to deliver an eye-widening amount of fan service to its community at E3.
The Japanese titan may not match the smorgasbord of games that its competitors deliver every year, but its loyalty to IPs and their respective communities is enough to mark them as serious contenders at the big event.
Metroid Prime 4 Announcement (E3 2017)
Fans of the interstellar bounty hunter were awestruck to hear of the franchise’s transition to the Nintendo Switch console, after its announcement at 2017’s event.
Metroid Prime 4’s Samus has been bereft of new adventures, apart from his appearance in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, and fans are hoping that this year’s E3 will allow Nintendo to showcase some more details.
Not a Dry Eye in the House – Miyamoto and Ubisoft Team Up (E3 2017)
During Ubisoft’s impeccable showcase at its 2017 conference, jaws hit the floor when Shigeru Miyamoto joined CEO Yves Guillemot onstage.
Announcing the unlikely pairing of Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle, creative director of the Rayman spin-off Davide Soliani could be seen in the crowd having an emotional moment.
The director began tearing up after seeing the legendary Miyamoto discuss his game with the head of Ubisoft, and instantly became one of the most touching moments in E3 history.
A Breath of Fresh Air – Breath of the Wild Reveal (E3 2016)
The Legend of Zelda is iconic at E3, and the reveal of Breath of the Wild was a pivotal moment for the franchise.
Opting to not use the game’s character or item names in the title was a first for the Zelda franchise, and its open-world expanse promised a new lease of life for players.
The change in art style was another refreshing detail explored (previously teased at E3 2014), and Zelda fans reached interstellar levels of excitement thinking about the prospect of exploring every inch of Hyrule.
A New Revolution – Nintendo Wii Reveal (E3 2005)
Nintendo came into E3 2005 swinging, by continuing to reveal details of the Nintendo DS and also introduce the Game Boy Micro.
Presenter Satoru Iwata didn’t stop there, however, as he then went on to answer fans’ demand for a revolution.
Nintendo’s answer was the Nintendo Revolution, which stunned Xbox and PlayStation players by how small it was.
The Revolution later morphed into the Nintendo Wii, and introduced a heightened level of interactivity in gaming.
The Crowd Goes Wild – The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess Announcement (E3 2004)
Most E3 showcases save the best reveal for last, and these Nintendo highlights are no different.
At the end of Nintendo’s E3 showcase in 2004, Reggie Fils-Aimé stated that Nintendo had “one more world” to show audiences. What followed next was a trailer for The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, featuring a hyper-realistic Link.
As the audience erupted with excitement, Shigeru Miyamoto appeared onstage wielding the Master Sword, Hylian Shield, and his winning smile, offering one of the most hair-raising moments in E3 history.
Honorable Mention
Reggie Fils-Aimé is an E3 legend and a masterful spokesperson for Nintendo, when he served as the publisher’s president and chief operating officer in America.
Fils-Aimé continuously filled the E3 conference room with positivity and good humor, paving the way for stellar showcases in Nintendo’s future.
The guy also signed off from revealing the Nintendo DS in 2004 with: “My name is Reggie, I’m about kicking ass, I’m about taking names, and we’re about making games.”
