I mentioned this in the rating the Sony conference thread, but this is an in-between year for games. There can't always be a whole host of huge exclusive heavy hitters waiting in the wings for E3. Especially after 2015 and 2016, where Sony in particular went all in each time, going so far as announcing The Last of Us 2 as the closer to E3 2016 despite the fact that it was so early development, it didn't even show this year.
Microsoft is making their slow and steady exit from the console market, with the Xbox One X basically being their acting transition from console to PC gaming. The lack of focus of new games really solidified that this year. I wouldn't expect a major E3 from them ever again. They're trying to expand the Games for Windows 10 platform, and the Xbox brand as a console is a stepping stone for making that happen.
EA always has the same things with maybe one or two surprises, while Bethesda still really does not need a big stage for what they have to show. The fact that Skyrim for the Switch got stage time should prove that beyond a doubt. Ubisoft actually did okay this year. No real cringe except for the performance for Just Dance 2018. Even they were pretty dependent on Assassin's Creed to carry the show and filled a lot of show time with fluff talking due to lack of games and trailers.
2018 will be another big year for game announcements as we see what is coming going into 2019 and beyond, but E3 2017 was the result of having blown all the big announcements at E3 2016 for everything to expect going into 2018.
