It seems obvious to me, that in the last 6 months MS has really cleared the path for having a good clear message at their E3 conference  Let's look at what they have done:

1. Released the detailed specs of the Scorpio

a. This allows all of the talk after E3 to be about the product, not the specs

2. Cancelled a number of games that people were waiting for

a. This allows all of the negative press about this to have died down

b. This also allows the information regarding other games to be the focus

3. Announced VR is not coming to the XB1 this year

a. Instead of everyone talking about what is missing from their E3 show, they eliminate the talk before it even starts

b. Again, people stay focused on what they are bringing this year, not what isn't coming

4. Totally landed the "Premium Price" message to gamers with people think $499-$699

a. If the rumor is true at $399, people will be dancing in the streets if it is priced this way

b. Now, the price seems reasonable if not cheap for what you get

It is clear that MS has put a lot of effort into making sure that whatever their message is going to be on Sunday at the E3, it will have a positive spin or outcome.

They should get credit for this after the way the original XB1 launch was totally screwed up.  I know people will say that they shouldn't get credit for not screwing up, but this seems like more than that.  This seems like an extremely well executed plan.  They don't seem to be counting on the usual new console buzz to give them anything...  I guess we will know on Sunday.

"a. If the rumor is true at $399, people will be dancing in the streets if it is priced this way"

where did you read this?

I think Microsoft cares more about trying to astroturf or manipulate what people say about them online than they do about the actual games and user experience. Out of the big 3 Microsoft seems to be the most vocal, hypocritical and engaging online. Seems to have been that way especially since the Xbox 360.

With no flagship exclusive release this quarter I fail to see how they with showcase Scorpio. Seems like it's coming out one year too early or one year too late. Who is going to care about playing Halo MCC,  Halo 5 or Gears 4 in 4k?

It's 2017. How do people still not know how to use Google? 

i'm not using google lol

Well that's one way to spin it...

it's only good if they hit it out of the park at E3.

It gives them the chance to focus and get their message across, but without the first party devs to back it up, I don't see it being much different to their last conferences on the software side where it really matters. They need something big alongside Scorpio, and I'm not sure they have it. No Gears or Halo, Crackdown isn't big enough.

Also, there is no evidence their premium marketing is working yet, the console doesn't even have a price and release date. And cancelling one of the only new IPs you have invested in as a positive is a stretch just because you didn't do it near E3

The 399 rumor started from hidden numbers found in their ad.

If it is 399, I wouldn't be surprised. Microsoft is probably willing to take a loss to try to catch up with PS4 but I don't think it will achieve their dream because Scorpio faces a lot of problems.

It is supposed to be a mid gen upgrade instead of a next gen system which means it is held back by Xbox One. It is also late to the party. Older games that don't get updates may still run better on PS4 and the new games that receive updates will probably be like the PS4 Pro. If PS4 Pro support indicates anything, I think many people are just waiting for a true next gen system like the PS5 which may launch a couple years from now.

Scorpio will be for the diehard Xbox fans that probably bought the Xbox One at launch and Xbox One S last year anyway.

Yeah true, they got out all the negativity of people asking why wasnt this and that on their show.

I'd argue that is overthinking it, but I'm also convinced Nintendo had the Pokemon direct go off as it did to get the initial heat of US UM burnt off before they can Win Back the Crowd (which is something seem to do a lot these days. Mario 3D World, Splatoon, Sun and Moon, ARMS......) I'd be a hypocrite to give Nintendo the benefit and not Microsoft.

Hope both are true, though to be honest I hope the Nintendo one is true more.