Welcome to E3, the big video game trade show that takes place annually in Los Angeles, where video game publishers, developers, and console manufactures unveil their upcoming hardware and software. In today’s roundup of announcements we will focus on the big three console manufacturers.

• PlayStation Vue expands to Los Angeles and San Francisco. As Strategy Analytics predicted (see Strategy Analytics Digital Media report Can PlayStation Vue Successfully Capture a Share of the Pay TV Pie?) PlayStation Vue will be expanding to Los Angeles and San Francisco. Currently, PlayStation Vue is available in New York, Chicago and Philadelphia. In addition, Vue will also start selling subscriptions to individual channels nationwide, with Showtime and Fox Soccer among the first a la carte options.
• Microsoft adds backward compatibility to Xbox One. Addressing one of gamers’ biggest complaints about the Xbox One and PlayStation 4, not being able to play PlayStation 3 or Xbox 360 games on their new consoles, Microsoft announced plans to make Xbox 360 games available on the Xbox One. Initially, only a limited number of games will be available but over time the list will grow. The Xbox One won’t play the games direct off Xbox 360 discs, rather when you put the disc into the Xbox One it’ll download a digital version of the game. In addition, Xbox Live Arcade games available on the Xbox 360 will also gradually become available on the Xbox One. Sony has not commented on any plans to make the PlayStation 4 backwards compatible.
• Nintendo celebrates the 30th anniversary of Super Mario Bros. In celebration of Super Mario Bros. 30th anniversary Nintendo show off "Super Mario Maker," a game that allows players to dream up their own levels for the world’s most famous plumber and his brother. The game will utilize the Wii U's GamePad touch-screen to simplify level creation.