Mega games round-up from E3 2016 expo
Games, games and more games - that sums up any E3 expo, but what exactly can we expect in the next few quarters? We round-up every major game title launched from Bethesda, EA, Microsoft, Nintendo, Sony and Ubisoft.
Games, games and more games - that pretty much sums up any E3 expo, but what exactly can we expect in the next few quarters? We round-up every major game title launched from Bethesda, EA, Microsoft, Nintendo, Ubisoft.
Bethesda
Bethesda had a healthy does of updates for its fans during its E3 showcase in L.A. Here's a quick summary of the announcements from the company:-
1. Quake Champions
Quake Champions will only be out for the PC.
2. The Elder Scrolls Legends
The Elder Scrolls Legends, a card game, will be out later this year.
3. New DLCs for Fallout 4
There's a bunch of new DLCs for Fallout 4, and an update for Fallout Shelter will be coming soon. You can now build your own Vault in one of the new DLCs for Fallout 4.
Fallout Shelter will be updated soon! Expect new quests, new locations and an updated combat system.
4. Skyrim remastered
Skyrim has been remastered for consoles and the PC, allowing for support of mods and better graphics among other things.
5. Updates for Doom
Doom's SnapMap has been updated, which adds several new multiplayer modes. More excitingly, is that there's a new premium DLC for the game called Unto the Evil, which will add three new maps, a new playable demon called The Harvester, and new equipment. If you're still on the fence about this game, you can try it out for yourself this week because the game will be free on Steam, PS4, and Xbox One. This demo is limited to the first level of the game, and will only be available this week.
6. The Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimited
The Elder Scrolls Online will be expanding to Japan on June 23, and the Dark Brotherhood DLC for console players will drop this week. Most excitingly, is the announcement of One Tamriel, which is a concept where all The Elder Scrolls Online players will be able to experience the full content of the game after completing the tutorial, regardless of their levels, because all characters will be auto leveled.
7. Prey - rebooted
There's not much information on the new Prey, but from what we've seen during the live stream, it looks pretty awesome!
8. Dishonored 2
Dishonored 2 takes place 15 years after the events in the first game and will feature two playable characters - Corvo and Emily Kaldwin, both with their own set of unique powers and gameplay styles. It will be out on November 11, 2016 and will be available as a Collector's Edition, which comes with Corvo's mask, among other things.
9. Fallout 4 on HTC Vive
Last but not least, they announced that Fallout 4 will be compatible with the HTC Vive platform very soon.
Electronic Arts (EA)
Electronic Arts (EA) is definitely one of the biggest names in gaming today, so it's only natural to expect big bang games from them. Below are some trailers, and some information about these games. For more commentary and thoughts, check out what GameAxis has reported.
1. Battlefield 1
There's not much additional information revealed about Battlefield 1, except that it launches October 21. But GameAxis seems to have a few more thoughts to add on.
2. Titanfall 2
Titanfall 2 will get a single player campaign, and will make its way to the PC, Xbox 1 and PS4. As for its multiplayer mechanics, it's been updated to give the Titans more abilities, while pilots are able to teleport to make things more exciting. This games arrives October 28.
3. FIFA 17
Fans of this long-running series will love that this latest title is powered by Frostbite and for the first time, has a story mode. The story mode is called 'The Journey', and it puts you in the shoes of a young and promising footballer named Alex Hunter. This game drops September 2016.
4. Fe
A new title, Fe looks eerily similar to Ori and the Blind Forest. It's a game without a narrative, and in the game, you take control of a young creature that's trying to find its origins.
5. Star Wars
EA is regularly updating its current games, like Star Wars: Galaxy of Heroes and Star Wars Battlefront. For developments on this franchise, GameAxis has the scoop.
6. Mass Effect Andromeda
EA didn’t have much to say about the upcoming Mass Effect Andromeda by BioWare. They did show a new behind-the-scenes video:-
Microsoft
The new Microsoft Xbox One S console.
Microsoft's main takeaways from E3 were geared around their new consoles, the new compact Xbox One S with updated looks and capabilities and 'Project Scorpio', the upcoming Xbox console with much more power and capabiltiies that will arrive late in 2017. You can read about both of them in details here.
Oh and another new cool but limited initiative is Xbox Play Anywhere which will allow you to play selected titles across Xbox One and a Windows 10 PC. For more details on this initiative, progress and game titles supported at this point of time, check out the article from GameAxis.
Nintendo
Image source: Kotaku U.K.
Compared to other big names at E3 this year, Nintendo is having what is probably described as a break year. You probably already knew that the only thing that was going to be on show would have been the new Zelda game, and now we know its name: The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
Image source: YouTube / Nintendo.
The subtitle Breath of the Wild really reflects what you see in the game. The first bit of the open world you see is a wide open meadow, with enemies sprawled with wildlife. Even if the game began in a cave of some sort giving away an alien technology-esque science fiction vibe, the open world allows the freedom to do a lot of things – things like diving, hunting, gathering of apples and mushrooms, and even horse taming and hang gliding to go with the endless exploration.
Image source: YouTube / Nintendo.
Also in are dynamic weather and day-night cycles for different experiences during the exploring. Put it all together and you have what is almost like an Elder Scrolls and Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater experience. Weapons also break in combat, but on the flip side, you get to loot weapons used by enemies, giving you a semi consistent cycle of gear improvement. You can even bring Wolf Link from Twillight Princess into Breath of the Wild with the Wolf Link amiibo to make your open world, pseudo-survival experience a less lonely one, and definitely a much more enjoyable one.
Image source: YouTube / Nintendo.
Pokémon Sun & Moon
Image source: YouTube / Nintendo.
Pokémon Sun and Moon are coming out November 18 this year, and Nintendo is shedding a little more light on the new generation of Pokémon games. And light is literally one of the visual improvements that can be seen in the game. There is a dynamic light system in place where the shadow of characters change depending on the sources of light nearby, and most obviously affecting this would be the apparent time of day. That said, there was no mention day-night cycles of the 2nd generation making a return, and we’re desperately hoping that it does. And with Sun and Moon for the names of this 7th generation, there’s all the more reason.
Image source: YouTube / Nintendo.
Other visual improvements include the presence of the trainers during battle. This is great because not only are the significance of the Pokémon trainers felt, it also gives a good scale comparison between Pokémon and humans. Large Pokémon like Gyarados and Groudon would make for very interesting sights too, we reckon. There is also a new battle system called Battle Royale, where four trainers face each other in a free-for-all battle for the ultimate mixup in battle unpredictability, pushing theorycraft strategists to the edge – or out the window.
Sony Interactive Entertainment
Ever since its impressive showing last year, many gamers wondered if Sony will bring the 'Year of Dreams 2.0' to its E3 press conference this year. Well, based on the announcements and gameplay demonstrations showcased earlier this morning, the folks at PlayStation and its stable of third-party partners are more concerned with delivering on the 'now', specifically PlayStation 4 and VR experiences that can be enjoyed as early as October this year. Below are some of the highlights the conference:-
1. God of War (SIE Santa Monica Studio)
You know you're in for a treat when a PlayStation press conference kicks off with an actual orchestra (conducted by Bear McCreary, no less!), followed by a gameplay demonstration where an older, bearded Kratos emerged from the shadow (with a son in tow!), signaling the arrival of a brand new God of War by Sony's Santa Monica Studio. The PS4 'reboot' has seemingly opted for a slower-paced approach, with the camera framed in the style of Naughty Dog's The Last of Us during exploration segments, yet not forgetting the visceral combat and brutal kills from the past installments. It's also stated that the game will take inspirations from Norse mythology, with a nice juxtaposition between action sequence and quiet dialog moments. Oh, and Bear McCreary will also be composing the game's soundtrack. No release date was announced.
2. Days Gone (SIE Bend Studio)
It’s been four years since Bend Studio worked on Uncharted: Golden Abyss for the PS Vita. Now, the developer has a new open-world title to announce, and a brand new original franchise at that. It’s called Days Gone, and it is a title that will - without a doubt - draw comparisons to The Last of Us. And we say this because there’s the very familiar post-apocalyptic setting, the beauty behind the bleakness, the fight against zombie-esque enemies, and the fight to maintain the humanity in our minds.
Two years after a global pandemic that killed nearly everyone and turned millions into mindless, feral creatures called Freakers, Days Gone puts you in the shoes of Deacon St. John. A drifter and bounty hunter who prefers to journey the broken roads than live in one of the 'safe' wilderness encampments, Deacon will have to survive the Freaker hordes by crafting traps and making use of skills acquired in his prior life as an outlaw biker. The game is still in development, so SIE Bend Studio will be sharing more gameplay videos, as well as more details about the game in the coming months, hopefully including a release date.
3. Resident Evil 7 biohazard (Capcom)
After a string of HD remasters and the confirmation of Resident Evil 2 Remake, Capcom is finally ready to shed some light on the latest mainline entry in its beloved survival horror series: Resident Evil 7 biohazard. Coinciding with the 20th anniversary of Resident Evil, the signature door-opening moments gain a whole new meaning now that the game will be played in first-person view. Powered by the in-house RE engine, expect heightened level of fear with photorealistic visual fidelity when experienced on PlayStation VR. Interestingly, Capcom previously showcased a horror-themed VR tech demo named 'Kitchen' during TGS 2015, which is likely a precursor to what we're seeing with Resident Evil 7 biohazard today.
Story-wise, the game is set in an abandon plantation mansion located in rural America, after the events of Resident Evil 6 (kudos for continuity!), leaving the player to explore and survive in this mysterious and increasingly unnerving environment. Resident Evil 7 biohazard will be released on January 24, 2017, but you can get a taste of it later today in the form of 'Resident Evil 7 Teaser: Beginning Hour', a playable demo exclusive to PlayStation Plus members for a limited time.
4. Horizon: Zero Dawn (Guerrilla Games, SIE)
While the title was demoed during last year's E3, Horizon: Zero Dawn is still on the path of becoming one of PlayStation’s most prominent titles for the PS4. A brand new IP from Guerrilla Games (also the same developer behind the Killzone franchise), Horizon: Zero Dawn puts the player in the footsteps of Aloy, and her journey towards defeating a ‘demon’ of sorts in a fictional cyber-primal world, in which all electronics have somewhat become sentient and ‘evolved’ into a variety of different beasts (if the word is even applicable). Having missed its original 2016 release window, Horizon: Zero Dawn will instead be available to purchase on February 28, 2017.
The Collector’s Edition, priced at US$119.99, will come bundled with the following physical and digital items:
- 9-inch Statue by Gentle Giant – featuring heroine Aloy in amazing detail
- 48-page Artbook by Dark Horse – featuring Horizon Zero Dawn concept art
- Steelbook Case – with exclusive cover artwork
- 4x Resource Packs – the Carja Trader Pack, the Banuk Traveler Pack, the Nora Keeper Pack and the Nora Machine Trapper Pack
- 2x Outfits – the Carja Storm Ranger Outfit and the Banuk Trailblazer Outfit
- 2x Weapons – the Carja Mighty Bow and the Banuk Culling Bow
The PSN-exclusive Digital Deluxe Edition, on the other hand, will be priced US$69.99 and include the following pre-order goodies:
- 2x Resource Packs – the Carja Trader Pack and the Nora Machine Trapper Pack
- 2x Outfits – the Carja Storm Ranger Outfit and the Banuk Trailblazer Outfit
- 2x Weapons – the Carja Mighty Bow and the Banuk Culling Bow
5. Detroit: Become Human (Quantic Dream, SIE)
David Cage's upcoming sci-fi cinematic adventure is shaping up quite nicely, with the E3 2016 trailer showcasing a different playable character (next to Kara, who featured prominently in 2015's Paris Games Week teaser) named Connor, a law enforcement android prototype. In the video, Connor is shown diffusing a hostage situation in different ways, each with their own unique outcome. Fans of the genre will be happy to see the decision-making conundrums from Heavy Rain refined and 'taken to another level', no doubt leading to even more branching paths and possible permadeath situations. Expect two or more co-protagonists to be revealed in the months leading to the game's release, which has yet to be announced.
6. The Last Guardian (SIE Japan Studio)
The wait is almost over - after years of development delays, followed by a much-awaited reappearance at E3 2015, The Last Guardian will finally be released on PlayStation 4 on October 25, 2016.
More from Sony's E3 press conference
There was more to PlayStation's E3 2016 press conference than what was revealed on the earlier page, chief among which was the appearance of Hideo Kojima. With thunderous applause, the head of Kojima Productions was introduced on stage by Andrew House, Product and Group CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment, much to the delight of the crowd. After making a short introductory speech ("Hello, everyone. I'm back!"), Kojima treated the audience to a teaser trailer of his latest creation, the PS4-exclusive Death Stranding.
According to Kojima, the footage that can be gleaned from the video above was running in real time, featuring a yet-to-be-revealed character as played by actor Norman Reedus (of The Walking Dead and P.T. (R.I.P.) fame. In true Kojima fashion, the character was shown lying face down on a beach filled with fish and crab carcasses, all while holding a lifeless baby before it dissolved into nothingness, leaving oil and handprints all over his body.
“Since the establishment of Kojima Productions last December, I have been fully focused on what lies ahead. Thanks to our fans and everyone at SIE who has been supporting us as our partner, and we look forward to delivering ground breaking ‘play’ to our users worldwide,” commented Kojima.
Death Stranding is notably still in early stages of development. In his interview with Geoff Keighley, Kojima confirmed that director Guillermo Del Toro is not involved in the game, and that the mascot behind the Kojima Productions logo has nothing to do with it either.
Crash Bandicoot's Back!
All signs were pointing to Crash Bandicoot's return to the PlayStation family, and we're glad that the rumors have finally been put to rest at this year's E3 conference. Although not officially recognized as such, the lovable bandicoot was more or less the de facto mascot during the PS1's heyday. While the rights to the character still belongs to Activision, Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) has partnered with the publisher to introduce Crash as a guest character in the upcoming Skylanders: Imaginators, just in time for the bandicoot's 20th anniversary celebration.
Apart from the Skylanders appearance, the first three Crash Bandicoot games (Crash Bandicoot, Cortex Strikes Back, and Warped) will also receive the HD remaster treatment when they arrive on the PS4 in 2017. Meanwhile, Skylanders: Imaginators will be released in the month of October 2016.
PlayStation VR
With over 40 million PS4 units sold worldwide, gamers can look forward to enjoying VR in their own home from October 13, 2016 onwards when the PlayStation VR debuts in North America for US$399. More than 50 PS VR-capable games will be made available at launch and throughout 2016.
Two such PS VR titles are Farpoint, an immersive, yet hostile space adventure conceived by indie developer Impulse Gear exclusively for the platform; and Here They Lie, a psychological horror experience by Tangentlemen studio. Other notable PS VR titles include EA's Star Wars: Battlefront VR (free for Star Wars: Battlefront PS4 owners), and Rocksteady's Batman: Arkham VR.
Complementing the PS VR experience is the PS VR Aim Controller, which provides direct one-to-one tracking to offer realistic presence and precision in the virtual environment.
Meanwhile, Final Fantasy XV will also offer PS VR support, where you will be able to play from the perspective of Prompto, as evident by the gunplay footage in the special-cut trailer below:
PS VR games are expected to range from US$9.99 to US$59.99 in North America. The Move controllers, on the other hand, will be sold as a two-pack bundle for US$99.99.
Oh, and one more thing...
The talented team at Insomniac Games is working on Marvel's new Spider-Man game exclusively for the PS4.
Sources: NeoGAF, Activitision.
Ubisoft
This year, Ubisoft had a lot to announce, but we've summarized them for your reading pleasure.
1. South Park: The Fractured But Whole
This game is a sequel to South Park: The Stick of Truth, where all the kids are now super heroes. It's still a turn-based game and you will be able to select your character's own super powers. It will be released on December 6, and those who pre-purchase the game will get The Stick of Truth for free. This game will be released on the PS4, Xbox One, and PC via Steam.
2. Ghost Recon: Wildlands
Set in Bolivia, this game lets you play it solo, or with three other friends in co-op mode. There are multiple ways to complete a mission, and how you do it is entirely up to the gamers. Expect this game to reach stores come March 7, 2017.
3. Tom Clancy: The Division
There are a couple of new expansions coming, and the first is called Underground. This expansion will offer endless replayability and better rewards the further into the game you go. It will be released for the Xbox One and PC on June 28, while PS4 gamers will get it only on August 2. Also, to celebrate Ubisoft's 30th anniversary, there will be three unique outfits for you to redeem (Splinter Cell, Ghost Recon and Rainbow Six).
In addition, there's also another expansion called Survival, where resources are scarce and you will need to stick together to survive. There's no mention of a release date for this DLC though.
4. For Honor
A game that's similar to Dynasty Warriors, For Honor lets you choose to play as either one of three different factions - The Samurai, The Knights or The Vikings, in either single-player mode or two-player co-op via split screen or online. It will be released for the PS4, Xbox One, and PC come February 14, 2017.
5. Trials of the Blood Dragon
Taking inspiration from 8-bit games, Trials of the Blood Dragon is a side-scrolling game that puts you in the shoes of Roxanne and Slayter, Their mission is to save the world, and to do so, they will have to visit locations like Vietnam, Miami, and...space. The game is actually out now for the PC, PS4 and Xbox One.
6. Watch Dogs 2
You play as Marcus Holloway, a member of Dedsec, a group of hackers who are trying to overthrow a ctOS 2.0, an operating system used by criminals to manipulate and control citizens. As you would know by now, the game is set in San Francisco. It releases November 15 for the PS4, Xbox One and PC. PS4 owners will get access to all of the game's DLC 30 days ealier. Those who purchase the Collector's Edition will get a remote-controlled robot bundled.
7. Steep
A new game by Ubisoft, Steep is all about extreme sports in the Alps. From the trailer, you can see skiing, snowboarding, paragliding and wingsuit flying. There's also the option to go into 'Go Pro View', which is essentially a first-person point-of-view.
8. Free Games!
Last but not least, Ubisoft is offering free games from now till December to celebrate its 30th anniversary. All you need to do is log into your Ubisoft Club account and redeem them every month. There will be one free game every month from now till December.