Marvel has released new character posters for Ant-Man and the Wasp a month ahead of its release date, and they are as cool as they are revealing. This is the first time we've gotten a good look at Michelle Pfeiffer as Janet Van Dyne--the original Wasp--people seem to be pretty hyped at the idea of the Oscar-nominated actor in this role.
Pfeiffer looks pretty hardcore in the poster where she gives the viewer some serious side-eye. Other notable cast members who got a poster include Paul Rudd (obviously) as Ant-Man, Lost's Evangeline Lilly as the new Wasp, Laurence Fishburne as Dr. Bill Foster/Goliath, Hannah John-Kamen as Ghost, and Michael Douglas as Dr. Hank Pym.
Ant-Man and the Wasp is said to be centered around Scott Lang balancing home-life and hero-life as he is approached by Dr. Pym and the Wasp for a mysterious new mission. Taking place in the aftermath of Captain America: Civil War, Lang is beginning to come into his own as a superhero, but you know what they say about great power.
Ant-Man and the Wasp is set to be released July 6.
E3 2018 is fast approaching, so we're expecting tons of big announcements during the marquee briefings from Sony, Microsoft, Nintendo and others. But before that, we're taking a look back at last year to go over what was announced and determining if each company lived up to its promises. We already broke down Microsoft's and Nintendo's E3 2017 briefings, and now we're onto Sony.
Before The Show
Sony used its pre-show stream as a platform to announce details and release dates for its upcoming games, like Knack 2, Gran Turismo Sport, Crash Bandicoot: N. Sane Trilogy, and a port of Undertale for both PS4 and Vita. Each managed to launch in 2017 to generally positive critical reception.
In addition, Sony also gave an in-depth look at its roster of PlayLink games, the company's foray into multiplayer mobile app party games--similar to the incredibly popular Jackbox Games. New games continue to release under the PlayLink umbrella, including Hidden Agenda, Knowledge is Power, and Frantics.
Uncharted: The Lost Legacy Got A New Gameplay Trailer
Sony opened its press conference with a trailer for Uncharted: The Lost Legacy. While audio issues in the livestream dulled the impact of its set-piece action, the game turned out great when it launched later in August. GameSpot said while aspects of it feel like a greatest hits collection of past adventures, it manages to "grow into a more nuanced, clever experience, ranking among the best in the series while also making its own mark as a standalone Uncharted that isn't anchored to Nathan Drake's harrowing exploits."
Horizon Zero Dawn DLC: The Frozen Wilds
After the successful launch of Horizon Zero Dawn February of that year, Sony unveiled a new DLC expansion for the game, entitled The Frozen Wilds. While it felt more like a missing chapter than a revelatory extension, in our review Peter Brown adored the expansion's riveting battles and ultimately felt that "it's hard to get too upset at such a captivating experience when it's all said and done."
Days Gone Gameplay Showcase
After its surprising debut during E3 2016, Sony finally gave us another glimpse at the upcoming Days Gone, an open-world zombie apocalypse game by Bend Studio. There was more motorcycle driving, stealth action, and a gnarly zombie bear by the trailer's end. No release date was announced at the time, but Sony Worldwide Studio president Shuhei Yoshida revealed a few months later that the game would release sometime in 2018. Unfortunately, Days Gone ended up getting delayed to 2019.
Nobody saw Monster Hunter World coming. After all, the fan favorite Capcom franchise had been predominantly released on Nintendo handhelds in recent years. Its reveal on Sony's E3 2017 press conference stage was a pleasant surprise that captivated audiences with its exciting display of monster fights across a large open environment.
Released in January 2018, Monster Hunter World received positive critical reception, with GameSpot calling it "the biggest and best that the franchise has ever been." After its successful launch, the game has since garnered a massive following and impressive sales numbers. Along with PS4 Pro enhancements and some exclusive content, Sony ensured that the PS4 is the best console to experience the game.
Shadow of the Colossus Remake
In an unexpected move, Sony revealed that developer Bluepoint Games was working on a remake of the cult favorite Shadow of the Colossus. The footage showcased an awe-inspiring level of detail that far exceeded the previous HD version released on PS3. What we ended up getting when the game launched in February was nothing short of magnificence. In our review Edmond Tran called it "a beautiful reconstruction of an already exceptional title [that] continues to be a modern classic and is an extraordinary game that everyone must experience."
Marvel Vs. Capcom: Infinite Gets a Story Mode Demo
When Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite was first announced during PSX 2016, fighting game fans were eager to try it out. The Sony E3 2017 press conference finally gave us a glimpse of the game's story mode, and better yet, a demo was released not long after the reveal. However, reception for the demo was mixed. Fans criticized the character models and animations--with Chun-Li being the main offender. To make matters worse, the demo featured bad AI-controlled combatants and no training mode, which made it difficult to get a feel for how the game played. The demo was simply a bad representation for what MvC:I was shaping up be.
Released in September, MvC:I's critical reception was favorable, but it ultimately failed to gain a solid standing within the fighting game community. Aside from a handful of post-launch DLC characters, support for the game was limited, and it didn't help that the game's sales numbers were ultimately below expectations. While a variety of factors contributed to MvC:I's middling reception, it probably didn't help that people's' earliest impressions of it were colored by the lukewarm demo made available briefly after Sony's E3 2017 press conference.
Platform Exclusive Content For Destiny 2
In the lead up to E3, Destiny 2 was shaping up to be one of the biggest upcoming shooters. Given Sony's relationship with Activision, it was no surprise that the PS4 version of the game would receive timed-exclusive content. A new trailer shown at the press conference confirmed that PS4 owners would be getting access to an exclusive gear set, weapon, PvP map, and strike mission. Destiny 2 ultimately performed well both critically and financially, but it has since suffered a dip in its player base. But the timed-exclusive content ensured that the PS4 was the best platform to play the game--at least until it released on PC the following October.
The Latest in PlayStation VR's Software Lineup
There was a brief section showcasing the upcoming roster of PlayStation VR games, which included, Skyrim VR, Starchild, The Inpatient, Monster of the Deep: Final Fantasy XV, Bravo Team, and Moss. Not all of these games managed to release in the intermittent months between then and now; the ones that did have varied in quality. Moss and The Inpatient are definite standouts among the roster as some of the best on the platform, but the rest suffered mixed reception. The only game to not release was Starchild, which is expected to launch sometime this summer.
PSVR still does well compared to its competitors mostly due its accessibility as a VR headset. Earlier this year it was reported that Sony has managed to sell over 2 million headset units and 12.2 million PSVR games worldwide. With numbers like these, it looks like Sony will continue to support the platform for years to come.
More God of War
The God of War trailer at the E3 2017 press conference arguably showed less than the previous year's reveal, but that didn't diminish the excitement of Kratos' return. The new look at the game's combat and story only furthered curiosity towards the game's inner workings. Sony rarely revealed much about God of War in-between trade shows, so information regarding the game was relatively scarce outside the initial reveal. However, the trailer finally confirmed that God of War was launching in early 2018.
God of War eventually released on April 20 and went on to be a massive critical and financial success. In our review Peter Brown called it "a spectacular action game with epic set pieces, big-budget production values, and hard-hitting combat that grows more feverish and impressive as you progress." Five years in the making, Sony Santa Monica successfully delivered on its reinvention of the God of War franchise.
More Detroit: Become Human
Detroit: Become Human got another trailer during the show, which showcased a different aspect of its universe: android freedom fighters striving to start an android revolution. Once again the trailer emphasized the various ways a given scenario can play out based on the decisions you make. At the time, Detroit: Become Human had no release date, but it has since been confirmed to release on May 25--a mere two weeks before this year's E3.
First Spider-Man Gameplay Demo
Out of all the big games in Sony's lineup of exclusives, it seemed an odd choice to close out the press conference with Spider-Man. While no release date was confirmed during the trailer, it did show off a significant chunk of gameplay featuring stealth, combat, acrobatics, and web-swinging. In addition, the final moments of gameplay confirmed that fan-favorite Marvel character Miles Morales would be appearing in the game.
For a while after Sony's E3 2017 showcase, Spider-Man didn't have a release window, but now we know it's coming on September 7. New details have emerged about the game's mechanics, but Sony is planning to reveal even more at E3 2018 with it being one of the four games it plans to discuss at this year's show.
To Recap:
Sony's E3 217 presentation was packed with tons of trailers for many of its latest first- and third party games. There was little to no time spent talking about hardware, and understandably so. With Sony's PlayStation 4 Pro already out, the company was in a position to focus primarily on software. Despite a strong showing, the absence of games like Death Stranding and Final Fantasy VIII Remake left something to be desired. And compared to past press conferences, Sony's E3 2017 showing was relatively tame. While an exclusive like Spider-Man is a solid game to showcase, its use as the closer lacked the punch of previous years' big-name trailer reveals.
Currently, Sony still stands on top thanks to its extensive roster of quality big-name exclusives, but if it intends to stay there, it's going to need to start talking more in-depth about its next wave of games. With Death Stranding, Ghost of Tsushima, Spider-Man, and The Last of Us Part II being the focus of this year's show, it seems like Sony already knows that. This more focused format is a refreshing change of pace for Sony, but hopefully the presentation will still yield its own share of surprises.
E3 2018 is right around the corner. We're expecting tons of big announcements during the big briefings from Sony, Microsoft, Nintendo and others. But before that, we're taking a look back at last year to go over what was announced and determining if each company lived up to their promises. We've already looked at Nintendo and Sony, so now it's time to check up on Microsoft.
Project Scorpio Becomes Xbox One X
The biggest news from Microsoft's E3 2017 briefing came at the top of the show. The company officially announced the name, price, and release date of its super-powerful console. So long, Project Scorpio; hello, Xbox One X. Microsoft also talked about how the console was its smallest and most powerful yet, while the company announced a list of games that would receive enhancements on Xbox One X. The list has grown substantially since then. Microsoft does not announce Xbox sales numbers, so we don't know how well the Xbox One X is doing. One thing is clear, though: many multiplatform games, including Assassin's Creed Origins, look and perform the best on X, so Microsoft has the advantage over PS4 in that department.
The Xbox One X
OG Xbox Backwards Compatibility
Backwards compatibility support for Xbox 360 games on Xbox One is one of the system's most popular and beloved features. So it was great news last year when Microsoft announced that original Xbox games would join the catalog. Although there are far fewer OG Xbox games playable on Xbox One than Xbox 360 games, there are some great ones in there, including The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind, Jade Empire, and Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II. Given the interest in and popularity of backwards compatibility on Xbox One (a feature that the PS4 does not offer outside of PlayStation Now), it will be interesting to see what more Microsoft does this year in that department beyond adding more games to the library.
Forza Motorsport 7 Looked Stunning
Its announcement was no surprise, but it was still impressive to see Forza Motorsport 7 for the first time during Microsoft's E3 2017 briefing. Running at 60 FPS and in 4K on Xbox One X, the game looked absolutely stunning; a powerhouse of graphical quality. With more than 700 cars on its roster, the game has one of the biggest lineup of cars ever in a racing game. It was announced for an October release, and it launched on time. Given the rotating schedule between Forza Motorsport and Forza Horizon, 2018 would appear to be a Horizon year, so racing fans are looking forward to a reveal at E3 in June.
Cross-Play
Another big announcement during Microsoft's briefing was about cross-play. In a somewhat surprising move, Microsoft announced a big update for Minecraft that would allow people on almost every platform to play together. With the update, people on Xbox One can play with those on Nintendo Switch--and PC and mobile (but not PlayStation 4). Microsoft and Sony still cannot come to an agreement on cross-play, so PS4 is left out for now. It is encouraging to see Microsoft push so hard on cross-play and help unite the overall gaming community, and it's exciting to think about what other cross-play pushes we see from Microsoft this year.
PUBG On Xbox
So much can change in a year. This time last year, PUBG was dominating the battle royale genre, not Fortnite. Microsoft partnered with Bluehole to bring Playerunknown's Battlegrounds exclusively (at least for a period of time) to Xbox One. Microsoft announced the game would launch in 2017, and it did, arriving on the console in December. The game, which is still in an early access state, continues to be somewhat rough around the edges, but it is undoubtedly improved. The game's second map, Miramar, was recently added on the game's test servers. There was a rumor that Microsoft sought to extend its timed-exclusive partnership with Bluehole to keep the game off PS4 for a longer period of time, but no official word has come down yet.
Anthem Gameplay
Following its announcement during EA's E3 briefing a few days prior, Microsoft provided the first in-depth look at BioWare's new IP, Anthem, on its own stage. We saw a multi-stage mission play out, providing the first look at BioWare's Destiny-like multiplayer shooter that certainly looks very nice. The game was supposed to launch in 2018, but EA delayed the game; it is now due out on Xbox One--as well as PS4 and PC--in March 2019. After the shortcomings of Mass Effect: Andromeda, fans will be looking for BioWare to return to form with Anthem. Intriguingly, BioWare owner EA recently said it wants to involve fans with the development process for Anthem early on to help make the game better, and that is encouraging news.
Crackdown 3 New Gameplay And Release Date
Crackdown 3 for Xbox One and PC was shown off with an explosive, Terry Crews-filled trailer on Microsoft's stage at E3 last year. Microsoft also announced that it would launch on November 7 alongside the Xbox One X. That was exciting news for fans looking to pick up a new first-party game at launch. Unfortunately, Microsoft delayed the high-octane, open-world sandbox game, and it's now due out sometime in 2018. Some have suggested that Microsoft's lineup of exclusives is weak compared to Sony, which just put out the critically and commercially successful God of War on PS4. Being one of the biggest companies on earth (Microsoft is close to becoming a trillion-dollar company) fans will hope to see Microsoft flex its muscle at E3 with some big exclusive announcements. In addition to what's expected--a new Halo, a new Gears, a new Forza--all eyes will be on Microsoft to show that it can compete with Sony in the area of exclusives with new franchises. After all, we recently learned that Microsoft was opening a studio in the Los Angeles area to work on a brand-new AAAA game (yes, that's four As).
Game Reveals
A lot of big-name games were announced on Microsoft's E3 2017 stage, including much-anticipated sequels Assassin's Creed: Origins and Metro Exodus. Origins was released in October last year, and it proved by some accounts to be the return to form for the franchise that many were waiting for. Metro: Exodus, meanwhile, was originally scheduled for 2018 but is now due in early 2019. It aims to expand on the first games by giving players a more open sandbox to explore instead of the linear nature of the games that came before it. Also announced on Microsoft's stage in 2017 was Dragon Ball FighterZ. The game was announced for an early 2018 release date, and it made it; the game shipped at the end of January for Xbox One, as well as PS4 and PC. Microsoft has said it is committed to highlighting games from Japanese publishers at E3 this year, so it will be interesting to see what's in store.
Cuphead Release Date
After years of development and some delays, indie developer Studio MHDR announced Cuphead's September 2017 release date on stage during the Xbox briefing. The gorgeous-looking and brutally challenging Xbox One and PC platformer (that Microsoft partially funded) made it out then, and it was a big hit. By the developer's latest count, the game that looks like a Disney movie had sold more than 2 million copies. Given that huge success, gamers looking for a new challenge will be hoping Studio MDHR has something else to show this year.
To Recap:
Microsoft's E3 2017 briefing was understandably focused around clearing up the final questions about Project Scorpio, and the company delivered with those details and a smattering of other big news for fans. But there some notable omissions, too. Some left the show wondering where all the big game reveals were; after all, we didn't see or hear anything about the next Halo and Gears of War games, or anything totally surprising either. The $500 price point for the Xbox One X was also a shock to some. Microsoft had always billed it as a premium console with a price tag that would match the ambition of the system, but $500 (which is a full $100 more than the PS4 Pro) was still a lot for some to stomach. Microsoft is in second place right now behind Sony, and you should never bet against a company that wants to move up the ladder. Even if Microsoft can never catch Sony as it relates to hardware sales this generation, the company can do well by its existing player base and draw in new users with big game and service announcements that make the Xbox One an even more compelling purchase option.
E3 2018 is fast approaching and our excitement for the biggest upcoming games continues to build. The show is bound to yield plenty of announcements and surprising reveals from companies, like Sony, Nintendo, Microsoft, Bethesda, Square Enix, and more. To prepare you for the upcoming event, we've created multiple features on the biggest games we're likely to hear more about at E3, detailing everything we know so far about them and everything we'd love to hear. Below you can find a list of all the features we've made thus far. Be sure to check back often as we update this roundup with even more features.
There's a lot of excitement around Anthem leading into E3 2018 since it's BioWare's next big project and new IP. Expectations are high given this is a franchise debut from the same studio that brought us a slew of iconic RPGs: Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic, Mass Effect, and Baldur's Gate to name a few. To give you a look at what's ahead, here's what we know about Anthem, as well as what we're hoping to see from it at this year's E3. [BioWare's Anthem: What We Want At E3 2018]
Assassin's Creed Odyssey
A new Assassin's Creed game is inevitable; it's only a matter of time before it comes along. May's big Walmart Canada leak suggested an announcement could be coming soon, and it increasingly looks as if E3 might be when we get to hear about the game. A new leak has revealed a possible name--Odyssey--and setting for the next Assassin's Creed, which may be coming out by the end of March 2019. [Assassin's Creed Odyssey: What We Want At E3 2018]
Battlefield V
EA's Battlefield V is definitely a game we're excited to learn more about at E3 2018. Following the game's announcement earlier this month, EA and developer DICE plan to talk a lot more about it next month at E3. In this feature we're rounding up important details about the game including what we know about it so far, what's confirmed for E3, and what we hope to see from the game at the show. [Battlefield 5: What We Want At E3 2018]
Borderlands 3
A new Borderlands game has been expected for some time now. The series is among 2K's most successful franchises, and Borderlands 3 has been teased time and again. We know 2K has a new (but as-of-yet unannounced) game for one of its big franchises in the works, although it was recently delayed--rather than releasing by the end of March 2019, it's not due until sometime between April 2019 and March 2020. That suddenly makes it less likely that E3 2018 is where we get a look at Borderlands 3--or whatever the game ends up being called. Nevertheless, here's what we know about the potential project, as well as what we'd hope to see from an E3 reveal. [Borderlands 3: What We Want At E3 2018]
Call of Duty Black Ops 4
Treyarch is planning some interesting changes to the familiar Call of Duty formula with Black Ops 4. While every game in the long-running FPS series has had its own spin on things over the years, this year's game is looking to buck some trends that has already made the community stand up and take notice. There was a lot to take in from the May 17 reveal event, so here's a more detailed breakdown of what's coming up for Blacks Ops 4, and we want to see at E3 2018. [Call Of Duty Black Ops 4: What We Want At E3 2018]
Cyberpunk 2077
E3 promises to bring news on lots of big games, and CD Projekt Red's Cyberpunk 2077 is definitely one we're excited to learn more about. While it is not confirmed to be at the event, signs are pointing to some kind of reveal in June. In this feature we're rounding up important details about the game like what we know about it so far, what's confirmed for E3, and what we hope to see from the game at the show. [Cyberpunk 2077: What We Want At E3 2018]
Days Gone
The setting is the Pacific Northwest. Freakers are on the loose. A biker gang rides on at the end of the world. This is Days Gone, the latest game from Sony's Bend Studio, the team behind the Syphon Filter series and the handheld Resistance and Uncharted games. But Days Gone is bigger than anything Bend has done before. It's an ambitious, open-world game in which you can travel vast distances while being stalked by hordes of zombie-like enemies. [Days Gone: What We Want At E3 2018]
Death Stranding
Death Stranding is one of the most exciting upcoming games appearing at E3 2018. The next project from famed developer Hideo Kojima has had us intrigued ever since its provocative E3 2016 reveal trailer. With the game confirmed as one of the four major games Sony intends to primarily focus on during its press conference, our hype and anticipation only continues to build. To prepare you for what's ahead, here's what we know about Death Stranding. [Death Stranding: What We Want At E3 2018]
The Division 2
Tom Clancy's The Division came out in 2016 and it seemed like an ideal cross between shooter and MMORPG. The game immediately set itself apart with its contemporary setting, a realistic depiction of a snow-covered New York City enveloped in a pandemic crisis. Two years later, Ubisoft has announced that a sequel is in the works and that it's set to appear at E3 2018. [The Division 2: What We Want At E3 2018]
Fallout 76
After nearly 24 hours of teasing on their official livestream, Bethesda has revealed the next installment in its post-apocalyptic series with Fallout 76. Set for release on PC, PS4, and Xbox One, the next game looks to focus a lot more on life within the insular inner-worlds of Vaults, and what comes after. Though the trailer was a satisfying teaser for what's the come, there's still a lot we want to know--so here's a more detailed breakdown of what Fallout 76 is all about, and we want to see at E3 2018. [Fallout 76: What We Want At E3 2018]
Final Fantasy VII Remake
Square Enix dumbfounded naysayers and hopeful fans alike when it announced Final Fantasy VII Remake at E3 2015. Given the resulting hype, you'd think that we would've seen more about the game over the past three years, but apart from a second trailer at PlayStation Experience 2015 a few months later, only rumors and scraps of info have surfaced. We've got our fingers crossed that this will be the year--that E3 2018 will be the event--when the curtain is raised and Final Fantasy VII Remake is properly unveiled. Square Enix will have a dedicated presentation at the show, and while we can reasonably expect to see Shadow Of The Tomb Raider, Kingdom Hearts 3, and a few indies from the Square Enix Collective label, the publisher would do very well to feature Final Fantasy VII as much as possible. [Final Fantasy 7 Remake: What We Want At E3 2018]
Ghost of Tsushima
Revealed at Paris Games Week 2017, Ghost of Tsushima is one of Sony's newest exclusives. There's much excitement around the upcoming open-world game, as its premise as a historically authentic samurai action game is one its most unique aspects. Here's what we know about Ghost of Tsushima, as well as what we're hoping to see from it at this year's E3. [Ghost of Tsushima PS4: What We Want At E3 2018]
Kingdom Hearts 3
Kingdom Hearts III has been a long time coming. While the series has had several spin-offs and side-stories since Kingdom Hearts II released 13 years ago, this is the game fans have been waiting for. To ready you for what's ahead, here's what we know about Kingdom Hearts III today, and what we're hoping to see from it at E3 2018. [Kingdom Hearts 3: What We Want At E3 2018]
The Last Of Us Part II
The Last of Us Part II is one of the most highly anticipated games appearing at E3 2018. As one of the games Sony intends to focus on during its press conference, we're expecting to gain a lot of new insights and hopefully see a bunch of fresh gameplay. To prepare for what's ahead, let's breakdown what we already know about The Last of Us Part II, and what we're hoping to see at this year's E3. [The Last Of Us 2: What We Want At E3 2018]
Metroid Prime 4
Knowing full well that it would leave fans wondering what's to come, Nintendo's E3 2017 reveal that Metroid Prime 4 is in development was short but sweet. All we got was a logo, and Bill Trinen's word that it is due to ship sometime "beyond 2017." We are well into 2018 now and there's still nary a word about what the game will look like, let alone what studio is currently piecing it together. Assuming that Nintendo makes a big show at this year's E3, here's what we hope to find out about the secretive sequel. [Metroid Prime 4: What We Want At E3 2018]
Pokemon Switch
Though not confirmed to appear during Nintendo's E3 2018 presentation, the upcoming Nintendo Switch Pokemon game is high on our wishlist this year. Here's everything we know about the game and everything we really want to see come June. [Pokemon On Nintendo Switch: What We Want At E3 2018]
Rage 2
After a retailer leak and a series of teaser images, we finally got confirmation that Rage 2 is real. Bethesda released a live-action reveal trailer that set the tone for the game and a follow-up gameplay trailer that gave us a glimpse at some in-engine action. Senior vice president of Bethesda Pete Hines has confirmed that we'll find out even more about the game at E3, so in preparation for that, here's a wrap-up of everything we know so far and what we want to see more of when June rolls around. [Rage 2: What We Want At E3 2018]
Red Dead Redemption 2
Rockstar Games doesn't usually have a large presence at E3; it tends to announce details about its latest games on its own schedule. But seeing as Red Dead Redemption II is only a few months away, it's possible we'll hear more about the upcoming open-world Western at this year's big event. [Red Dead Redemption 2: What We Want At E3 2018]
Shadow Of The Tomb Raider
Lara Croft returns in the upcoming Shadow of the Tomb Raider, the last entry in the Tomb Raider origin trilogy, which began with the titular series reboot in 2013. As one of Square Enix's biggest upcoming games, we're more than likely to hear about it at E3 2018. To prepare for what's ahead, let's breakdown what we already know about Shadow of the Tomb Raider, and what we're hoping to see at this year's E3. [Shadow Of The Tomb Raider: What We Want At E3 2018]
Splinter Cell
The Splinter Cell series has been dormant for quite some time now. Ubisoft has done little with its signature stealth-action game franchise for half a decade, but there have been enough shreds of potential information to think a new Splinter Cell game might finally be happening. With Metal Gear Solid in a weird place after Hideo Kojima's departure from Konami, the time is certainly right. Here's what we know about the status of Splinter Cell, as well as what we'd hope to see at E3 2018 if Ubisoft does decide to surprise us. [Splinter Cell: What We Know And Want At E3 2018]
Super Smash Bros. Switch
E3 promises to bring news on lots of big games, and Nintendo's Super Smash Bros. for Switch is unquestionably one of the show's most anticipated titles. Nintendo has already said the fighting game will be the focus of its overall showing this year, so you can expect a lot of news and reveals during the event. In this feature we're rounding up important details about the game like what we know about it so far, what's confirmed for E3, and what we hope to see from the game at the show. [Super Smash Bros. Switch: What We Want At E3 2018]
Rockstar Games doesn't usually have a large presence at E3; it tends to announce details about its latest games on its own schedule. But seeing as Red Dead Redemption II is only a few months away, it's possible we'll hear more about the upcoming open-world Western at this year's big event. To prepare for what's ahead, let's break down what we already know about Red Dead Redemption II, and what we're hoping to see at E3 2018.
What We Know So Far
Red Dead Redemption II was revealed on October 20, 2016. Developer Rockstar Games had initially teased the project on social media two days prior with images in the color and theme of Red Dead Redemption, but eventually confirmed its development with a trailer. While Red Dead Redemption II is a sequel in name, it's actually a prequel to the original's story.
Set 12 years before the events of Red Dead Redemption, the prequel focuses on the exploits of the infamous Van der Linde gang--who fans should already be familiar with. After a robbery in the town of Blackwater goes wrong, the gang is forced to flee. You play as outlaw Arthur Morgan, who must help keep the gang in-check in the midst of its desperate attempts to avoid the pursuit of government agents and rival gangs. It's also worth noting the gang includes a younger, less-experienced version of the original's protagonist, John Marston.
Red Dead Redemption II is expected to play much like its predecessor, focusing on exploration, hunting, shoot-outs, heists, and other side-activities where you'll interact with a number of unique characters. However, it also features a far more expansive map to explore. Based on what we've learned from trailers and early previews, your impact on the world is a bigger focus. As Morgan, you'll have to handle various responsibilities, such as resource gathering, earning money, and making sure everyone in the community is happy. Average citizens and members of your gang will react to how well or how poorly you treat them from day to day. This also impacts the honor system, which makes a return from the original, but now with more complex tracking.
What's Confirmed For E3?
Red Dead Redemption II is not confirmed to appear at E3 2018. However, Rockstar Games has a habit of debuting new trailers for its latest games at E3 press conferences. For example, Rockstar released a trailer for Grand Theft Auto V during E3 2013. Given the sequel's upcoming release, there's potential for at least another brief look at the game at this year's show.
What We Hope To See At E3
There are still unexplored mysteries about how Red Dead Redemption II actually plays. We're hoping E3 can be a place where such details are divulged. While Rockstar has typically been fine showing off trailers, a full-on gameplay demonstration could serve as a nice way of showcasing what Red Dead Redemption II's combat and exploration looks like.
Customization was an underutilized aspect in Red Dead Redemption. While you could craft a few new outfits, you couldn't really alter the cosmetics of anything else. We're hoping Rockstar confirms more customization options for clothing, weapons, and even your horse.
Multiplayer has been an important pillar for Rockstar's most recent games, so it would be great to get a better idea of what's in store. There's still so much we don't know about Red Dead Redemption II's multiplayer. Will the mode have heists like Grand Theft Auto Online? Will there be co-op? Hopefully, this year's show yields answers.
Lastly, we're still eager to hear more details about Red Dead Redemption II's story. From the synopsis, Arthur Morgan is a conflicted individual; his loyalty to the Van der Linde gang is slowly faltering due to the extreme circumstances they're embroiled in. It would be fantastic to learn about how these elements affect Morgan's relationships with his fellow gang members and those he cares about.
E3 2018 promises to bring news on lots of big games, and EA's Battlefield V is definitely one we're excited to learn more about. Following the game's announcement earlier this month, EA and developer DICE plan to talk a lot more about it next month at E3. In this feature we're rounding up important details about the game including what we know about it so far, what's confirmed for E3, and what we hope to see from the game at the show. Here we go!
What We Know So Far
After weeks of rumors, EA officially announced Battlefield V during a livestream event in May. As suspected, the game is set during World War II, and it sounds like it builds on what made Battlefield 1 so great with its own set of exciting new features. Starting with what's on everyone's mind--the game has no loot boxes and all the maps will be free. EA is ditching the Premium Pass model of past games in favour of giving players access to maps and modes for free as part of an ongoing service model called Turning Tides. This is great news because it means no longer will players get separated based on DLC ownership. It's a smart move on EA's part because it will theoretically keep people in the game more--and spending more. EA is no charity, and you can still spend real money on cosmetics to create a unique-looking character. There are loads of new features in Battlefield V, including the ability to shoot grenades out of mid-air or drag a downed soldier out of the line of fire to heal them in a safer environment.
Battlefield is known for its destruction, and this is a big deal in Battlefield V, but also new for the franchise is the ability to fortify your encampments with things like a sandbag wall or by building a stationary weapon. One of the more intriguing new additions for Battlefield V is the Grand Operations mode. Building on Operations from Battlefield 1, Grand Operations are bigger and more involved multiplayer skirmishes that play out across multiple stages and modes--and there are rewards up for grabs. In addition to all the multiplayer updates and changes, DICE remains focused on single-player modes, too. Little is known about the campaign, but we know it'll be playable in co-op (the first time since Battlefield 3), and it will tell stories that "may be unfamiliar to players" instead of the well-known ones from Battlefield 1942. At least one of the War Stories will take place in Norway, with a narrative following a young Norwegian soldier fighting to stay alive during the German occupation. In what sounds like a refreshing, more unique take on war games, Battlefield V will offer War Stories from the perspective of saving your family members as opposed to saving the world.
What's Confirmed For E3
Being one of EA's biggest upcoming games, Battlefield V is expected to have a major presence during the publisher's E3 2018 briefing, EA Play. The game will be playable at EA's showcase, which is good news for fans who don't want to wait until October or the open beta. EA Play takes place at the Hollywood Palladium from June 9-11. You can find details about how to register for the event and buy a ticket here on EA's website. If you can't make it to the show, you can rest easy knowing GameSpot will have lots of news stories, previews, and gameplay videos for Battlefield V, so keep checking back for those.
What We Hope To See At E3
While EA and DICE have already shown off Battlefield V and offered the first details during the reveal event, we are hoping to see lots more of the WWII shooter at E3. EA would be smart to show off actual gameplay to help players understand what it looks like to shoot a grenade out of mid-air or pull a downed soldier to safety.
There are no loot boxes in Battlefield V, and we hope to see EA address this decision and stress to players that the game will not go down a pay-to-win path with the items it does allow you to buy with real money. Given what happened with Star Wars: Battlefront II, this will be front of mind for many, and EA would be smart to address this right away.
We also hope EA and DICE shine a light on Battlefield V's campaign, which could be one of its more intriguing elements. The story mode in Battlefield 1 did a fantastic job of showcasing lesser-known elements and locations from the Great War. World War II as a historical event has already been covered extensively in film and games, so it's refreshing to hear DICE plans to show off more intimate stories of how the war affected everyday people. At E3, we hope to see and learn more about the stories DICE plans to tell and the places the game will take players.
The Battlefield franchise is known for its impressive sense of scale--and it sounds like Battlefield V is going bigger than ever with its Grand Operations multiplayer mode. We hope to see EA discuss this mode at greater length and in more detail to help players get an idea for what this all about and why they should be excited.
After nearly 24 hours of teasing on its official livestream, Bethesda revealed the next installment in its post-apocalyptic series with Fallout 76. Set for release on PC, PS4, and Xbox One, the next game looks to focus a lot more on life within the insular inner-worlds of Vaults, and what comes after. Though the trailer was a satisfying teaser for what's the come, there's still a lot we want to know--so here's a more detailed breakdown of what Fallout 76 is all about, and we want to see at E3 2018.
What We Know So Far
In Fallout 76, players will take on the role of a Vault Dweller in the underground bunker known as Vault 76. Set before even the original Fallout--as shown from a clock and calendar in the trailer--Fallout 76 will focus on the efforts of the citizens as they try to survive in an increasingly hostile world 20 years after the nuclear-apocalypse. Focusing on a retro-futuristic style--the aesthetic and tone of a far-future from the perspective of the past--Fallout 76 shows off a more cheerful approach to it, which will likely shatter once the Vault Dweller opens the door to the outside world.
According to Fallout lore, Vault 76--referenced in Fallout 3 and 4--was one of Vault-Tech's few control vaults. While all Vaults functioned as advertised for all its inhabitants, the control vaults were designed to open its doors for the purpose of repopulation after a set period of time. By and large, the Vaults were poorly designed or were set up to fail, and the few control vaults in existence were successful in their mission--bringing humanity back out into the irradiated landscape. While we're not quite sure what sort of game 76 will be, it is fair to say that it will focus on the efforts of the Vault Dwellers as they try to survive in an unfamiliar and hostile world.
What's Confirmed For E3
Though all we got from the reveal was the quick trailer, Bethesda was quick to state that we'll see much more of the game at its E3 2018 Showcase on June 10th--which looks to be the publisher's longest show. In recent years, the publisher has revealed a great number of titles, which includes Fallout 4, Prey, and Wolfenstein II--and they plan to keep that up for this year's show. With Rage 2, Fallout 76, and the long-teased Prey DLC, this year's show will likely give us a very substantial look at what's to come with the next Fallout game.
What We Want To See
"When the fighting has stopped, and the fallout has settled, you must rebuild."
While Fallout 76 looks similar to Fallout 4 graphically, the trailer seems to indicate that this will not be a traditional single-player experience. With rumors of the game having an online element to it, Bethesda looks to be trying a different approach with this one. Because of this, we'd want to see Bethesda devote as much time as possible revealing what's to come with Fallout 76. During the E3 2015 showing for Fallout 4, Todd Howard spent over half an hour explaining the ins and outs of the game, while showcasing the highlights of what set Fallout 4 apart from the others.
A similar approach to this for Fallout 76 would not only set expectations, but also show that this game will standout from the other titles. To put it simply, we want to see exactly the type of game Fallout 76 will be. While it's fair to say that some familiar Fallout moments of action and interactions will be present, it's important for us to see footage of the game in-action, along with showcasing just how different this game will be. But above all, a release date for Fallout 76 is also a must. And given Bethesda's track record, there's a strong chance that we'll be playing this game much sooner than we think.
E3 2018 is fast approaching, which means excitement for big announcements is building. Sony, Microsoft, Nintendo, Bethesda, Ubisoft, and more will be bringing trailers and (hopefully) some surprises to the show, so now it's time for some speculation! Though not confirmed to appear during Nintendo's E3 2018 presentation, the upcoming Nintendo Switch Pokemon game is high on our wishlist this year. Here's everything we know about the game and everything we really want to see come June.
What We Know So Far
A new Pokemon game for Nintendo Switch was announced at E3 2017. Tsunekazu Ishihara, president and CEO of The Pokemon Company, appeared during Nintendo's presentation to tease the game. He called it "a core RPG Pokemon title" developed by Game Freak for Nintendo Switch, saying it might not release for over a year. Game Freak has developed all the main Pokemon RPGs; the spinoff games are made by other studios.
Currently, it's not known whether the Pokemon Switch game will appear during Nintendo's E3 2018 presentation. Nintendo has previously stated that its briefing will focus more on games releasing soon, rather than those launching after 2018; however, this is the same structure as the 2017 presentation in which Pokemon Switch was announced, so there's room for some future-focused reveals.
What We Hope To See At E3
Because we know so little about this game, the least we can ask for is some basic details: what it's called, where it's set, and whether it introduces new Pokemon would be a good starting point. But one of the biggest questions is how this next generation of Pokemon will look on Switch, which means getting a proper trailer. 3D Pokemon games are relatively new--at least for the main RPGs--and because Switch is far more powerful than 3DS, there's more potential for some big changes to the look of the game.
If we're really going all-out with our wishlist, then we'd love it if the game were playable on the show floor--and in that case, why not get a release date or window for good measure? Maybe it's not exactly likely, but we can hope.
Death Stranding is one of the most exciting upcoming games appearing at E3 2018. The next project from famed developer Hideo Kojima has had us intrigued ever since its provocative E3 2016 reveal trailer. With the game confirmed as one of the four major games Sony intends to primarily focus on during its press conference, our hype and anticipation only continues to build. To prepare you for what's ahead, here's what we know about Death Stranding, as well as what we're hoping to see from it at this year's E3.
What We Know So Far
After a long-standing corporate conflict, Kojima parted ways from publisher Konami in July 2015 and reformed his longtime studio Kojima Productions as an independent developer. During the same month, Kojima announced he was collaborating with Sony to create a new PlayStation game. This ultimately turned out to be Death Stranding, which was first shown at Sony's E3 2016 press conference. Two subsequent teasers were shown at The Game Awards 2016 and 2017.
There aren't many concrete details about Death Stranding's narrative aside from the provocative imagery of its trailers and Kojima's musings on Twitter. It stars actor Norman Reedus (The Walking Dead, The Boondock Saints) as protagonist Sam, and Mads Mikkelsen (Casino Royale, Hannibal) as a bizarre unnamed antagonist. Oscar-winning director Guillermo del Toro will contribute his likeness to another unnamed character. In addition, voice actors Troy Baker and Emily O'Brien are confirmed to appear.
Death Stranding is being made with the DECIMA engine, the same game engine used to make Horizon Zero Dawn. Kojima has stated that it will be an action game set in an open world with multiplayer functionality. According to Kojima, the game aims to eschew some of gaming's most time-honored traditions--in this case the mechanics that dictate life and death. When Sam dies, you're sent to an upside-down world submerged in water that you can explore in first-person. But once you return to the world of the living, anything you've done or any damage you've caused in the world persists.
Another major mechanic in Death Stranding involves a type of rain known as "Timefall." This substance has the ability to age or deteriorate whatever it hits. It's likely the reason why the characters in the third teaser trailer are wearing hoods, and why the one who isn't ages rapidly--and quite painfully--in a matter of seconds.
Of course, the most bizarre aspect of every Death Stranding trailer is the baby that Sam and others can be seen holding. Kojima has confirmed that this mysterious infant is more than just a plot device, and that it actually relates to the game's narrative and gameplay mechanics.
What's Confirmed For E3?
Sony has confirmed that it'll discuss Death Stranding in detail at its E3 2018 press conference. It's one of the four games the company had stated it'll be showcasing in-depth at this year's show. According to a recent post on Kojima's Twitter account, it also appears that he's creating another big trailer for the game. In addition, he shared an cryptic image of the game--likely a shot from the trailer.
What We Hope To See At E3
Three trailers in and we're pretty desperate to hear more about what Death Stranding is actually about. So far we've only gotten vague details about the story and how it'll play. While the surreal imagery from the previous footage has piqued our curiosity, we can't imagine that another teaser like that will do Death Stranding any favors--lest it wants to turn out like No Man's Sky, in the sense that intrigue can only take a game so far; we want something more substantial.
We're hoping that Kojima will take to the stage at this year's Sony press conference to go into explicit detail about what you'll be doing in Death Stranding, as well as show off actual gameplay footage. We'd love to see an in-depth demonstration of the life and death mechanic that Kojima discussed late-last year. At the very least, we want to get a sense of how it'll feel to play the game, as well as what its combat and UI looks like.
Aside from gameplay, it would be great to see more story and characters. It's doubtful that Death Stranding's star-studded cast stops at Reedus and Mikkelsen. We'd love to see the presence of other high-profile actors. Rumors and theories have circulated suggesting that Emma Stone, Diane Kruger, Kevin Durand, and even Idris Elba could potentially join the cast. However, none of this has been confirmed and is mostly based on hearsay. Regardless, the possibility of more big-name actors and actresses potentially being in Death Stranding has us excited.
Death Stranding has garnered massive interest due to the sense of mystery that veils its story and gameplay. We're hoping that Kojima and Sony will at least provide some answers to the questions its initial trailers gave us.
There's a lot of excitement around Anthem leading into E3 2018 since it's BioWare's next big project and new IP. Expectations are high given this is a franchise debut from the same studio that brought us a slew of iconic RPGs: Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, Mass Effect, and Baldur's Gate to name a few. To prepare you for what's ahead, here's what we know about Anthem, as well as what we're hoping to see from it at this year's E3.
What We Know So Far
Currently, we know that Anthem isn't going to be structured like the developer's previous story-based RPGs and instead will take on qualities of loot-based online shooters, like Destiny and The Division. However, BioWare boss Casey Hudson said the game "will feel very distinctly BioWare" and is more accurately described as "science-fantasy." While the initial reveal at E3 2017 kicked off with a few minutes of narrative and world-building, it quickly delved into a two-player co-operative PvE gameplay sequence where you fight robotic enemies and wildlife both big and small. Towards the end of the reveal trailer, a shaper storm (where weather turned hostile) formed and two additional players jumped in making a party of four. It has also been confirmed that the game will still be playable on your own.
When it comes to the world of Anthem, we understand that players belong to a faction of operatives known as freelancers who don mechanized suits called javelins--think the Fallout power armor, but much more flexible and with jetpacks. The first descent into a lush, tropical environment showed off the versatility of movement with the player weaving through the terrain. In combat, we saw the javelin suit capable of a lock-on rocket barrage--one of the abilities on cooldown at the bottom of the HUD. And we witnessed a co-op partner execute a sort of ground pound ability for area-of-effect damage.
Given the style Anthem is going for, loot will be the centerpiece for equipment, which we had a glimpse of in last year's reveal; a level 35 legendary volt rifle called Jarra's Wrath was a reward at the end of big firefight. Based on information shown on-screen during the reveal, weapons will have specific statistics like range, damage, accuracy, rate of fire, and ammo count.
BioWare stated that it's solely focused on development for Anthem after making it clear that Mass Effect: Andromeda will not have new content or story-based DLC. Despite the all-hands-on-deck approach, Anthem was delayed from its initial Fall 2018 release window to sometime in Early 2019. As with many EA-published games, there will be a period in which subscribers to EA/Origin Access can play the game ahead of its full launch date. EA CEO Andrew Wilson also stated, "Anthem is a fundamentally social experience, and we will open new ways for fans to join the community and play early, enabling us to shape and refine the game with their input and feedback." This could imply a beta period, which is common for multiplayer-centric games. If anything, EA is anticipating continually tweaking the game with post-release updates and content.
Even though it was specifically showcased during Microsoft's E3 press conference last year, Anthem will release for PS4, Xbox One, and PC. Oh yeah, and there was a sweet trailer where game director Jon Warner takes us to a corn maze.
What's Confirmed For E3?
Anthem will be heavily featured at EA Play, which is EA's own off-site E3 event that runs from June 9 to June 11. Alongside the upcoming Battlefield V, Anthem is one of the focal points according to publisher. It hasn't been confirmed if the game will be playable to those who attend, but EA said it'll offer a closer look at the game. And even though Anthem was revealed during Microsoft's stage show in 2017, it's unclear if it'll be part of the Xbox showcase again this year.
What We Hope To See At E3
With this being a new BioWare IP, we hope to see how the developer's knack for storytelling is woven into a multiplayer experience. This could come in many forms; perhaps some backstory to accompany playable sections or a more in-depth showcase of the world that the freelancers inhabit. What exactly is it they're fighting for? What is the prevailing force behind its hostile world? BioWare isn't a stranger to this given its work on the MMORPG Star Wars: The Old Republic, but it's a whole other challenge when building a franchise from scratch.
Another important aspect we hope to be addressed is the depth and breadth of content that makes up Anthem. That's to say, we hope the game is taking note of where Destiny 2 falls short. It's fair to say that many players are concerned about having meaningful goals to work towards. Almost anyone going into E3 with Anthem excitement wants to know about quest structure, mission types, how progression works, and how it can be more than just compilation of combat sequences. It'd also be nice to know about the loot system and what types of weapons or javelin modifications we can mess with. It appears that javelin suits come with their own set of powers and could be a factor in making combat more complex. The teaser trailer focused a great deal on these suits, which has us thinking that Anthem's progression system is centered around building these suits and customizing their capabilities. We'd love for BioWare to unpack what javelin suits can do seeing as their abilities affect both combat and traversal.
We had a taste of Anthem's world in E3 2017, and its scale, verticality, and varied terrain certainly caught our eye. The ability to fly through the sky and take huge leaps across the environment has piqued our interest, but we want BioWare to tell us more about what there is to see on the other end.
The setting is the Pacific Northwest. Freakers are on the loose. A biker gang rides on at the end of the world. This is Days Gone, the latest game from Sony's Bend Studio, the team behind the Syphon Filter series and the handheld Resistance and Uncharted games. But Days Gone is bigger than anything Bend has done before. It's an ambitious, open-world game in which you can travel vast distances while being stalked by hordes of zombie-like enemies. Here's what we know about Days Gone, along with what want to see at E3 2018.
What We Know So Far
Our first glimpse of Days Gone came during Sony's press conference at E3 2016. Sony showed an announce trailer and a gameplay demo that set viewers' expectations for a somber game about a bounty-hunting biker named Deacon St. John, who travels through a broken world after civilization has come to an end.
What caused the apocalypse is a mystery, though it probably has to do with some kind of pandemic or contagion. Though the enemies sure look and act like zombies, the developers swear up and down they aren't--they're Freakers, humans and animals that have become mindless and violent. They lust for blood and have a tendency to group together in fast-moving hordes, like the zombies in World War Z.
Though it was originally set to release in 2018, but it was delayed to 2019. Sony recently announced in June that Days Gone is set to release on February 22, 2019.
What's Confirmed For E3?
Nothing at the moment. We know Sony's presentation is set for June 11 at 6 PM PT / 9 PM ET / 2 AM (June 12) BST. While speaking on the PlayStation Blogcast, chairman of Sony Interactive Entertainment Worldwide Studios Shawn Layden said the presentation will offer "exclusive looks and deep dives on four" upcoming titles: Death Stranding, Ghost of Tsushima, Spider-Man, and The Last of Us Part II.
Notice there's no mention of Days Gone. It will probably still appear in some form or other at E3, but we currently have no promises from Sony.
What We Hope To See At E3
Sony is pitching Days Gone as a story-driven game, with a heavy emphasis on the "golden path" rather than on dozens of side quests like some other open-world games throw at you. With that in mind, it would be great if we could get a better idea of what the plot of this game is. What is Deacon trying to do in this ruined world?
There's been a lot of talk about "zombie fatigue" in the run-up to Days Gone. While the developers have sworn up and down that Freakers are distinct from zombies, it's on them to convince us of why we want to play yet another game with zombie-like enemies.
On the subject of wondering why we should care, it's important to note Bend Studio hasn't released a game since 2012's Vita card game Uncharted: Fight for Fortune. Prior to that, the developer worked on four games for PSP and PS Vita. They were fine games, but they were significantly smaller in scale than a massive open-world game like Days Gone. Can Bend Studio pull off a game like this? It looks good in trailers and demos, but let's hope Bend does more at E3 2018 to convince us we want to play this game.
Treyarch is planning some interesting changes to the familiar Call of Duty formula with Black Ops 4. While every game in the long-running FPS series has had their own spin on things over the years, this year's game is looking to buck some trends that has already made the community stand up and take notice. There was a lot to take in from the May 17 reveal event, so here's a more detailed breakdown of what's coming up for Blacks Ops 4, and we want to see at E3 2018.
What We Know So Far
For starters, the long-rumored removal of the traditional single-player campaign turned out to be true. In its place are a series of solo missions set between Black Ops 2 and 3 centering around the game's Specialist characters. These Specialists also make an appearance in the multiplayer mode, where they have a more tactical purpose than in Black Ops 3. While Treyarch's previous game featured a number of acrobatic moments of finesse and speed, the next game in the sub-series is much more grounded, opting for a more tactical approach focusing more on maintaining flow of combat. Moreover, Black Ops 4 also introduces some hero-shooter elements by placing a greater emphasis on the Specialist characters and their gear sets, requiring players to be more mindful who they pick and how they can fit into the makeup of the current team.
Moving on to the Zombies mode, which is celebrating its tenth anniversary this year, Treyarch is expanding on the horde-based shooter with even more weirdness. Set on three distinct maps; an Ancient Roman gladiator arena of The IX, the sinking Titanic in Voyage of Despair, and a remake of past Zombies maps in Blood of the Dead--featuring the original Zombies mode cast--there are plans to offer more variety in the off-the-wall game mode. Added to this are several customizable options and gametypes which can add buffs to zombies and player-characters, timed challenges on the global leaderboards, and for the first time in series history, bot support.
However, the biggest addition to Black Ops 4 is the brand new battle royale mode known as Blackout. It's described as something of a celebration of the Black Ops series where you can play as characters from the previous games and use any weapon throughout the Black Ops series--including the exploding RC car. In familiar battle royale style, you'll have to fight against others online to be the last person standing. Treyarch has not revealed the number of players in each Blackout match.
What's Confirmed For E3
Activision is confirmed to make an appearance at E3 2018, showcasing both Destiny 2 and Black Ops 4. While they've been tight-lipped about what exactly they'll be showing at E3, we can expect to see more footage of the multiplayer mode based on their presence in previous years. it's fair to say that the game's multiplayer mode will be the focus, which should have stations set up for fans to play on the show floor.
What We Want To See At E3
While Treyarch revealed a great deal about the game during the May 17 event, we're in the dark about certain key details about the game. One big concern is the lack of a traditional COD campaign, which has been a hallmark of the series since its debut. If Treyarch is able to showcase the best of what solo missions can offer, it would go a long way to assuage community concerns. Call of Duty by tradition has always had a solid story campaign for players to dive into, which often offers the context for the setting of the core game and its multiplayer mode. While solo missions would be different from how the previous campaigns did things, potentially they can offer fans a quick way to experience a COD-style campaign with their favorite characters.
We'll likely see plenty of the multiplayer at E3 for Call of Duty: Black Ops 4, but one thing that would be great to see is what the game will look like in the hands of skilled players. League play will make a return in the Black Ops 4, and seeing the game in action with some of the world's best players would be a solid way to reintroduce high-level play for the general audience. Since combat is tactical and emphasizes more teamwork this time around, having fans experience what top-tier Black Ops 4 gameplay looks like can go a long way in showcasing the new systems at work. It would also be a good opportunity to show how to utilize Specialist abilities effectively, while also being quite entertaining to watch.
During the reveal event, Treyarch also announced the upcoming beta later this year. E3 is a great place to reveal the date of the beta as well as what will be available for players to dive into. While the contents of the beta will most likely be focused on traditional multiplayer, it would be an exciting announcement at E3 to have the Blackout mode also playable in the beta. When you announce a new battle royale game, you're already going up against some of the biggest games in the industry. So Black Ops 4 will need to showcase something very special for Blackout if it wants to stand up against the likes of Fortnite and PUBG.
E3 promises to bring news on lots of big games, and Nintendo's Super Smash Bros. for Switch is unquestionably one of the show's most anticipated titles. Nintendo has already said the fighting game will be the focus of its overall showing this year, so you can expect a lot of news and reveals during the event. In this feature we're rounding up important details about the game like what we know about it so far, what's confirmed for E3, and what we hope to see from the game at the show. Here we go!
What We Know So Far
During a Nintendo Direct in March, Nintendo officially announced a new Super Smash Bros. game for Nintendo Switch. Revealed by way of a really cool teaser trailer, the game is due to launch on Switch in 2018, though a specific date hasn't been revealed yet. The announcement video showed Inklings from the Splatoon series (who will apparently make their Smash debut with the new game), along with expected characters like Mario and Link.
The video also showed the silhouettes of characters like Samus, Donkey Kong, and Bowser, along with many others. The game, like all other Switch games, will be playable on your home TV or on the go via the tablet screen, allowing you to "settle it in Smash" wherever you are.
The last Smash Bros. game was released in 2014 for Nintendo Wii U and 3DS. It was a massive commercial success, selling more than 14 million units between both editions, while critics generally enjoyed the mascot fighting game as well.
What's Confirmed For E3
The new Super Smash Bros. for Switch is definitely going to show up during Nintendo E3 2018 pre-recorded briefing on June 12. And after that, you can expect Nintendo to share even more details about the fighting game during the Nintendo Treehouse livestream event. Presumably developers will stop by to show off the game and discuss it at length.
Given that we know almost nothing about the new Super Smash Bros. for Switch outside of the fact that it exists, E3 is poised to be a huge show for the game. We hope to see lots of gameplay and character reveals (here are our own predictions), along with details about whether or not it is a port of the Wii U edition as some are speculating that it may be. One possibility is that Nintendo goes the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe route and takes the Wii U Smash game but also packages in more characters, arenas, and other features. If Nintendo goes down this path, the Smash community's legions of dedicated fans will want to see lots of extra content and special features packed in to make the upgrade worthwhile. Nintendo could also wow fans and confirm the new Smash is a brand-new title built from the ground up for Nintendo Switch. We'll have to wait find out for sure.
If the new Smash launches after September (which it probably will), it may be one of the titles that requires a Nintendo Switch Online membership, and hopefully Nintendo clarifies how that all works regarding what content/features are behind a pay-gate and what's not. Given Nintendo's increased focus on DLC these days, Nintendo could also surprise and excite fans by announcing extra-content plans for the game, whether that comes in the form of extra characters or stages, or things like cosmetics. That being said, fans will be looking for any potential DLC announcements to stay on the player-friendly side and not wade into the microtransaction/pay-to-win category.
Another exciting thing to think about for the new Smash is guest characters. Nintendo's existing partnership with Microsoft for Minecraft cross-play, it would also be really cool to see a Microsoft character come to Smash Bros. for the first time. Even Phil Spencer is up for bringing Banjo and Kazooie to Smash, so we hope to see it happen.
Smash is a big-time competitive game, so we also hope to learn more about Nintendo's ambitions to help the game appeal to fighting game fans. Super Smash Bros. Melee for GameCube remains the gold standard for some in the fighting game community, and it will be interesting to see what tricks Nintendo has up its sleeve to push the new Smash as an eSport title.
After a retailer leak and a series of teaser images, we finally got confirmation that Rage 2 is real. Bethesda released a live-action reveal trailer that set the tone for the game and a follow-up gameplay trailer that gave us a glimpse at some in-engine action. Senior vice president of Bethesda Pete Hines has confirmed that we'll find out even more about the game at E3, so in preparation for that, here's a wrap-up of everything we know so far and what we want to see more of when June rolls around.
What We Know So Far
Rage 2 is a collaboration between two major studios. The first is, naturally, id Software, the developer of 2016's fantastic Doom reboot as well as the first Rage game. The second is Avalanche Studios, which came as a surprise. Avalanche is famously known for the Just Cause series, dense open-world games with an emphasis on non-linear exploration as well as joyful traversal and creative destruction. Avalanche was also responsible for the 2015 Mad Max game, another open-world title based on the film series of the same name with a focus on melee and vehicular combat.
We know that Rage 2 will be running on Avalanche's APEX engine, which powers Just Cause and Mad Max, so we can expect the open-world elements of previous Avalanche games to be a significant facet of Rage 2. Vehicular combat is something we saw a lot of in the debut gameplay trailer, and we know from the game's official website that we'll get to drive a variety of vehicles ranging from monster trucks to gyrocopters.
The same trailer also showed us a variety of environments--sprawling deserts, dense forests, and industrial wastelands. Hopefully, this translates to a large and diverse open world that builds on some of the environmental features seen in Mad Max, like its impressive weather effects. Bethesda has confirmed that Rage 2's world is filled with many competing factions, reminiscent of Just Cause 2, and hopefully means that progression will be flexible and player-driven.
But we also saw a lot of fast-paced first-person shooting, which is where id Software is likely to incorporate a lot of the design ideas that made Doom such a joy to play. We got a glimpse of some extreme scenarios in the gameplay trailer, like juggling an enemy in the air with gunfire, which hints at some creativity and rule-bending when it comes to combat, hopefully in the vein of the playful FPS Bulletstorm. Regarding mechanics, we know that weapons will be upgradable, and there will be an Overdrive system that allows you to "push your guns beyond their mechanical limits". The concept of Nanotrite powers also returns from the first Rage, which suggests a variety of combat aids like temporary buffs, automated sentry tools, and ammo types.
Pre-order bonuses have already been confirmed and will include an exclusive mission called "Cult of the Death God" as well as an exclusive pistol, armor, and monster truck. We gather that Bethesda probably has a post-launch plan in place already. Bethesda has also stated that the game is coming in Spring 2019.
What's Confirmed For E3?
Bethesda has confirmed that it will be talking more about Rage 2 at E3 2018, and it will almost certainly make an appearance at the publisher's press conference on June 10 at 6:30 PM PT.
What We Hope To See At E3
Bethesda's press conferences have traditionally clocked in at under an hour, and Pete Hines has said that this year's runtime definitely won't be over three hours. It's unlikely that we'll get a live gameplay demo, but we'll probably get an in-depth presentation about the game's world, systems and mechanics, and a new trailer that reinforces all the new information we learn.
But it's also likely that the game is going to be playable on the show floor, and what we're hoping to see is a significant portion of the game's open world to be available for play. We want to be able to see how the different biomes flow into each other and what kind of random encounters and events you might be able to stumble upon and become involved with naturally. We want to see how progression works and just how flexible you can be. Is it going to stick to a more rigid structure of handing out a selection of quests for different factions, or is it going down the Far Cry 5 route of letting missions naturally reveal themselves as you explore the world? Just how much of Just Cause and Mad Max will we see in Rage 2?
Vehicle customization is also a big feature we want to learn more about. We want to get a taste of the variety of vehicles the levels to which you can customize them. How distinctly you can alter the vehicle's driving behavior, how varied the combat and utility options are, and how traversing the world by air or land changes your experience. And can we know a bit more about that towering mech in the trailer? Can we drive it and play Rage as a post-apocalyptic Mechwarrior game?
Finally, we want to see if the punk-rock party atmosphere of the game's first two trailers is going to be a major element of the actual game. Neon colors, fun-loving characters, and a party vibe brought the mood up for the reveal, and we're hoping to learn if that tone remains consistent when playing Rage 2. We also want to see Andrew W.K. perform live at the Bethesda press conference and announcing that he's in charge of the game's score. That would make us very happy.
One of Microsoft's biggest Xbox One console exclusives is Crackdown 3, a game that's been in a weird place for years now. Following repeated delays, the latest we've heard officially is that it's due out in 2018, which would surely mean an update at E3 2018 is about to happen. Alongside whatever surprises Microsoft may have in store for its press conference, here's what we're hoping to see from Crackdown 3 as well as what we already know about the game.
What We Know So Far
Crackdown 3 was first announced back at E3 2014, a full four years ago. Little was revealed at the time except to say it would have a co-op campaign, online multiplayer, and stylized visuals like its predecessors. The only other feature that was touted was destructible environments. Soon after, we found out that an impressive tech demo for cloud-based destruction we had seen earlier in the year was related to the project.
Microsoft claimed the new game wouldn't be called Crackdown 3, though plans have since changed on that front. In terms of co-op, it was described as a "mash-up" with single-player where friends can jump in and out of sessions. Beyond that, little was heard from the game for the next year; Microsoft said it would stay hidden until 2015, although it then missed E3 2015, too.
Later that summer, we heard the game's environments would be 100% destructible--but that destruction would be restricted to multiplayer, due to the need to connect to the internet for the cloud-based tech to work. That news coincided with some other reveals: Crackdown 3 would feature an all-new city, the ability to play as a female character, and the multiplayer component would be playable by Summer 2016.
Early 2016 brought more looks at the game's destruction, but E3 2016 didn't feature the game at all, as we learned it had been delayed until 2017. Microsoft initially claimed that's because it had enough games releasing in 2016, though we also later heard the single-player campaign needed work. It then vowed the game was due out by Holiday 2017, only for it to be delayed yet again--this time to Spring 2018--prompting Microsoft to admit it had been announced too early. Last year did bring some new looks at the game, including the character played by Terry Crews, Commander Jaxon.
What's Confirmed For E3?
Microsoft has been quite secretive about its plans for E3, so we don't know what to expect from Crackdown 3. The game is still tentatively slated for release this year, though that was called into question recently when some pre-orders began being canceled. This turned out to only be a retailer error, with Microsoft saying the development team "continues to work hard." Since then, the game is rumored to have been delayed until 2019, according to Kotaku, which could mean we don't see it at E3 at all.
What We Hope To See At E3
After so many delays, just seeing Crackdown 3 in a playable state, with some reassurance about its release date, is the most important thing. Announced too early or not, it's hard to blame those who are worried about the state of the game.
Getting a look at the destruction, and seeing that it will live up the expectations built up over the past few years, would also be welcome. The same could be said for some explanation of how destruction will actually impact the game--does it play any meaningful role in gameplay, or is it just something cool that happens?
On a similar note, Microsoft needs to show how Crackdown 3 meaningfully improves upon its predecessors in other ways. Crackdown 2 did little to expand on the delightful formula established in the original game. Particularly in terms of objectives, we're hoping Crackdown 3 brings more variety to the table. Saints Row IV is one of the few games in recent years to make an attempt at offering a game like Crackdown, and while it has its faults, it did feel like a far more varied experience than the Crackdown games thanks to its story missions and variety of powers.
This is not to say the core of Crackdown should change. Taking down enemies by throwing cars at them, leaping over buildings, and hunting down orbs (the sound effect--one of gaming's best--needs to remain unchanged) is still a pleasant experience even a decade on. But having a larger, more dense world that offers more than just "go here and kill enemy or collect object" will be necessary for Crackdown 3 to be a real hit in 2018 (or whenever it ends up releasing).
Hitman 2 is official; publisher Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment revealed the game during a pre-E3 stream on its site. We've learned a few details about the game. It will be a direct sequel to Hitman, but unlike the previous title, which featured regular updates to its story via live content, Hitman 2's story will be revealed all at once on the day of launch (though there will still be some additional DLC released over time). Check out the reveal trailer in the video above.
Hitman 2 will feature "hyper-detailed sandboxes full of living, breathing environments." During the reveal stream, its developers hinted that interacting with environments and objects would play a bigger role and "everything in the environment can be deadly." It features multiple international locations, but it will highlight Miami and an in-progress motorsport race that form a key part of the game's story.
For the first time, this Hitman game will be a direct follow up to the previous one. The story will delve deeper into Agent 47's past, and get closer to Agent 47 and Diana's story than before. You embark on a mission to hunt the Shadow Client and unravel his militia for good, but after revelations about Agent 47, "nothing will ever be the same."
Hitman 2 will also bring co-op to the game. Sniper Assassin mode allows you to jump into the Hitman series with another player and work together to take down targets. The mode can also be played by a single player and is available now for those who pre-order the standard, Gold, or Collector's editions of Hitman 2. Get a look at Sniper Assassin mode in action in this video.
The game releases on PS4, Xbox One, and PC on November 13. Standard and Gold editions of the game are available for pre-order now, with the Collection's Edition coming soon. For more of the latest news and updates, follow GameSpot's full E3 2018 coverage.
E3 2018 is almost upon us, and with it comes a wide array of press briefings. This year a new publisher is entering the mix, as Square Enix has announced its very own presentation to highlight its upcoming library. Among those are franchise heavy hitters like Kingdom Hearts 3 and Shadow of the Tomb Raider.
We're hosting the livestream of the event here on GameSpot, but if you can't watch it for yourself, you can follow this liveblog instead. We'll make sure you're kept up-to-the-minute on all the big reveals and announcements, along with anything else Square Enix talks about.
Square Enix's presentation starts on Monday, June 11 at 10 AM PT / 1 PM ET. Come right back here at that time to follow along with our liveblog to get all the latest news from Square Enix. Once the show is finished, we'll also be rounding up all the news stories in one place for your reading convenience. Check out the full conference schedule to plan out when to check in for our other livestreams and liveblogs.
While we patiently wait, check out all we know about some of Square's biggest games.
All three games are currently on sale on the Xbox marketplace for Xbox Live Gold members. So if you've been looking for an excuse to buy any of these games, there's no better time like the present. Both San Andreas and Midnight Club have a 35% discount and Table Tennis is 60% off.
Red Dead Redemption is also on sale with a 67% discount. The game is already Xbox One backwards compatible. It might be a good time to pick up this classic before playing its sequel later this year.
Once a game is on the backwards compatibility list, it stays there for good. However, these discounts are only available until Tuesday, June 12. If you want to take advantage of any of them, act now.
Bethesda's E3 2018 briefing kicks off on Sunday, marking the third such presentation in a weekend chock full of them. We know that Rage 2 and Fallout 76 are on the docket. Both were announced just weeks before E3 and so far have been kept largely mysterious. Bethesda has promised its biggest showcase ever, though, so we expect to see more surprises in store.
We're hosting the livestream on GameSpot, but if you can't watch that you can follow along with all the news here on our liveblog. We'll keep you posted on all the big announcements and trailers as they're happening.
The Bethesda showcase starts at 6:30 PM PT / 9:30 PM ET on Sunday, June 10. Stop by then to follow along with the liveblog. If you miss out, we'll have a roundup summarizing all the announcements in one place to catch you up.
Until then, take a look at GameSpot's breakdowns of the two games we know for certain will be there: Rage 2 and Fallout 76.
Valve no longer has to make difficult decisions in regards to which games go live on Steam. In a blog post, Valve's Erik Johnson wrote that, from now on, Valve would simply let everything go live with the exception of "things that we decide are illegal, or straight up trolling."
Valve recently endured a significant amount of backlash for removing a large number of visual novels from Steam's library after Valve's new guidelines relabeled quite a few games as adult content. The company is probably taking this position in response to that controversy.
The wording Johnson uses implies Valve wants to maintain a certain amount of distance when it comes to the content of Steam's game catalogue. For example, Johnson writes that "if we allow your game onto the Store, it does not mean we approve or agree with anything you're trying to say with it." So if a player accidentally stumbles upon something triggering, they can't accuse Valve of supporting racist, sexist, or other discriminatory ideologies.
However, Valve can still bite back against developers or businesses that refuse to work within Valve's guidelines. "Our current thinking is that we're going to push developers to further disclose any potentially problematic content in their games during the submission process, and cease doing business with any of them that refuse to do so honestly," Johnson wrote. "We'll still continue to perform technical evaluations of submissions, rejecting games that don't pass until their issues have been resolved."
Johnson did not disclose what would constitute "problematic content," nor when Valve would start implementing these changes in Steam's submission process.
Creatures, Inc. is an often-overlooked arm of the Pokemon machine. The developer has worked on spin-off Pokemon games for years, starting with Pokemon Stadium in 1998 and most recently Detective Pikachu--as well as 3D Pokemon models for various games, including Super Smash Bros. But the company is also responsible for much of the Pokemon Trading Card Game, which consistently sees new series and expansions after over 20 years.
We recently had a chance to tour Creatures Inc.'s Tokyo, Japan office to learn about the process of creating Pokemon cards. During our tour, we spoke to Atsushi Nagashima, game director for the TCG, and Mitsuhiro Arita, a longtime freelance illustrator responsible for over 500 Pokemon cards--including the infamous holographic Charizard card--about how cards are conceived and then illustrated. We also talked to Satoru Inoue, the test room lead at Creatures, about how cards are playtested and how balance problems and broken cards are addressed by the team.
There are three main parts to making a new Pokemon card: coming up with the idea for the card, commissioning art, and testing the card with the current TCG rules. This involves a team of game designers, over 70 artists, and 19 playtesters working full time to create and execute new card series and expansions.
Step One: Pick A Pokemon
According to Nagashima, the most important thing when coming up with a new set of cards is variety. There needs to be a mix of art styles and types of cards; some need to have strong competitive potential, while others need to be appealing to collectors. But the first step to creating a new set is deciding which Pokemon to use.
"Near the beginning of a new series [based on the latest video games], we really try to take care to stay true to the video games that we're basing the card series on--for example, the Pokemon that were featured heavily in that video game or had a big role in the story, we'll make sure they're kind of at the center of the set we're making," Nagashima said. "But once we're kind of mid-way through the series, we start focusing more on play environment overall…and decide which Pokemon to put in based on that."
A lot of those choices come down to what the game needs to feel more balanced and what Pokemon suit those needs, Nagashima said. But the team also considers which Pokemon don't get a lot of love in the games or anime, the ones kids might find cool, or even Pokemon they themselves like.
"One of my favorites is Darkrai, and I think you'll notice that there's a lot of strong Darkrai cards," he said, laughing.
Nagashima at the Creatures office.
There are also background stories and themes for each expansion, though that's not really communicated to players. "In the [XY Breakthrough expansion], the theme we had for that was two parallel worlds. They both featured Mewtwo, so there was a Mewtwo that was in this advanced world...and there was a Mewtwo that was more old-fashioned," Nagashima explained. "These two parallel worlds collide and then the world goes into chaos and is destroyed as a result of that."
According to Nagashima, one of the team's biggest challenges is maintaining the spirit of certain characters and Pokemon while putting their own spin on things. Because the card game is closely tied to the video game, it can also be tricky to translate certain game mechanics into ones that work in the TCG--like Mega Evolution, for example.
"In the trading card game, you have your basic [Pokemon]. You evolve it to Stage 1 and [then Stage 2], so there are two steps to get to your final evolution in general. If we added another step on top of that, you just wouldn't have enough room in your 60-card deck to really make that feasible," Nagashima said. "So we took the approach of only having Mega Evolutions for cards that were already really strong--so there was already an EX card and then that would evolve to the Mega-EX. We tried to reduce the number of steps in that way."
Ultimately, Nagashima says, the TCG team is always trying to keep things fresh and varied while still paying attention to the competitive meta, and it's a complex balancing act even from the beginning.
Step Two: Illustrations
Once the team has decided on the kind of card they need and who (or what) will be on it, it's time to get the art process started. Creatures currently works with 73 different illustrators and artists to ensure sets are varied. One of the most prolific of them is Mitsuhiro Arita, who's been working on the TCG since the beginning and has illustrated 537 cards to date.
Above: Arita at the Creatures office. Slideshow: Mewtwo-GX, Giovanni's Scheme, and the Lurantis card, all mentioned below.
Arita showed us his workspace at the Creatures office, part of a pod of desks set up for freelance artists to work on confidential designs. Each desk is configured based on the artists' home offices, usually with tablets for digital art and coloring. He walked us through his illustration process for a recent Lurantis card, paying special attention to dynamic shading and bright background colors to capture the spirit of the Pokemon.
Creatures sends the artists details about the card: what the Pokemon is, the kinds of moves it will have, and any important background information, especially when the Pokemon in question is in a game that hasn't come out yet. This also applies to Trainer cards, and even the vaguest instructions influence the art; for example, Arita received instructions for a Giovanni card with an "imposing" feel, so he gave it a more classical painting style rather than a cartoony one. For holographic cards, Arita will usually specify which parts of his art should shimmer, though the final holo design is a collaboration with Creatures staff.
In the Red and Green days, Arita and the other artists only had the in-game sprites and limited official artwork to work off of when creating cards. Still, he's responsible for some of the most iconic cards from the original series, including holographic Charizard and the original fat Pikachu. In a binder filled with all his designs so far, the first few pages could have been any Pokemon-obsessed kid's collection in the late '90s.
"Specifically this Charizard and that Pikachu are some of the most memorable cards for I think a lot of people who played the game originally, and I always thought that I'd probably never be able to draw cards that people would like better than those two," Arita said. But a Mewtwo-GX card he recently designed is his new favorite, and he says he's been getting good feedback on it.
Unexpectedly, the same artist is unlikely to work on every Pokemon in an evolutionary line. In the original card series, Arita illustrated Bulbasaur and Venusaur but not Ivysaur (which was done by Pokemon artist Ken Sugimori). While there are some cases where a consistent style is called for across an evolutionary line--like these adorable Tepig family cards--they're usually usually split up between artists, presumably for variety or time efficiency.
Efficiency especially is key, since many of the cards go into the testing phase even before the art is finished.
Step Three: Full-Time Playtesting
At Creatures, there's a special room dedicated to testing the card game. It's in the back of the small office, and it's filled only with tables, chairs, and drawers upon drawers filled with years of Pokemon cards. Seven hours a day, five days a week, 19 playtesters play the TCG to see how new cards fare. (The odd number doesn't seem to be a problem, apparently.)
Because they're mostly testing cards that haven't been released yet, the playtesters have to work with what they have. Work-in-progress cards are actually stickers put on old cards so they can still be played in normal decks; if the illustrations aren't finalized, these stickers will use generic art of the Pokemon (or whatever the card subject is) with the complete moves, name of the card, and suggested effects, HP, and damage.
According to test room lead Satoru Inoue, those smaller adjustments happen "extremely often," while they'll usually see at most two or three drastic revisions before cards are finalized. Nagashima noted that competitive players will sometimes use released cards in completely unexpected ways, in which case the card has to be banned--he specifically called out Lysandre's Trump Card, which was banned in 2015 for making games severely imbalanced.
Even with all the playtesting, competitive players regularly surprise the team. Nagashima cited Shintaro Ito's Mega Audino deck, which won him the 2016 Pokemon World Championships in the Masters Division, as a recent example--he didn't expect the card to be nearly as viable as it was.
Inoue, Nagashima, and Arita in the Creatures lobby.
Nagashima's favorite strategy, though, is one he himself was heavily involved in designing: the infamous Night March deck, which dominated much of the competitive scene in 2016 and won the US Nationals that year.
"I was only making it with the assumption that it would maybe make it to the finals, but not take the entire thing!"
Walking back through the office at the end of the tour, nearly every desk is filled with Pokemon toys and merch. It's very clear: From the design and art to the test room, the most important thing for Creatures' TCG team is loving Pokemon.
At this point it's no surprise when publisher 2K reveals a new annual installment of the official NBA basketball video game. NBA 2K19 is slated to come out for PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC on September 11, 2018, but you can pre-order a copy now.
The cover athlete for this year's special 20th Anniversary Edition is the Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James, who also appeared on the cover of NBA 2K14. The 20th Anniversary Edition celebrates the series' two-decade history. The franchise began as a Sega Dreamcast launch title in 1999.
If you might be interested in pre-ordering NBA 2K19, keep on reading. We've rounded up all the information about what comes in each edition, what kinds of pre-order bonuses to expect, and where you can pre-order the game right now to secure your copy for this September.
Pre-Order NBA 2K19 Standard Edition
Pre-order NBA 2K19, and you'll receive "5,000 Virtual Currency, 10 MyTeam packs (delivered one a week), and more." It's unclear what "more" is referring to here, but if it's revealed later, we'll update the article.
If you pre-order NBA 2K19 20th Anniversary Edition, you'll get to play the game four days early, on September 7. This version of the game costs $40 more than the standard edition, so what do you get for that extra money? Here's a rundown.
100,000 Virtual Currency
50,000 MyTeam points
20 MyTeam League Packs (delivered one a week). Build your perfect fantasy team featuring a guaranteed Sapphire LeBron card and more.
10 MyTeam Heat Check Packs (delivered one a week beginning at the start of the NBA season)
The comic book TV landscape is about to get even more crowded with the premiere of Freeform's Cloak & Dagger. The series, based on a Marvel comic book of the same name, follows two teenagers that don't know each other but are linked by a mysterious power that brings them together.
It's entirely possible you aren't all that familiar with Cloak & Dagger. Though the characters have been in the Marvel universe since first debuting in a 1982 issue of Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man, they've yet to attain the kind of popularity Spider-Man, the Fantastic Four, and Captain America enjoy. Still, even Iron Man wasn't the mainstream favorite he is now before being adapted into a live-action movie. Perhaps this show will do that for Cloak & Dagger.
Before you dive into the TV series, though, GameSpot wants to get you caught up on who, exactly, Cloak and Dagger are. After all, though they've been around for over three decades, chances are you've never heard of them.
Who are these people?
Tyrone Johnson (Cloak) and Tandy Bowen (Dagger) are a pair of runaways that met in New York City--not to be confused with Marvel's Runaways, though they do have a connection to that story. They couldn't have been raised more different; Ty from a poor Boston neighborhood, Tandy from a privileged life in Ohio. Still, the two become fast friends and are ultimately taken captive by an evil chemist.
While being held captive, the chemist uses them as test subjects for a synthetic heroin he's developing. What he doesn't expect is it giving them superpowers. They get away and with their new abilities, become vigilantes.
Truth be told, their origin story in the comics is pretty severe. It should come as no surprise that the Freeform version of Cloak & Dagger is going to alter how, exactly, they get their powers--along with other aspects of the story. Thankfully, the characters remain largely the same, as do the superpowers. You just shouldn't expect to see a crazed scientist shooting them up with heroin.
What are their powers?
This is where things get bizarre. The two have different powers, for some reason. Tandy is able to emit daggers of light from her hands. In the comics, she can control where they are thrown, for the most part. It makes for a powerful weapon at her disposal. She also has the ability to purge a person of drugs and toxins using her "living light," which is made of her lifeforce.
Ty is connected to the Darkforce Dimension, another universe of energy that has popped up a number of times in the Marvel universe. For instance, X-Men member Nightcrawler uses the Darkforce Dimension as a means of teleportation. In the comics, Cloak has a similar ability and can also engulf those around him in Darkforce energy.
What's their comic book history?
As previously mentioned, the two characters first appeared in Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #64, which was released in 1982. It was a year later when they finally got their own four-issue limited series, before getting a regular bi-monthly comic in 1985.
From there, the duo appeared in a number of their own comics, as well as the Strange Tales series, which was shared with Doctor Strange. Cloak and Dagger have also appeared in a number of Marvel video games, and even the animated series Ultimate Spider-Man.
However, they never attained the mainstream popularity of a number of Marvel's characters--and never got a movie. However, that almost happened in 2006. Before the Marvel Cinematic Universe launches, Cloak & Dagger was one of the properties Paramount Pictures wanted to adapt into a live-action film. Sadly, that never came to pass.
Who is the big bad?
Cloak & Dagger isn't your typical comic book in that way. While they have gotten involved in bigger Marvel stories against more notable foes--including roles in the Civil War and Secret Invasion events--for the most part, they are street-level heroes. They fight for those in need around them, taking on drug dealers, gangs, and anyone who threatens those on the streets.
It seems as though the Freeform adaptation will be similar, as the two come up against street crime, social injustices, and other decidedly non-supervillain problems.
What other MCU characters do they connect to?
Everyone pretty much knows everyone in the Marvel universe. Cloak and Dagger have been affiliated with everyone from the Dark X-Men to the Secret Avengers during their three decades of history. However, it's the Runaways that pose the most interesting connection.
Cloak and Dagger had a comic book crossover with the Runaways that see them attempting to join forces to defeat the Pride--the chief antagonists of Runaways--that never quite came together. However, this could be something the MCU rectified.
It's not going to happen anytime soon, sadly. Speaking at the Television Critics Association press tour in July 2017, Marvel Television head Jeph Loeb made it clear he wants the show--and others in the MCU--to find their footing before worrying about crossovers. "You'll see things that comment on each other; we try to touch base wherever we can," he said of Runaways and Cloak & Dagger at the time (via THR). "It's very much like real life--things that are happening in L.A. are not exactly going to be affecting what's happening in New Orleans, or what's happening in New York isn't on the minds of everyone living in Chicago. It's being aware of it and trying to find a way for it to be able to discuss in a way that makes sense."
Cloak & Dagger premieres Thursday, June 7, at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Freeform.
The first trailer for the The Girl in the Spider's Web is here. It's the latest movie to focus on iconic hacker Lisbeth Salander, with The Crown star Claire Foy taking over the role last played by Rooney Mara in David Fincher's The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.
Despite the change of actress, the movie looks like it will be a similarly dark tale of crime and revenge. Salander is described as "the girl who hurts men who hurt women," and this first trailer gives us a brutal taste of what to expect when it arrives in November 9. Check it out above.
The Girl in the Spider's Web is directed by Fede Álvarez, who previously helmed 2016's horror hit Don't Breathe. The film also stars Lakeith Stanfield (Get Out), Stephen Merchant (Logan), Vicky Krieps (Phantom Thread), and Sylvia Hoeks (Blade Runner 2049). It hits theaters on November 9.
The movie is based on the 2015 novel by David Lagercrantz, which was a continuation of the Millennium trilogy created by the late Stieg Larsson. Fincher's 2011 adaptation of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo was not a commercial success, and plans to adapt the next two books went no further, leading to this reboot. There was also a successful Swedish adaptation of Larsson's trilogy, starring Noomi Rapace (Prometheus) as Salander.
E3 2018 is mere weeks away, which makes this prime time for rumors to take hold. Microsoft and the Xbox are especially rife with rumors, given that the company is keeping its plans so tightly under wraps. Unlike Sony which has already detailed its main focus and Nintendo which is sure to be featuring Smash Bros., we don't actually know much about what Microsoft has in store. This year, the Xbox is a black box.
That leaves plenty of room for rumor and speculation, so we've compiled some of the biggest rumors below. If you want to check out even more scuttlebutt leading up to E3, check out our full list of rumors. Or stay more grounded with our list of every confirmed Xbox game appearing at the show so far.
We'll know which of these rumors pan out once the press conferences debut. Microsoft's is scheduled for Sunday, June 10 at 1 PM PT / 4 PM ET. Bookmark our full conference schedule to plan all your viewing parties.
E3 2018 Rumors
Crackdown 3 Delayed
The oft-delayed open-world action game Crackdown 3 had been slated for release sometime in 2018, but it's reportedly been pushed back yet again. According to a report from Kotaku, it now won't launch until an unspecified point in 2019. As such, it's unclear how prominently it will be featured--if at all--during Microsoft's E3 press conference.
Hitman 2 Leaked
Publisher WB Games has teased an announcement of some sort is coming on June 7, ahead of E3. It doesn't provide any indication of what that will be for, but a teaser video shows a race car with the brand Hamsun on it--a reference to something from the first season of IO Interactive's Hitman. (IO and WB worked on a re-release of that game not long ago.) If that's not direct enough for you, a Reddit user discovered the source code for WB's website briefly hosted a link to an image file with a logo for something called Hitman 2. That seems pretty clear cut, but we should learn more on Thursday.
While 4chan leaks are not especially reliable, a photo has surfaced that may in fact be real. It shows names for a variety of Nintendo Switch games that will apparently be advertised around the E3 show floor. This includes already-confirmed games like Mario Tennis Aces, but it also shows Fortnite (which, as noted above, looks to be real), Paladins, and Overcooked 2. Whereas Fortnite and Paladins would be ports of existing games, Overcooked 2 has not yet been announced--and it's possible that it could also come to PC, PS4, and Xbox One in addition to Switch, if it is indeed real.
Assassin's Creed Odyssey
A new Assassin's Creed was among the games seemingly leaked by Walmart Canada. Although that retailer listing was very non-specific--it didn't include a subtitle or number--we've now heard what could be the title for such a game. According to JeuxVideo, which reportedly received a photo of a collectible keychain, the new game is called Assassin's Creed Odyssey. The keychain itself consists of a helmet resembling one from Ancient Greece, perhaps indicating that will be the setting for the new game.
Update: Ubisoft apparently didn't feel like having the rumors swirl until E3, so it's decided to confirm that Assassin's Creed Odyssey is real. It offered up a very brief, 300-ish clip and stated Odyssey is indeed the name, but beyond that, we'll have to wait for E3 for more details.
We know a new Borderlands is eventually coming, whether it's called Borderlands 3 or something else. Gearbox denies it'll be at E3, and publisher 2K recently delayed an unannounced game, which could be that Borderlands title. But it looks as if E3 might not be completely devoid of Borderlands news, as the Korean ratings board has listed Borderlands: Game of the Year Edition for PS4, Xbox One, and PC. While not official by any means, ratings board leaks are often a reliable source. Given the timing, we might just hear about this project at E3.
Gears Of War 5, New Assassin's Creed, Just Cause 4, And More
Many of the expectations for E3 2018 were set in one go. Retailers have been known to leak things from time to time, but Walmart's Canadian website seemed to potentially spoil quite a lot with a single leak. Listings for numerous unannounced games went online in May, including Rage 2, a new Assassin's Creed, Gears of War 5, Dragon Quest 2, and Just Cause 4.
The sheer number, combined with some typos--such as Forza "Horizons" 5, rather than what would be the series' next game, Forza Horizon 4--made it all seem unlikely. However, Bethesda had an unusual response to the whole situation, and soon after we learned that Rage 2 is real (and since then, Lego DC Super-Villains). Two games from this list turning out to be legitimate doesn't mean the others are anything but placeholders or errors, but it does lend some credence to the possibility of them being real.
A New Splinter Cell Will Be Revealed
Another game mentioned in the Walmart Canada leak was something simply titled Splinter Cell. This might also turn out to be nothing but a placeholder, but Ubisoft itself has certainly set fans up to expect some kind of news related to the franchise before long. Following Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot's comments last year, the company released a Splinter Cell-themed update for Ghost Recon Wildlands earlier this year. That not only set up the potential plot for a new Splinter Cell, but it marked the return of beloved Sam Fisher voice Michael Ironside--and it doesn't seem like a stretch to think Ubisoft brought him in for more than just a small cameo.
This is less a rumor and more speculation, as fans believe we're nearing an announcement involving the Fallout franchise. Bethesda offered days of teases for Rage 2 before it was revealed, and, as of this writing, it's seemingly begun to do the same for Fallout. The company first tweeted a "please stand by" image similar to a screen we've seen in the series previously. Subsequently, it kicked off a livestream with the same image playing on a screen in the background, but with a Fallout Vault Boy figure in the foreground.
That's sparked speculation that we could see a new Fallout game or--perhaps more likely, given its Skyrim re-releases--a remastered version of Fallout 3 or 4, perhaps for PS4, Xbox One, PC, and Switch. Bethesda has said this year's press conference could be its biggest ever; clearly it's got more than just Rage 2 and updates to The Elder Scrolls Online to talk about.
Update: Indeed, Fallout news has arrived. Bethesda Softworks has officially unveiled Fallout 76, a new game developed by Skyrim and Fallout dev Bethesda Game Studios. We don't know a ton at this point about how it will play, but Kotaku reports it will be have online-based survival elements. Bethesda said we'll be hearing more at E3; if that is the form the game takes, Bethesda is sure to provide some indication at E3.
Cyberpunk 2077 (Or Another CD Projekt Red Game) Will Be There
We know CD Projekt Red, the developer of the Witcher series and the upcoming Cyberpunk 2077, is attending E3. A listing on the official E3 website earlier this year suggested the studio would be there to show off an RPG, although that was later removed. The company has not yet announced its plans for the event--if it has anything to publicly show at all--but fans have their fingers crossed that Cyberpunk (or the studio's other triple-A RPG) will finally be revealed properly.
E3 2018 is right around the corner, and that means a ton of video game news, announcements, and reveals are almost upon us. Several of the show's biggest games--Call of Duty: Black Ops 4, Battlefield V, Rage 2--have been announced in the weeks leading up to the event, but that doesn't mean E3 itself won't have some surprises in store for us. According to the rumor mill, there's quite a lot that could happen.
Rumors and leaks are par for the course, although last year was incredibly leak-heavy. 2018 has not yet proven to be quite as bad in that regard--save for the Walmart Canada incident--though there remains plenty of time for that to change (and it's certainly begun to). There have been rumors and reports about what we'll see at E3, and we've rounded up many of the biggest ones for you to peruse below. Some are much easier to believe than others, as is often the case. Compared with last year, though, it's going to be hard to top reports of a turn-based strategy game featuring Mario and Rabbids (although what was most surprising is the game turned out to be quite good).
This year's E3 unofficially gets underway with Electronic Arts' pre-E3 event, EA Play, on June 9. That will be followed by press conferences from numerous other companies, which is where the bulk of E3's news will be revealed. You can see the full E3 press conference schedule for more on when to expect news to roll in. In the meantime, check out all of the big rumors we've seen so far; we'll update this should any more arrive between now and E3.
E3 2018 Rumors
Crackdown 3 Delayed
The oft-delayed open-world action game Crackdown 3 had been slated for release sometime in 2018, but it's reportedly been pushed back yet again. According to a report from Kotaku, it now won't launch until an unspecified point in 2019. As such, it's unclear how prominently it will be featured--if at all--during Microsoft's E3 press conference.
Hitman 2 Leaked
Publisher WB Games has teased an announcement of some sort is coming on June 7, ahead of E3. It doesn't provide any indication of what that will be for, but a teaser video shows a race car with the brand Hamsun on it--a reference to something from the first season of IO Interactive's Hitman. (IO and WB worked on a re-release of that game not long ago.) If that's not direct enough for you, a Reddit user discovered the source code for WB's website briefly hosted a link to an image file with a logo for something called Hitman 2. That seems pretty clear cut, but we should learn more on Thursday.
A Korean ratings board listing has revealed what could be an E3 surprise: A Nintendo Switch port of Fortnite. The listing doesn't specify which of the game's modes--Save the World or the phenomenally popular Battle Royale--will be included, but it's hard to imagine the latter would not make the cut.
While 4chan leaks are not especially reliable, a photo has surfaced that may in fact be real. It shows names for a variety of Nintendo Switch games that will apparently be advertised around the E3 show floor. This includes already-confirmed games like Mario Tennis Aces, but it also shows Fortnite (which, as noted above, looks to be real), Paladins, and Overcooked 2. Whereas Fortnite and Paladins would be ports of existing games, Overcooked 2 has not yet been announced--and it's possible that it could also come to PC, PS4, and Xbox One in addition to Switch, if it is indeed real.
Assassin's Creed Odyssey
A new Assassin's Creed was among the games seemingly leaked by Walmart Canada. Although that retailer listing was very non-specific--it didn't include a subtitle or number--we've now heard what could be the title for such a game. According to JeuxVideo, which reportedly received a photo of a collectible keychain, the new game is called Assassin's Creed Odyssey. The keychain itself consists of a helmet resembling one from Ancient Greece, perhaps indicating that will be the setting for the new game.
Update: Ubisoft apparently didn't feel like having the rumors swirl until E3, so it's decided to confirm that Assassin's Creed Odyssey is real. It offered up a very brief, 300-ish clip and stated Odyssey is indeed the name, but beyond that, we'll have to wait for E3 for more details.
We know a new Borderlands is eventually coming, whether it's called Borderlands 3 or something else. Gearbox denies it'll be at E3, and publisher 2K recently delayed an unannounced game, which could be that Borderlands title. But it looks as if E3 might not be completely devoid of Borderlands news, as the Korean ratings board has listed Borderlands: Game of the Year Edition for PS4, Xbox One, and PC. While not official by any means, ratings board leaks are often a reliable source. Given the timing, we might just hear about this project at E3.
Gears Of War 5, New Assassin's Creed, Just Cause 4, And More
Many of the expectations for E3 2018 were set in one go. Retailers have been known to leak things from time to time, but Walmart's Canadian website seemed to potentially spoil quite a lot with a single leak. Listings for numerous unannounced games went online in May, including Rage 2, a new Assassin's Creed, Gears of War 5, Dragon Quest 2, and Just Cause 4.
The sheer number, combined with some typos--such as Forza "Horizons" 5, rather than what would be the series' next game, Forza Horizon 4--made it all seem unlikely. However, Bethesda had an unusual response to the whole situation, and soon after we learned that Rage 2 is real (and since then, Lego DC Super-Villains). Two games from this list turning out to be legitimate doesn't mean the others are anything but placeholders or errors, but it does lend some credence to the possibility of them being real.
A New Splinter Cell Will Be Revealed
Another game mentioned in the Walmart Canada leak was something simply titled Splinter Cell. This might also turn out to be nothing but a placeholder, but Ubisoft itself has certainly set fans up to expect some kind of news related to the franchise before long. Following Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot's comments last year, the company released a Splinter Cell-themed update for Ghost Recon Wildlands earlier this year. That not only set up the potential plot for a new Splinter Cell, but it marked the return of beloved Sam Fisher voice Michael Ironside--and it doesn't seem like a stretch to think Ubisoft brought him in for more than just a small cameo.
This is less a rumor and more speculation, as fans believe we're nearing an announcement involving the Fallout franchise. Bethesda offered days of teases for Rage 2 before it was revealed, and, as of this writing, it's seemingly begun to do the same for Fallout. The company first tweeted a "please stand by" image similar to a screen we've seen in the series previously. Subsequently, it kicked off a livestream with the same image playing on a screen in the background, but with a Fallout Vault Boy figure in the foreground.
That's sparked speculation that we could see a new Fallout game or--perhaps more likely, given its Skyrim re-releases--a remastered version of Fallout 3 or 4, perhaps for PS4, Xbox One, PC, and Switch. Bethesda has said this year's press conference could be its biggest ever; clearly it's got more than just Rage 2 and updates to The Elder Scrolls Online to talk about.
Update: Indeed, Fallout news has arrived. Bethesda Softworks has officially unveiled Fallout 76, a new game developed by Skyrim and Fallout dev Bethesda Game Studios. We don't know a ton at this point about how it will play, but Kotaku reports it will be have online-based survival elements. Bethesda said we'll be hearing more at E3; if that is the form the game takes, Bethesda is sure to provide some indication at E3.
Star Fox Is Getting A Racing Game Called Grand Prix
The Star Fox franchise hasn't seen much activity in recent years save for the Wii U game Star Fox Zero, but that may change in the near future. According to leaks published around the internet and a report from Eurogamer, Retro Studios--of Metroid Prime and Donkey Kong Country Returns fame--is at work on a racing game called Star Fox: Grand Prix. Reddit user DasVergeben claims it will feature elements of F-Zero and Diddy Kong Racing, with an adventure mode and hub world.
Cyberpunk 2077 (Or Another CD Projekt Red Game) Will Be There
We know CD Projekt Red, the developer of the Witcher series and the upcoming Cyberpunk 2077, is attending E3. A listing on the official E3 website earlier this year suggested the studio would be there to show off an RPG, although that was later removed. The company has not yet announced its plans for the event--if it has anything to publicly show at all--but fans have their fingers crossed that Cyberpunk (or the studio's other triple-A RPG) will finally be revealed properly.
N64 Classic Edition Will Be Announced
While not E3-specific, there have been rumors about an N64 Classic Edition since the release of the NES Classic. With both that system and the subsequent SNES Classic proving to be huge successes, it would be no surprise to see Nintendo continue the trend by bringing a mini version of the Nintendo 64 to the market. Trademark filings have also suggested it's something Nintendo is at least considering, and Nintendo would be the ideal place to reveal its existence.
Predictions And Confirmed Games
For more on what might show up at E3, check out our predictions for each of the major platforms. You can also see all of the games that have been confirmed for the show through the links below.
Days Gone is looking more and more like fuel for your post-apocalyptic nightmares, and now we know when players will be able to get their hands on this PS4 exclusive. During its pre-E3 announcement video, PlayStation announced the game will release February 22, 2019. Get a look at the new release date trailer above.
Days Gone is set in an open world in the Pacific Northwest. The action-adventure/survival horror game puts you in the shoes of Deacon St. John, once an outlaw and now trying to survive in a devastated world. We don't yet know what caused the apocalypse, but it's resulted in some pretty scary occurrences. Freakers, zombie-like humans and animals that have become mindless and violent, travel the roads, and Deacon must evade and battle them. It looks like a challenge, as they tend to travel in fast-moving hordes, much like the zombies in World War Z.
While plot points are still mostly unknown, Sony is pitching Days Gone as a story-driven game, with a heavy emphasis on the "golden path" rather than on dozens of side quests like some other open-world games throw at you. In the release date trailer, we see new animal threats: mountain lions (or cougars) and infected ravens. There's also an ambush event, as Marauders torch an old vehicle and roll it onto the highway trying to knock Deacon from his bike. We're introduced to a new enemy human faction, called Rest In Peace, or R.I.P., who worship the Freakers and kill those who don't.
The game was originally slated for release in 2018 but was pushed back to 2019 in March. It's expected we could see more details about Days Gone revealed during Sony's E3 press conference on Monday, June 11. You'll be able to watch Sony's press conference here, and for all the latest news and updates on Days Gone and other games, check out GameSpot's full E3 coverage.
Update 2: The next Sony announcement has come, and this time around it's a Days Gone release date. Following a previously announced delay, the open-world zombie game will launch for PS4 on February 22, 2019.
Update: The first of Sony's reveals has happened, and it's for an unexpected new Tetris game from the creator of Rez and Lumines. It's called Tetris Effect and is headed to PS4 with optional PSVR support. Stay tuned for more details on the upcoming announcements. The original story follows.
E3 2018 starts in a little under a week, and ahead of the massive showcase, Sony has released an announcement schedule on the PlayStation Blog leading up to its press conference on Monday, June 11. Starting Wednesday, June 6, Sony plans to announce three new games, a release date for an upcoming game (more than likely a PlayStation 4 exclusive), and details of "An Eagerly Anticipated Game [Coming] to PS VR," each being offered once a day for the next five days, effectively concluding on Sunday, June 10. From Wednesday to Sunday, each announcement will be held at 8 AM PT / 11 AM ET (4 PM BST), as we join Sony for its countdown to E3 2018.
It's difficult to say what those three new games could be, as a few of Sony's studios are already working on named projects: Bend Studio is working on Days Gone, Japan Studio is supposedly working on Astro Bot: Rescue Mission, London Studio is working on Blood & Truth, Media Molecule is working on Dreams, Naughty Dog is working on The Last of Us Part II, and Sucker Punch is working on Ghost of Tsushima.
However, in the past four or so years, Sony has opened four new studios: PixelOpus, established in 2014; Manchester Studio, established in 2015; ForwardWorks, established in 2016; and San Mateo Studio, also established in 2016. PixelOpus is currently working on Concrete Genie, which is slated for a 2018 release, but there's no official confirmation of what the other studios are working on, so Sony could have these three studios announce their projects.
Sony's E3 2018 press conference is Monday, June 11 at 6 PM PT / 9 PM ET (2 AM BST / 11 AM on June 12). Be sure to check our E3 2018 page for coverage of all the latest games, including interviews, previews, trailers, and more.
E3 week is nearly upon us, and to celebrate Microsoft is putting on what it's calling its "Biggest Xbox Sale of the Year." And when you look at the deals that are available on Xbox One consoles, accessories, services, and games, it's a hard to refute the claim. Between the discounts on hardware and services and the hundreds of games available up to 75% off, there's lots of money to be saved on Xbox One this week. Let's look at the deals.
On the hardware side of things, you can save $10 off Xbox One controllers and $50 off any Xbox One console. Here's the breakdown for the sale prices on the different models.
In terms of services, you can can get one month of Xbox Live Gold and Xbox Game Pass for just $1 each. Xbox Game Pass gives you access to all Microsoft Studios games at launch, meaning you can play the full versions of games like State of Decay 2 and Sea of Thieves all month for just a buck. Not a bad deal.
UPDATE: A teaser for Friday's Halloween trailer has been released. It's very short but it provides a few quickly cut shots of Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis) and Michael Myers preparing to meet again--check it out here. Original story below.
The Halloween series is one the most successful horror franchises ever made, but like most long-running series, the quality of the films has been extremely variable over the years. This October sees the release of the latest movie; it's simply called Halloween and will ignore every entry since John Carpenter's 1978 original. The first trailer is expected later this week, but ahead of that, we have the first official images.
Two of the pictures feature psychotic killer Michael Myers, wearing his distinctive white mask and looking very scary indeed. The third is of original star Jamie Lee Curtis, who returns as Laurie Strode, getting attacked by Michael through a door. Check them out below:
These images follow the movie's poster, which was released in April. Halloween is directed by acclaimed indie director David Gordon Green (George Washington, Pineapple Express), with a script co-written by comedian and actor Danny McBride (Eastbound and Down, Alien Covenant). Carpenter is involved as a story advisor and is composing the movie's score.
In an interview with Charleston City Paper last year, McBride spoke about his and Green's approach to the movie, and how they were tapping into the more subtle scares of the first film. "The original is all about tension," he said. "Laurie Strode [Curtis' character] doesn't even know that Michael Myers exists until the last minutes of the movie. So much of it you're in anticipation of what's going to happen and the dread that Carpenter spins so effortlessly in that film, I think we were really trying to get it back to that.
"We're trying to mine that dread. Mine that tension and not just go for gore and ultra-violence that you see some horror movies lean on. To us, it was all about bringing back the creep factor and trying to find the horror in your own backyard, in our own homes."
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