By Matt Espineli on Jun 16, 2017 08:30 pm
Missing In Action
E3 can't possibly include every game we want to hear more about. Whether it's because they're just not ready for a public demo or the publisher doesn't want to reveal too much too soon, some games are always going to be left out. We've compiled some of the biggest games that have been previously announced but didn't appear at the show. For a deep for a deeper dive at what was announced at this year's E3, take a look at all the news and announcements from each press conference. You can also check out our lists of all the games at E3 coming out in 2017 and 2018! For our complete coverage, head to GameSpot's E3 hub for all of our news, videos, and impressions. And be sure to check back often as more stories and videos get published.
Animal Crossing Mobile
With Super Mario Run setting a precedent for Nintendo franchises coming to mobile devices, we could be seeing many more making the jump in the near future. So, it would've been a delight to see Animal Crossing in action on phones. The community simulation game lends itself to the mobile platform; checking in to your colorful open world to rearrange your furniture, earn some bells, or visit your friends' town all sounds so fitting. But we didn't even get a hint of it at E3. Animal Crossing was said to go mobile back in April 2016, so it's absence from the show was disappointing.
Cyberpunk 2077
Cyberpunk 2077 was announced five years ago, and all that CD Projekt Red has to show for it is a trailer--a now four-year-old conceptual teaser. Cyberpunk 2077's absence at E3 isn't a surprise--CD Projekt RED gave everyone advance notice--but it's notable given how long it's been since we've learned anything new about the highly anticipated project. There's a chance that some info will make its way online in the near future by way of unscrupulous hackers threatening to leak early design documents, but should that occur it will only provide a glimpse of what the game could have been, and not necessarily evidence where it stands today. We know that development on the game may last until mid-2019 based on CD Projekt Red's grant application to the Polish government. If things are going according to plan, there's good reason to suspect that we may finally see Cyberpunk 2077 at E3 2018.
Dynasty Warriors 9
Sometime before E3, Koei Tecmo finally revealed the ninth entry from its long running action series Dynasty Warriors. As the first "fully open world" game in the series, the anticipation for the game is high for not only hardcore series fans, but even those who haven't played the games in years. The open structure is not what you'd expect from a Dynasty Warriors game, but the added freedom and improved visuals it's set to offer makes it one of the most exciting entries the series has had in over a decade. However, the game was a no show at this year's E3. According to the developers, the game was about 40% complete, which means the project still has a way to go. But we would've appreciated to have at least seen the game in motion.
Death Stranding
Metal Gear Solid creator Hideo Kojima's intriguing-looking next game, Death Stranding, was never going to be at E3, as developer Kojima Productions confirmed as much before the show. Still, its absence was notable, especially given the dearth of big news during Sony's E3 2017 briefing. Kojima himself was at E3, but he was here to talk about his film aspirations as part of a cool panel with Jordan Vogt-Roberts (who is directing the Metal Gear movie for Sony). Kojima didn't give anything away about the project during his talk, though he did confirm that he's a big fan of Little House on the Prairie, which is totally unexpected and cool. There is no word yet on when we'll hear more about Death Stranding, but PlayStation boss Shuhei Yoshida said this week that Sony held back reveals from E3 to save them for later. Is Death Stranding one of them? We hope so, but it's too soon to say. Death Stranding is in development for PlayStation 4, but a release date has yet to be announced
Dreams
The next game from LittleBigPlanet developer Media Molecule, the ambitious-sounding creation game Dreams, was nowhere to be seen at E3 2017. Sony never said it was bringing the game to E3, but its absence from Sony's briefing and the show altogether was noticeable. Announced multiple years ago, we still do not know very much about Dreams. PlayStation boss Shuhei Yoshida has said it's a "next-gen creation platform" that has "much more" flexibility than LittleBigPlanet. We're going to have to wait a while longer to find out what that means, it seems, but a beta is still reportedly on the way for 2017, so we might be playing a part of the game soon.
Deep Down
Deep Down has been dormant for some time now, but given the excitement that surrounded its initial reveal, it has the makings of a game that could make a splash if it were to show up during Sony's E3 press conference. But it was not to be, and another show has now gone by without any word from Capcom about where things stand or if Deep Down is even still in development. First revealed for PS4 in 2013, the co-op dungeon crawler was subsequently revealed to be a free-to-play game. Delays ensued, leading to Capcom reassuring fans in 2015 that the game had not been canceled. However, producer Yoshinori Ono says (best known for the Street Fighter series) added that changes were being made to the design. He suggested the original ideas Capcom had "might not have been good enough" and that its plans were now "much larger," but the company has largely gone silent ever since, save for a recent trademark filing.
Final Fantasy VII Remake
The highly anticipated Final Fantasy VII Remake is built from the ground up with fully polygonal graphics as opposed to the pre-rendered environments of the original. It also features a real-time combat system similar to Final Fantasy XV and Kingdom Hearts. The game was originally announced at E3 2015 for great fanfare, but the last time we saw it was at PSX 2015. Ever since then, a series of details have emerged, like the project's development switching over to entirely in-house, as well as an investor's document alluding to the game not coming out until 2018 at the earliest. Despite these developments, it's still peculiar that the game had zero presence at this year's show.
Hitman: Season 2
Of course, it's understandable that Hitman Season 2 didn't make an appearance at E3 given the recent events at IO Interactive. Square Enix is shopping the development studio around, which also means anything related to Hitman is on pause. But that doesn't negate the fact it's disappointing we can't get more stealth-action assassination hijinx. If anything, its absence was a reminder of the directions this series could've went and the unexpected situations we could've found ourselves in. You'd hope for the franchise and its developers to find a new place to thrive and hopefully continue Agent 47's legacy.
The Last Of Us: Part II
Having been revealed with a teaser trailer at PSX last year, it seemed a dead cert that The Last of Us: Part II would be shown in more detail at E3 2017. We would get live gameplay, perhaps, or a release date. At least another trailer, surely? But Sony's press conference came and went without even a mention of the sequel. Naughty Dog is still working on Uncharted: The Lost Legacy of course, so it's understandable that the developer might not want to go full on with marketing its next game just yet. But we're disappointed to not see anything. Hopefully we'll hear more about The Last of Us: Part II at Gamescom this year, or failing that, PSX 2017. For now though, it seems unlikely we'll be playing the much-anticipated follow up before 2018.
Mother 3
There's no actual reason to believe that the Earthbound sequel Mother 3 will come to the West, but fans continue to keep hope alive for this cult classic. While the game only exists in English as an unofficial (but still excellent) fan translation, rumblings about an official Nintendo release have been going around since 2013 when the SNES Earthbound came back to life with a Virtual Console release on Wii U. Then, during E3 2015, Nintendo announced that the previously unreleased-in-America first Mother game was coming to the US as Earthbound Beginnings. But despite releasing Mother 3 in Japan later that same year, Nintendo has made no other Earthbound-related announcements. Smash Bros. still has the two main Earthbound/Mother protagonists as part of its roster, so it's possible that Nintendo is just waiting for the right time to spring a surprise re-release. But with a new console out and no real replacement for the Virtual Console in place yet, E3 2017 seemed like it would be the place Nintendo would finally reveal Mother 3 in English. Guess not.
Phantasy Star Online 2
It was perhaps foolish to think that Phantasy Star Online 2 might actually surface at E3. More than four years after its original release in Japan, Sega has still provided no indication or when the game will be brought to the West. And it's not as if the belief that it's coming is completely unfounded--it said back in 2012 that the game would be coming, only for that to lead to delays that in turn became silence. And it's not as if Phantasy Star Online 2 is some dud that the company is desperate to move on from. Sega's most recent earnings report noted that PSO2 sales "remained robust" in Japan during the latest fiscal year, and it was deemed noteworthy enough to get crossover DLC content in Gravity Rush 2 back in February. At this point, Sega may feel the game is too dated to now debut as a new product, but for diehard fans of the earlier Phantasy Star Online games who are starved for a localized release, it would have been a very welcome surprise to see it show up during Sony's press conference.
Pikmin 4
It's hard to complain about games that were missing from Nintendo's E3 showing when we got two Metroid titles after nearly a decade-long hiatus, but it would have been nice to get some word on Pikmin 4. Miyamoto confirmed that the game was in development a couple of years ago, but he has said very little about it since, other than it was put on the back burner in favor of higher-priority titles. That's a shame because the last proper installment, Pikmin 3 on Wii U, was one of the best games Nintendo has ever released, and Pikmin 4 would make an excellent fit on Switch. Here's hoping it'll sprout up sooner than later.
Red Dead Redemption 2
Rockstar is one of the few game developers that don't have to piggyback on the momentum of E3 to generate buzz and hype surrounding its upcoming games. Case in point: Red Dead Redemption 2. The highly-anticipated western shooter wasn't at E3, but we kind of expected this with the company recently revealing that the game would be delayed until spring 2018. Specifically, the company says gamers shouldn't expect RDR2 until April 2018. Elaborating on the delay, Rockstar stated, "This outlaw epic set across the vast and unforgiving American heartland will be the first Rockstar game created from the ground up for the latest generation of console hardware, and some extra time is necessary to ensure that we can deliver the best experience possible for our fans." The game is set to release on the Xbox One and PlayStation 4. Rockstar says you can expect to hear more about the game "this summer." Here are some Red Dead Redemption 2 screenshots to tide you over until then.
Resident Evil 2 Remake
If you saw GameSpot's gallery on our most anticipated games of E3 2017, you know that I was hoping to see our first glimpse at the remake of Resident Evil 2. However, we didn't see or hear anything from Capcom about it. With some excellent looking remakes announced in Shadow of the Colossus and Metroid: Samus Returns, it would have been exciting to see Capcom finish off that trifecta of updated visuals with a zombie-ravaged Raccoon City. Sadly, the only news we received about it this past week was dispiriting. It turns out that longtime Claire Redfield voice actor Alyson Court won't reprise her role, as she says that Capcom is going with non-union performers for the remake. It's quite disappointing, so hopefully we learn more about the project soon.
Respawn Star Wars Game
Ahead of E3 last year, EA announced that Respawn Entertainment--the studio behind the critically acclaimed Titanfall series--would be creating a Star Wars game as a part of the company's initiative to create games based in the iconic sci-fi franchise. The game is going to be a third-person action adventure, which has us excited. At the time, Titanfall 2 had yet to release, but with that game already out now, we were eager to hear more about what Respawn had in store for its Star Wars game at E3. Unfortunately, it was nowhere to be seen.
Shenmue III
Thanks largely in part to a successful Kickstarter campaign that raised more than $6.3 million, Shenmue III was able to come back from the dead. The first two RPG adventure games were initially released on the Dreamcast. Though neither of them were financial hits, considering their costly budgets, the series developed a massive cult following for their intricate stories and large, detailed worlds. Unfortunately, earlier this month, series creator Yu Suzuki announced that the game would be delayed until the second half of 2018. He elaborated, "By utilizing new technologies we have been able to discover new possibilities and expressions." He added, "In many ways, the game has become bigger and more beautiful than I initially expected. We do, however, need more time to deliver the game to you." While the game may not be at E3 as a result, the delay suggests that the game will be all the better for it.
Sucker Punch's New Game
Infamous developer Sucker Punch has been silent for a long time now, and that didn't change at E3 this year. Sony's E3 2017 briefing came and went without any new information as to what the studio is making next. Silence is not necessarily a bad thing, as too often it seems games get announced too early and an extended hype cycle can be overwhelming. Intriguingly, PlayStation boss Shuhei Yoshida recently said Sony purposely held back game reveals from its E3 briefing, with the intention of announcing more games later this year. Here's to hoping Sucker Punch's game is among them.
Super Smash Bros. For Switch
After Nintendo of America boss Reggie Fils-Aime hinted Super Smash Bros. for Switch would come at some point, some people speculated that the game might be announced at E3 2017. Whether it was to be a completely new version of the game or simply a souped-up port of the Wii U edition was unclear, but it seemed a relatively safe bet for Nintendo's inevitable one big reveal. After all, it was too soon for a new Mario Kart or Zelda title, a new 3D Mario game was already on the way for the end of the year, and Metroid Prime 4 would never be announced, would it? Oops. Maybe, in hindsight, in a stream that announced new Switch games in the Pokemon, Metroid, Kirby, and Yoshi series, a new Smash would've been too much to ask, and it has been less than three years since the Wii U and 3DS versions. Hopefully we'll get a glimpse of the inevitable sequel at E3 2018.
New Tomb Raider
The supposed name for the new Tomb Raider game leaked late last year from an unexpected source: a person on a subway. A surreptitious photo of a PowerPoint slide appeared to show a logo for Shadow of the Tomb Raider, leading some people to believe the title would be shown off at E3 2017. Unfortunately, that was not the case. Publisher Square Enix made no such announcement and Microsoft--which had a timed exclusivity deal with the previous game in the series, Rise of the Tomb Raider--didn't reveal anything at its E3 2017 Xbox conference. We know it's coming, at least: At Gamescom 2015, Square Enix boss Phil Rogers mentioned a "Tomb Raider trilogy," which so far is only two thirds complete. It seems E3 2017 was simply too soon for Lara to return--it has only been two years, after all. Perhaps we'll see more around the release of the new Tomb Raider movie in March 2018.
Visceral Star Wars Game
Last year at E3, Electronic Arts released a cool sizzle reel that showed off glimpses of the many Star Wars games in development. But this year, fans were not so lucky. We saw lots and lots of Star Wars: Battlefront II--but that was it. We didn't see or hear about Dead Space developer Visceral's new third-person game that's being made under the direction of Uncharted director Amy Hennig. That's a shame, because the first teaser trailer released last year at E3 left us with so many questions and excited for where the game might go. Here's to hoping we learn more about this exciting-sounding game sooner rather than later.
By Kallie Plagge on Jun 16, 2017 06:25 am
Enlist In Divisions
Among other changes, Call of Duty: WWII switches up Create-A-Class with Divisions. You'll be able to see more during the beta in August, but for now, click ahead to get a look at the kinds of weapons and loadouts you'll have access to in the World War II-themed multiplayer. (Note: These are based a on pre-release build of the game, so we'll keep you posted if things change.) There are five Divisions to choose from: Infantry, Expeditionary, Armored, Airborne, and Mountain. Each has different weapon options; for example, the basic Infantry loadouts can include the M1 Garand or the BAR. Your progression is tied to your chosen Division and you level up certain abilities within each, but you can also switch at any time. The game's multiplayer introduces a new mode called War that's similar to Battlefield 1's Operations mode. It features narrative-driven, objective-based combat inspired by real WWII battles and is more about strategy than other Call of Duty modes. Of course, Team Deathmatch, Domination, and other popular multiplayer game types are returning. For more on Call of Duty multiplayer, check out the multiplayer reveal trailer shown during Sony's E3 press conference. Be sure to check our E3 hub for all the latest news, impressions, trailers, and more.
Infantry
The Infantry Division is your standard soldier. With the M1 Garand, you also have a bayonet charge that's mapped to R3 on PS4, and it's a handy melee attack in a pinch. In addition to the M1 Garand, we know that Infantry also have access to the BAR.
Infantry
Infantry
Infantry
Expeditionary
Expeditionary is sort of like a bombastic scout class and has some sweet shotgun perks. In addition to the Winchester 1897, we also saw a toggle action for this class.
Expeditionary
Airborne
If you want to get a little tactical, Airborne is a good choice. It features this SMG, the M1928, the MP-40, and smoke grenades, among other weapons.
Airborne
Airborne
Armored
Armored is exactly as it sounds: it's a heavy class. This one gets you access to a Bazooka and anti-tank grenades. Pictured is the Lewis light machine gun, and you can also get an MG-15.
Armored
Armored
Armored
Mountain
Mountain is your long-range sniper class. In addition to the M1903, you can also use the KAR98K.
Mountain
Mountain
By Matt Espineli on Jun 16, 2017 06:16 am
E3 Games Coming This Year
While there's a lot of exciting games coming in 2018, there's still plenty set for this year. To help you keep track of what's coming out next year, we've compiled all the biggest games expected to launch after 2017. Click ahead to see all the games confirmed for this year, and be sure to check back often as we update this feature with more games throughout the show E3 2017 goes from June 13-15 and for the first time ever, the show is open to the public this year, but the show otherwise seems to be largely the same as in the recent past. One notable difference is that things began earlier than usual--EA already held its EA Play press conference on Saturday, while Microsoft's Xbox press conference was a day earlier than usual. To catch up on everything that was announced during the press conferences, you can check out our roundup of all the announcements. And keep an eye on our hub for more news, videos, and impressions from E3 2017.
Arms
Arms is an arena fighting game where up to two players play duke it out as combatants with extendable arms. Release Date: June 16 Platforms: Switch
Crash Bandicoot: N. Sane Trilogy
Crash Bandicoot: N. Sane Trilogy is a collection of high-definition remasters of the first three Crash Bandicoot games. Aside from remastered graphics, it also sports new features, including time trials in all three games, as well as adjusted level design and difficulty. Release Date: June 30 Platforms: PS4
Splatoon 2
Splatoon 2 is the Switch-exclusive sequel to the hit Wii U third-person shooter. It features a new campaign, weapons, maps, and modes. Release Date: July 21 Platforms: Switch
Hey Pikmin
Hey Pikmin is a Pikmin series spinoff made exclusively for 3DS. Unlike past titles, which were 3D real-time strategy games, this is a 2.5D sidescroller. Release Date: July 28 Platforms: 3DS
Tacoma
Tacoma is the latest game by Gone Home developer, Fullbright. It tasks you to recover data on the crew of an abandoned spaceship, but in the process of doing so, you discover the drama of the crew's last days on board. Release Date: August 2 Platforms: Xbox One, PC
Agents of Mayhem
On the surface, Volition Entertainment's next open-world action game looks like a major departure from its past work on Saints Row; but at its heart, it's still all about causing as much chaos as possible with a colorful group of characters. Release Date: August 15 Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC
Sonic Mania
Sonic Mania returns to the gameplay and visual style of the original Sonic the Hedgehog games on Sega Genesis. It's being developed primarily by programmers Christian "Taxman" Whitehead and Simon "Stealth" Thomley, who are both known by fans as major contributors to the Sonic ROM hack community. Release Date: August 15 Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC, Switch
Uncharted: The Lost Legacy
Uncharted: The Lost Legacy is a standalone chapter in the Uncharted series where you play as fan-favorite character Chloe Frazer, as she embarks on an adventure alongside mercenary Nadine Ross in search of a mystical treasure known as The Tusk of Ganesha. Release Date: August 22 Platforms: PS4
Madden 18
Madden 18 sports a new story mode called Longshot. It stars House of Cards and Moonlight actor Mahershala Ali and follows a football player with the goal of making it to the NFL. Release Date: August 25 Platforms: PS4, Xbox One
Yakuza Kiwami
Yakuza Kiwami is a remake of the first entry of the Yakuza series. It improves the resolution, textures, and loading times, and clears up some of the first game's more confusing plot lines and inconsistencies. Release Date: August 29 Platforms: PS4
Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle
The upcoming turn-based strategy cross-over game Mario and Rabbids was first revealed at Ubisoft's E3 2017 press conference, but we got to see it again during Nintendo's presentation. It seems to share gameplay similarities to XCOM and retains the colorful, lighthearted nature of the Mario universe. Release Date: August 29 Platforms: Switch
Life is Strange: Before the Storm
Life is Strange: Before the Storm is a three episode prequel series set before the events of the first game. It stars Chloe with an appearance from Rachel Amber before she went missing. Release Date: August 31 Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC
Knack 2
Knack launched alongside the PlayStation 4 console in 2013, and despite a mixed critical reception, it's getting a sequel. It brings "new moves, improved couch co-op, vibrant environments, and fun-filled combat." Release Date: September 5 Platforms: PS4
Destiny 2
The sequel to Bungie's online multiplayer shooter, Destiny 2 sees the Guardians in a rough spot. The Tower has fallen and is under siege from an invasion force, and it's up to you explore far-flung areas of the solar system to fight back. Plus, it's set to include a number of updates and new features, and it's even coming to PC. Release Date: September 6 (PS4, Xbox One) and October 24 (PC) Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC
Dishonored: Death Of The Outsider
A standalone expansion titled Dishonored: Death of the Outsider puts you in the shoes of Meagan Foster, an ally of Emily and Corvo in Dishonored 2. Release Date: September 14 Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC
Metroid: Samus Returns
Metroid: Samus Returns is a re-imagination of Metroid 2: Return of Samus which came out for Game Boy back in 1991. Release Date: September 15 Platforms: 3DS
FIFA 18
The video game industry's biggest sports franchise, FIFA, returns in September with a new entry with Cristiano Ronaldo on the cover for the first time ever. The single-player story mode, The Journey, returns, while there will of course be the usual gameplay improvements. Release Date: September 26, September 29 (Switch) Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC, Switch, Xbox 360, PS3
Total War: Warhammer 2
Creative Assembly's next strategy game Total War: Warhammer II will is coming this year. The game features four new playable races and a "storming" campaign that publisher Sega says builds up to an "earth-shattering crescendo." You can read more about the game from E3 here. Release Date: September 28 Platforms: PC
Cuphead
Platformer Cuphead pairs run-and-gun gameplay with a distinct 1930s cartoon art style and plenty of boss battles. Release Date: September 29 Platforms: Xbox One, PC
Forza Motorsport 7
Forza Motorsport 7 is the latest entry in the long running car simulation series. This time around there are more than 700 cars in the game, as well as new tracks and weather systems. Release Date: October 3 Platforms: Xbox One, PC
The Evil Within 2
The Evil Within 2 is a sequel to the 2014 horror game and is being developed by Resident Evil creator Shinji Mikami's studio. You'll apparently have to save your daughter, but not much else was revealed. Release Date: October 13 Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC
Assassin's Creed Origins
Assassin's Creed: Origins is a prequel of the long running action-adventure series. It's set in Eqypt and puts you in control of Bayek, the last Medjay, an Egyptian sheriff tasked with protecting the people from threats local and foreign. Release Date: October 27 Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC
Call of Duty: WWII
Call of Duty: WWII goes back to the series' roots with a new enttry taking place during World War II. Release Date: November 3 Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC
Crackdown 3
Crackdown 3 is an open-world action-adventure game that has you stopping crime in a futuristic city where everything is destructible. It's main protagonist voiced by popular actor, Terry Crews. Release Date: November 7 Platforms: Xbox One, PC
Marvel Vs. Capcom: Infinite
Marvel Vs. Capcom: Infinite opts out of the over-the-top 3-on-3 fighting from its predecessor and goes back to its roots with 2-on-2 fights. It also introduces Infinity Stones, a new mechanic that provides you with unique abilities in battle. Release Date: September 19 Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC
Pokken Tournament DX
Pokken Tournament DX is a an enhanced Switch port of the well-received Pokemon-themed fighter. It features five new playable Pokemon and other new features, such as 3v3 team battles, online ranked play, and friendly and group matches. Release Date: September 22 Platforms: Switch
Middle-earth: Shadow of War
Middle-Earth: Shadow of War once again stars ranger Talion and his wraith companion Celebrimbor as they work to fight against Sauron and his dark army. The game sports a larger and more open world, as well as new loot and gear to uncover. Release Date: October 10 Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC
South Park: The Fractured But Whole
Set the day after The Stick of Truth, The Fractured But Whole has the South Park kids caught up in another game of make believe that quickly gets out of hand. Trading out swords and sorcery for capes and utility belts, the kids will explore the town, fight crime, and engage in turn-based battles to decide who gets to lead their new superhero franchise. Release Date: October 17 Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC
Super Mario Odyssey
Super Mario Odyssey is the newest entry in the Super Mario series, and it returns to the more open-ended style of exploration previously seen in games like Super Mario 64 and Super Mario Sunshine. Release Date: October 27 Platforms: Switch
Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus
A direct sequel to 2014's Wolfenstein: The New Order was officially revealed as the finale to Bethesda's press conference. As last year's teaser indicated, it's titled Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus and franchise-long protagonist BJ Blazkowicz makes a return. He'll be operating in Nazi-occupied America with a new cast of characters. Release Date: October 27 Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC
Super Lucky's Tale
Super Lucky's Tale is an expanded version of the VR-focused original built to display on televisions. The game first appeared as a launch title on Oculus Rift in March 2016. Release Date: November 7 Platforms: Xbox One
Need for Speed: Payback
After a year away, the Need for Speed series returns with Payback. More than just the standard racing game you might expect, EA says you'll also engage in heists, car battles, and more while playing as three distinct characters. Release Date: November 10 Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC
Ni No Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom
Ni No Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom is the long-awaited sequel to 2010's Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch. Rather than continuing the adventures of the protagonists from the first game, it introduces a completely new cast of characters who must fight against an emerging threat in the kingdom of Ding Dong Dell. Release Date: November 10 Platforms: PS4, PC
NBA Live 18
NBA Live 18 will feature a new, campaign-like mode called The One. It lets you play as a custom character who tries to make it big in the NBA; you'll be able to specialize your character into whatever type of character you want. Release Date: Fall 2017 Platforms: PS4, Xbox One
Gran Turismo Sport
Gran Turismo Sport marks the long-running franchise's debut on PS4. In addition to the expected visual improvements, it also offers a new online championship system, new concept cars, and more. Release Date: Fall 2017 Platforms: PS4
Star Wars Battlefront II
EA spent a lot of time talking about Star Wars Battlefront II, and it showed gameplay for the first time. It also announced that the game's maps, modes, and characters will be free, but there will be microtransactions. Release Date: November 17 Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC
Vampyr
Vampyr is the next game from Remember Me and Life Is Strange studio Dontnod. It's an action-RPG vampire game set in flu-ridden 1918 London. A new trailer for the intriguing-looking game was released at E3--watch it here. Release Date: November 2017 Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC
Xenoblade Chronicles 2
Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is a sequel to the critically acclaimed Wii-exclusive open world-RPG, Xenoblade Chronicles. It stars a new hero who's in search for something known as "Elysium." Release Date: Holiday 2017 Platforms: Switch
By Matt Espineli on Jun 16, 2017 06:13 am
New Contenders
There were a a multitude of new games announced at this year's E3, like Bioware's new IP Anthem, Monster Hunter: World, Metroid Prime 4, Assassin's Creed: Origins, and more. With so many to keep track of, there's a lot to get excited about for the next two years. That's why we've compiled them all in one place for your reference. Click ahead to check out all the biggest new games announced at E3 2017. Be sure to check back often as we update this feature with more games. E3 2017 begins today and for the first time ever, the show is open to the public this year, but the show otherwise seems to be largely the same as in the recent past. One notable difference is that things began earlier than usual--EA already held its EA Play press conference on Saturday, while Microsoft's Xbox press conference was a day earlier than usual. To catch up on everything that was announced during the press conferences, you can check out our roundup of all the announcements. And keep an eye on our hub for more news, videos, and impressions from E3 2017.
Assassin's Creed Origins
Assassin's Creed: Origins is a prequel of the long running action-adventure series. It's set in Eqypt and puts you in control of Bayek, the last Medjay, an Egyptian sheriff tasked with protecting the people from threats local and foreign.
Anthem
Anthem is a new sci-fi action game created by Bioware, the studio behind Mass Effect and Dragon Age. The game puts you in the role of a "Freelancer," an adventurer tasked with exploring unknown planets and protecting humanity using powerful custom exo-suits.
Beyond Good & Evil 2
Beyond Good & Evil 2 is the much-anticipated follow-up to 2003's Beyond Good & Evil. It takes place before the birth of Jade, the protagonist of the original game.
The Crew 2
The Crew 2 is an open world racing filled with a bunch of vehicles, from cars to monster trucks to light airplanes.
Dishonored: Death Of The Outsider
A standalone expansion titled Dishonored: Death of the Outsider puts you in the shoes of Meagan Foster, an ally of Emily and Corvo in Dishonored 2.
Doom VFR
Doom VFR brings the first-person shooter into virtual reality. It adds a unique teleportation mechanic but maintains the game's fast pace and demon-eviscerating action.
Dragon Ball FighterZ
Dragon Ball FighterZ is a new fighting game based on the popular anime franchise that's developed by Arc System Works, the studio behind Guilty Gear and Blazblue.
The Evil Within 2
The Evil Within 2 is a sequel to the 2014 horror game and is being developed by Resident Evil creator Shinji Mikami's studio. You'll apparently have to save your daughter, but not much else was revealed.
Forza Motorsport 7
Forza Motorsport 7 is the latest entry in the long running car simulation series. This time around there are more than 700 cars in the game, as well as new tracks and weather systems.
Kirby
Kirby's next adventure will continue the tradition of cutesy side-scrolling environments and gobbling up enemies to gain their power. In addition, there is four-player co-op.
Life is Strange: Before the Storm
Life is Strange: Before the Storm is a three episode prequel series set before the events of the first game. It stars Chloe with an appearance from Rachel Amber before she went missing.
Metro Exodus
Metro Exodus is the third entry in 4A Game's post-apocalyptic first-person shooter series. Unlike its predecessors, which were more linear, the game will feature a fully open world.
Metroid: Samus Returns
Metroid: Samus Returns is a re-imagination of Metroid 2: Return of Samus which came out for Game Boy back in 1991.
Metroid Prime 4
It has been 10 years since we had a proper Metroid Prime game, but we now know that another one is on the way for Switch! No release date or gameplay footage was shown, so there's reason to believe that Metroid Prime 4 won't be coming any time soon, but at least there's it's in development.
Monster Hunter: World
The Monster Hunter franchise returns to consoles with Monster Hunter: World. Like the recent 3DS installments, you can scale walls, leap attack onto monsters, and cook food. It also appears to have a multitude of new elements, like a grappling hook, flares, and a machine gun-like firearm.
Ori And the Will of the Wisps
Ori and the Will of the Wisps is the sequel to the critically acclaimed Xbox One console exclusive Ori and the Blind Forest.
Untitled Pokemon Game
Although no trailer or gameplay was shown, Tsunekazu Ishihara, president of Pokemon Company confirmed that Game Freak is working on a new core Pokemon RPG game. However, he stated that it "may not release for more than a year."
Shadow of the Colossus
A remaster or remake of the critically acclaimed 2005 game Shadow of the Colossus is in the works. The reveal was sparse with details, though the game will have current-gen visual enhancements.
Skull & Bones
Skull & Bones is a new pirate-themed naval warfare game from Ubisoft Singapore. The game has a shared, systemtic world where players can engage in 5v5 battles as they try to fend for themselves or team up with other players.
Starlink: Battle For Atlas
Starlink: Battle For Atlas is Ubisoft's first big step into the toys-to-life market. Unlike past games in the genre, the sci-fi spaceship-battling game's toys attach to your controller.
Super Lucky's Tale
Super Lucky's Tale is an expanded version of the VR-focused original built to display on televisions. The game first appeared as a launch title on Oculus Rift in March 2016.
Transference
Transference is a a creepy-looking VR game where you explore the traumatic experiences of fictional people. It's set to launch on both VR platforms and traditional consoles.
A Way Out
A Way Out is the latest project from the studio behind Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons. It tells the story of two convicts who are on the run after a prison escape. After a getaway chase, the story transitions to follow these two characters as they come to grips with their past, all while trying to stay one step ahead of the law.
Yoshi
Yoshi is getting another standalone adventure which appeared to be a side-scroller akin to Yoshi's Story and Yoshi's Wooly World. It's set to release sometime in 2018.
Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus
A direct sequel to 2014's Wolfenstein: The New Order was officially revealed as the finale to Bethesda's press conference. As last year's teaser indicated, it's titled Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus and franchise-long protagonist BJ Blazkowicz makes a return. He'll be operating in Nazi-occupied America with a new cast of characters.
By Matt Espineli on Jun 16, 2017 05:59 am
The Agonizing Wait
While this year will continue to deliver an amazing roster games, there's a lot of exciting games that won't arrive until at least 2018. To help you keep track of what's coming out next year, we've compiled all the biggest games expected to launch after 2018. Click ahead to see all the games confirmed for this year, and be sure to check back often as we update this feature with more games throughout the show. For the first time ever, E3 was open to the public, but the show was otherwise largely the same. One notable difference was that things began earlier than usual--EA held its EA Play press conference on Saturday, while Microsoft's Xbox press conference was a day earlier than usual. To catch up on everything that was announced during the press conferences, you can check out our roundup of all the announcements. And keep an eye on our E3 hub for more news, videos, and impressions from E3 2017.
Far Cry 5
Far Cry 5 breaks away from the exotic locales from the series' past and brings the action to Montana, USA. It puts you control of a nameless deputy fighting against an extremist cult. Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC | Release Date: February 27, 2018
The Crew 2
The Crew 2 is an open world racing filled with a bunch of vehicles, from cars to monster trucks to light airplanes. Platforms: Xbox One, PC | Release Date: Early 2018
God of War
God of War is the latest entry in the long-running action game franchise developed by Sony Santa Monica. While the game shares the same name as the first entry in the series, it's actually meant to be a soft reboot to the story of protagonist Kratos. Platforms: PS4 | Release Date: Early 2018
Monster Hunter: World
The Monster Hunter franchise returns to consoles with Monster Hunter: World. Like the recent 3DS installments, you can scale walls, leap attack onto monsters, and cook food. It also appears to have a multitude of new elements, like a grappling hook, flares, and a machine gun-like firearm. Platforms: PS4, Xbox One | Release Date: Early 2018
Extinction
Extinction is an upcoming action game developed by Iron Galaxy, the studio behind Killer Instinct Seasons 2-3 and Divekick. Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC | Release Date: Q1 2018
State of Decay 2
State of Decay 2 is a multiplayer zombie survival game featuring an open-world environment and co-op gameplay with up to three other players. Platforms: Xbox One, PC | Release Date: Q1/Q2 2018
A Way Out
A Way Out is the latest project from the studio behind Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons. It tells the story of two convicts who are on the run after a prison escape. After a getaway chase, the story transitions to follow these two characters as they come to grips with their past, all while trying to stay one step ahead of the law. Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC | Release Date: Q1/Q2 2018
Transference
Transference is a a creepy-looking VR game where you explore the traumatic experiences of fictional people. It's set to launch on both VR platforms and traditional consoles. Platforms: PS4, PSVR, Xbox One, PC, Oculus Rift, HTC Vive | Release Date: Spring 2018
Skulls & Bones
Skull & Bones is a new pirate-themed naval warfare game from Ubisoft Singapore. The game has a shared, systemtic world where players can engage in 5v5 battles as they try to fend for themselves or team up with other players. Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC | Release Date: Q3/Q4 2018
Anthem
Anthem is a new sci-fi action game created by Bioware, the studio behind Mass Effect and Dragon Age. The game puts you in the role of a "Freelancer," an adventurer tasked with exploring unknown planets and protecting humanity using powerful custom exo-suits. Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC | Release Date: Q4 2018
Starlink: Battle For Atlas
Starlink: Battle For Atlas is Ubisoft's first big step into the toys-to-life market. Unlike past games in the genre, the sci-fi spaceship-battling game's toys attach to your controller. Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC, Nintendo Switch | Release Date: Fall 2018
Dragon Ball FighterZ
Dragon Ball FighterZ is a new fighting game based on the popular anime franchise that's developed by Arc System Works, the studio behind Guilty Gear and Blazblue. Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC | Release Date: TBA 2018
Kirby
Kirby's next adventure will continue the tradition of cutesy side-scrolling environments and gobbling up enemies to gain their power. In addition, there is four-player co-op. Platforms: Switch | Release Date: TBA 2018
Sea of Thieves
Sea of Thieves, the first original, non-Kinect game out of beloved developer Rare in years, allows you to live out the life of a pirate with your friends. You'll be able to work together to navigate the sea by ship while hunting down treasure and fending off enemy players who are seeking the same thing. Platforms: Xbox One, PC | Release Date: TBA 2018
Shadow of the Colossus
A remaster or remake of the critically acclaimed 2005 game Shadow of the Colossus is in the works. The reveal was sparse with details, though the game will have current-gen visual enhancements. Platforms: PS4 | Release Date: TBA 2018
Spider-Man
Spider-Man is an action game based on the titular webslinger developed by Insomniac Games, the studio behind Ratchet & Clank and Sunset Overdrive. Platforms: PS4 | Release Date: TBA 2018
Yoshi
Yoshi is getting another standalone adventure which appeared to be a side-scroller akin to Yoshi's Story and Yoshi's Wooly World. It's set to release sometime in 2018. Platforms: Switch | Release Date: TBA 2018
Beyond Good & Evil 2
Beyond Good & Evil 2 is the much-anticipated follow-up to 2003's Beyond Good & Evil. It takes place before the birth of Jade, the protagonist of the original game. Platforms: N/A | Release Date: TBA
Metroid Prime 4
It's been 10 years since we had a proper Metroid Prime game, but we now know that another one is on the way for Switch! No release date or gameplay footage was shown, so there's reason to believe that Metroid Prime 4 won't be coming any time soon, but at least there's it's in development. Platforms: Switch | Release Date: TBA
Untitled Pokemon
Although no trailer or gameplay was shown, Tsunekazu Ishihara, president of Pokemon Company confirmed that Game Freak is working on a new core Pokemon RPG game. However, he stated that it "may not release for more than a year." Platforms: Switch | Release Date: TBA
By Chris E. Hayner on Jun 16, 2017 04:57 am
A sneak peek into Microsoft's future
Microsoft wasn't pulling any punches when it comes to E3 2017, making a number of important announcements about exclusives, backwards compatibility and a brand new console. Here's the best stuff coming soon for Xbox One gamers. First: The Xbox One is getting an upgrade. Xbox One X supports full 4K UHD resolution, works with all Xbox One accessories and games and will give a graphics boost to older titles. The updated console -- the most powerful in the world -- boasts 12GB of GDDR5 RAM, an eight-core CPU and six-teraflop GPU, all while managing to be the smallest Xbox console yet. Image credit: Microsoft
Xbox One X: Gaming in 4K
It should be noted that nearly every single game announced during Xbox's E3 presentation will have 4K graphic updates on Xbox One X. The new system releases November 7 and can be yours for $499. Image credit: Microsoft
Xbox backwards compatibility
As Microsoft continues to expand its backwards compatibility into more Xbox 360 titles, they'll also start including some original Xbox games. While a full list has not been named, Crimson Skies was mentioned as one Microsoft wants to make sure is compatible when the new program launches later in 2017. Image credit: Microsoft Studios
Forza Motorsport 7
If you're looking to show off the power of Xbox One X, Forza Motorsport 7 is what you need. With over 700 cars to choose from--including the new 2018 Porsche GT2RS--and graphics clocking in at 60 frames a second, it looks stunning. This game hits stores October 3. Image credit: Microsoft Studios
Assassin's Creed: Origins
The next Assassin's Creed game is set in Ancient Egypt, with a new assassin named Bayek at the center. Everything you love about Assassin's Creed games is here, plus a new villain tracking system via the protagonist's pet eagle. It's in stores October 27. Image credit: Ubisoft
Far Cry 5
The newest Far Cry is set in fictional Hope County, Montana, pitting you against a doomsday cult led by a maniacal preacher. If that's not enough to entice you to play, you can enlist citizens with special skills as well as wild animals in your fight. Plus, there's a co-op campaign option. Far Cry 5 releases February 27, 2018. Image credit: Ubisoft
Dragon Ball FighterZ
This fighting game lets you play as your favorite Dragon Ball characters in fast-paced and visually masterful fights that look as if they were pulled from the series. Dragon Ball FighterZ arrives in early 2018. Image credit: Bandai Namco Entertainment
South Park: The Fractured But Whole
The sequel to South Park: The Stick of Truth looks better and more crude than the original. The superhero-themed RPG puts a vulgar spin on Captain America: Civil War as Eric Cartman leads his team Coon and Friends into a war against fellow vigilantes the Freedom Pals. Players will get to not only create their own hero but choose a side in the fight. This game hits stores on October 17. Image credit: Ubisoft
Cuphead
If you've ever wondered what a platform video game set in a Max Fleischer cartoon would look like, Cuphead is the title for you. After many E3 appearances (development began in 2010), this incredibly unique game finally got a release date: September 29. Image credit: StudioMDHR Entertainment
Anthem
Electronic Arts' new IP looks like Destiny meets Iron Man. The action role-playing game sends players out in exosuits to explore a dangerous world filled with vicious monsters. Anthem releases in 2018.
State of Decay 2
The next chapter in the zombie apocalypse survival game adds a huge improvement: co-op multiplayer. Now you can try to survive the end of the world with your friends. State of Decay 2 arrives in Spring 2018. Image credit: Microsoft Studios
Super Lucky's Tales
This foxy platformer, an Xbox One exclusive, looks delightfully old school and downright adorable. It releases on November 7. Image Credit: Playful Corp.
Ashen
This RPG has a distinct visual style, with a focus on more polygonal characters and environments than realistic-looking ones. It gives Ashen a unique feel, as you battle all manner of monsters. No release date has been announced. Image credit: Annapurna Interactive
Black Desert
After debuting on PCs, MMORPG Black Desert is coming to consoles in all its epic glory. The game will launch first on Xbox One, though no release date has been given. Image credit: Kakao Games
A Way Out
It's hard to escape prison alone, so A Way Out makes you do it with a friend: The only way to play this game is as a co-op campaign. A Way Out looks to be a very unique gaming experience. You'll be able to try it yourself in early 2018.
Code Vein
The action role-playing game features gameplay that looks similar to Dark Souls--which also comes from Bandai Namco Entertainment--but with an anime visual style. Code Vein releases in 2018. Image credit: Bandai Namco Entertainment
Star Wars Battlefront II
This sequel is ups the ante with more epic and massive multiplayer battles, free downloadable content and a single-player campaign that bridges Star Wars: Episode VII - Return of the Jedi and Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Based on the gameplay seen to far, Battlefront II is bigger and better in every way possible than its predecessor. Star Wars: Battlefront II hits stores on November 17. Image credit: Electronic Arts
Crackdown 3
The open-world crime fighting game with super powers is back, but this time you aren't just destroying cars. The game's environments and buildings are also destructible, giving you even bigger powers and more to play with. Crackdown 3 launches November 7. Image credit: Microsoft Studios
Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus
Does killing Nazis ever go out of style in video games? This time, The New Order's Frau Engel has stepped into the spotlight as the chief villain and one truly maniacal and disturbing threat to the story's hero, BJ Blazkowicz. This next chapter in the Wolfenstein franchise debuts on October 27. Image credit: Bethesda
Sea of Thieves
This pirate-themed co-op action-adventure game looks like the most fun you could have on the high seas. From treasure hunting to fighting skeletons to naval combat, there's plenty of pirating to do--including getting shot out of your own cannon and being eaten by a shark. Sea of Thieves arrives in early 2018 on Xbox One. Image credit: Microsoft Studios
Ori and the Will of the Wisps
A sequel to the indie hit Ori and the Blind Forest, Will of the Wisps looks as beautiful as its predecessor and will only be available on Xbox One. A release date has not been announced. Image credit: Microsoft Studios
Life is Strange: Before the Storm
While Dontnod has already revealed they're working on a sequel to Life is Strange, now comes news that a prequel--Before the Storm--is coming. This game follows Chloe before Max came back into her life. Before the Storm arrives on August 31. Image credit: Square Enix
Metro Exodus
The latest entry in the Metro series for first-person shooters take players on a vast post-apocalyptic adventure full of villains, mutants, and some incredibly stunning environments to explore. Metro Exodus will release in 2018. Image credit: Deep Silver
Middle-earth: Shadow of War
The followup to Shadow or Mordor is bigger and more epic than its predecessor. The true star of the footage shown is Bruz the Chopper, a sassy orc players will battle against. Middle-earth: Shadow of War hits stores on October 10. Image credit: Warner Bros. Interactive
Minecraft
Not only is Minecraft on Xbox One getting a 4K update, but the game will be also gain cross-platform compatibility with Nintendo Switch. Minecraft is looking good. The update arrives in the fall of 2017. Image credit: Mojang
The Artful Escape
Inspired by rock and roll, The Artful Escape is an indie title with a truly unique visual style. The main character uses music to power his adventures. There is no release date for The Artful Escape yet, but it will launch on Xbox One first. Image credit: Annapurna Interactive
PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds
This multiplayer survival game--think Battle Royale or The Hunter Games--is coming to consoles later in 2017, launching on Xbox One before PlayStation 4. Image credit: PlayerUnknown
Deep Rock Galactic
Up to four people can work together in this space-set, first-person shooter that looks like it was inspired by Minecraft. That's not a bad thing, though. Deep Rock: Galactic looks like the best kind of co-op fun as players burrow into the ground to fight space bugs. It arrives later in 2017. Image credit: Coffee Stain Publishing
The Evil Within 2
If you're looking for nightmare fuel, this is exactly the game for you. The Evil Within 2 sends disgraced detective Sebastian Castellanos back into the STEM world to rescue the daughter he's believed to be dead for years. The Evil Within 2 somehow looks even creepier than the truly disturbing first game in the series. You can pick it up October 13. (Yes, that's Friday the 13th.) Image credit: Bethesda
Tacoma
This game has been a long time coming. After first being announced in 2014, space mystery Tacoma will arrive on Xbox One on August 17. The story finds players waking up is an abandoned space station as they try to figure out what happened to the crew. The trailer released at E3 feels reminiscent of the Chris Pratt/Jennifer Lawrence movie The Passengers. Image credit: Fullbright
The Darwin Project
In this game, you're sent to a post-apocalyptic landscape to fight to the death for the entertainment of the people inside the game's universe. Finally, all those studios that started developing games when The Hunger Games released are showing them to the world. No release date has been revealed. Image Credit: Scavengers Studio
The Last Night
If the idea of cyberpunk was boiled down into a single game, The Last Night might just be it. The sidescrolling adventure game has hints of noir elements and a vast pixelated color palette. A release date has not been announced. Image credit: Odd Tales
By Array on Jun 16, 2017 04:14 am
E3 Merch Frenzy
There was a multitude of cool new merchandise on display at this year's E3. With so much to see, we've compiled it all one place for you to check out. Click ahead to see the coolest figures, bags, and statues that we saw at the show. For a deep for a deeper dive at what was announced at this year's show, take a look at all the news and announcements from each press conference. You can also check out our lists of all the games at E3 coming out in 2017 and 2018! For our complete coverage, head to GameSpot's E3 hub for all of our news, videos, and impressions. And be sure to check back often as more stories and videos get published.
By GameSpot Staff on Jun 16, 2017 03:16 am
E3 is like Christmas, New Year's, and Halloween all rolled into one. Publishers and developers pull out all the stops to win your attention and get the world hyped for their upcoming games and products. With the constant stream of news, trailers, and announcements, it's almost impossible to narrow down our list of Best of E3 Awards list to just 20, but these are our overall stand-outs (arranged in alphabetical order). Every game and product in this gallery shares in our Best of E3 award glory, but there is one big rule for inclusion: it has to be playable at the show. So that means things like the reveal teasers for Metroid Prime 4 and Shadow of the Colossus aren't eligible, no matter how excited we are for them. Our awards represent most of our very favorite things at E3, but that doesn't mean there isn't a lot of other amazing stuff. If you want to catch up on things you might've missed, you can read our press conference wrap-ups; our list of all the new games announced at E3; and our series of features analyzing the highs, lows, and biggest games of the show. But what were your favorite parts of this year's E3? What games are you most looking forward to? Let us know in the comments below!
Assassin's Creed Origins
It's been tough being an Assassin's Creed fan over the years. While the first few games in the series were fantastic, its subsequent yearly entries began to grow tired and inconsistent. After a while, it became clear that the series had lost its edge, and its dwindling sales numbers started to reflect it. But after taking a year off to re-examine itself, the Assassin's Creed series has finally returned. And what a return it is. The newest entry, Assassin's Creed Origins, drops the action-adventure sandbox structure of its predecessors and embraces that of an open-world action-RPG. What I've seen of the game's world is impressive, displaying a sense of scale that I haven't seen since Black Flag. The freedom added to exploration and progression is a giant leap forward, and its changes to combat and stealth are equally impactful. It's almost shocking to see the multitude of improvements that Ubisoft has implemented into Origins. The fact that Origins is a prequel also seems indicative of Ubisoft's approach with the game. It's going back to the series' roots, attempting to create a game that channels the promise of the original. I haven't been this excited about an Assassin's Creed game since Brotherhood. To be able to say that makes me happy on so many levels. -- Matt Espineli, Associate Editor
Call of Duty: WWII
As a longtime Call of Duty player, seeing the series go back to World War II is both exciting and cause for hesitation. Before I got my hands on multiplayer, I wasn't sure how I'd adjust to the past after years of playing futuristic shooters. After playing it, though, I was more excited than I'd been during the multiplayer reveal in E3 Sony's conference. Call of Duty: WWII isn't as movement-focused or vertical as its recent predecessors, but it doesn't feel slow or sluggish. Team Deathmatch is still fast-paced and all about quick reactions, and the weapons have a satisfying weight to them. That said, the new War Mode is an opportunity to slow it down and try out deeper strategies that fit well with the World War II setting. The beta starts in August, so I'm excited to see how it shapes up. On top of that, I'm also interested in the simple changes to overall gameplay that WWII is bringing. Health packs replace health regeneration for the first time in the franchise, and a greater emphasis on squad relationships means that a squadmate can be the one to toss you a much-needed health pack. It creates a unique kind of vulnerability that's been missing from Call of Duty for a while, which makes me all the more interested in playing the single player come November. -- Kallie Plagge, Associate Editor
Destiny 2
I'll admit, I didn't think I was ready to play more Destiny after the first game left me lukewarm (though still addicted). But Destiny 2 seems to be fixing the original's smallest mistakes in ways that hugely impact gameplay. Things like not having to go to orbit in order to change destinations and the addition of more fleshed-out and populated locations makes me want to return to its world, and seeing it in action--in 4K on PC, no less--has guaranteed that I'll be coming back for more. The demo I played didn't have any of those small changes, but it did have the same excellent shooting that I love about Destiny. I'm also impressed by the new weapon categories; dividing them into kinetic, energy, and power opens up the loadout variety a ton. Scout and assault rifles were both primary weapons, for example, but now you can equip a scout rifle on kinetic and an assault rifle on energy. It's nice if you're like me and stuck to one weapon type once you got a good exotic. There's also a bigger emphasis on story within the game, which was probably my biggest gripe with the first--I'm glad I won't have to go into an app in order to study up on the game's lore this time around, and hopefully that will keep me invested through the grind. -- Kallie Plagge, Associate Editor
Detroit: Become Human
I was barely aware Detroit: Become Human existed prior to E3 2017. All had gone quiet on David Cage's thriller, and whenever I did hear about it, my disappointment for Beyond: Two Souls dampened any personal excitement to apathy. But having now seen a new trailer and played a short demo of a separate section of the game, I'm excited again. Detroit: Become Human's trailer shown off at Sony's E3 2017 conference introduced us to a new character, Marcus, who has the power to enlighten fellow servant androids and give them sentience. The themes of slavery, suppression, and neo-noir detective fiction strike a chord with dark issues grounded in the real world, and they have me far more intrigued than I was before. David Cage's previous games have focused on human emotion more than perhaps others do, and Detroit is no different. In my 15-minute demo, I played an android negotiator, attempting to stop a fellow slave from jumping off a roof and killing a young girl. After a lengthy period of gathering evidence and information about the captor and his hostage, I attempted to talk him down from the ledge. And I felt awful when I failed. Even though my robotic character didn't react--simply walking away with a blank expression on his face--I felt terrible for making the wrong choice and effectively killing the child. That a 15-minute, contextless demo could make me feel so guilty...safe to say my apathy has gone away. -- Oscar Dayus, Staff Writer
Dragon Ball FighterZ
The Dragon Ball series has had a fairly rough go of it when it comes to nailing the style and action of the series. While few games have managed to evoke those same feelings of excitement and raw fun from the shows, such as Dragon Ball Xenoverse and the Budokai series, they still felt a bit lacking in their portrayal of raw and unadulterated DBZ action. So it was quite the surprise to see a new 3v3 2.5D fighter show itself at Microsoft's conference, and I can't tell you how much it makes me feel like kid sitting in front of my TV again. Coming from the developers at Arc System Works, the same team behind Guilty Gear and Blazblue, they've brought their style of action to the DBZ universe. While they're known for their focus on 2D fighters, in recent years they've implemented 3D visuals into the game, making the visuals feel more dense and dynamic, despite still being played on the 2D plane. From the videos we've seen, the action looks extremely hectic and fast-paced, which matches the pace from the series. Seeing Dragon Ball Fighter Z in action on the show floor was incredibly fulfilling as a lifelong DBZ fan. This feels like the game I wanted when I was a kid, and I can't believe I'm finally seeing it happen. -- Alessandro Fillari, Editor
Far Cry 5
The gameplay sequence shown during Ubisoft's press conference was playable here at E3 and I had a taste of the Guns For Hire companion system. I choose Nick Rye to support my liberation of the small town, which came in the form of airstrikes on spots I could mark. A loadout that included a silenced uzi, assault rifle, and a few grenades gave me more than enough firepower to take back the territory, but I was still vulnerable and couldn't take too much damage. The thrill of jumping through windows, checking my flanks, and popping off foes by peeking around corners reminded me how fun Far Cry games can be. Aside from this companion twist to alleviate a bit of the lonesomeness of previous Far Cry games, it felt similar to its predecessors. But why fix something that isn't broken? The captivating thing here is the vastness of Montana where everything feels like home, yet uncomfortable. My hope is the game doesn't become a checklist of templated missions on a huge map, especially because there's so much potential. There weren't any additional story bits to pick up from the playable sequence, but it's easy to see how the premise of taking down a deranged cult lends itself to the Far Cry formula. -- Michael Higham, Associate Editor
Forza Motorsport 7
Forza Motorsport 7 faces a tall task in justifying itself as a worthwhile entry in the series. For many, the Forza Horizon sub-series is now the definitive Forza experience, having broadened the franchise's appeal. But rather than try to be something it's not, Forza 7 is doubling down on what makes it so appealing to diehard racing fans. It's no slight on the game to remark first on its graphics--this is one of the best-looking games I've ever seen. It's astonishingly beautiful on a 4K HDR TV, particularly when the rain rolls in. Forza 7 expands its weather system so that you might see rain clouds in the distance that then move in and impact the race. Developer Turn 10 has gone to great lengths to ensure realism, even accurately modeling the spots on these real-world tracks where puddles tend to accumulate when it rains. There are also new customization systems (you now have a physical person to dress up and show off in multiplayer), a massive roster of cars (more than 700, now including Porsches), and a system for seamlessly moving from race to race, keeping the focus on the action rather than navigating menus. -- Chris Pereira, News Editor
God of War
With the backdrop of Norse mythology in full swing, it's interesting seeing Kratos in a new setting, albeit with a more weathered and seasoned presence. He uses some new weapons, such as the Leviathan Axe and a new shield, which he's able to wield in tandem. It'll be exciting to see what sort of moves you can pull off. Of course, the biggest element of the story is his relationship with his son, and how he maintains control over his rage in the face of the many dangers that he and his son face. Though many expected a sort of extended escort mission with Kratos and son, the trailer showed that he's got some moves of his own that allow him to stand by his dad's side in the heat of battle. What I found most interesting about God of War is how it attempts to re-examine Kratos' place in the world, and how his past has defined him. And whether he's willing to pass on a piece of himself to his son--who himself is still learning the ways of the world. It's a surprisingly soulful moment, and I'm surprised that God of War is digging this deep. I can't wait to see more. -- Alessandro Fillari, Editor
Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle
I thought Kingdom Battle was a joke when the art first leaked. When you see a Rabbid dressed as Princess Peach taking a selfie, it's possible that the first thing you think will be, "Why does this exist now?" But Kingdom Battle, it turns out, is one of the most interesting, and most fun, games at E3 2017, and not just because Shigeru Miyamoto walked out on stage at the Ubisoft press conference and the creative director was extremely proud of it. It is a surprisingly complex, deep game that's both quintessentially Mario and, at the same time, somehow a competent XCOM-like strategy game. It's an impressive feat of game design that a Mario and Rabbids crossover inspired so directly by XCOM nonetheless manages to balance all these disparate parts in a game that's engaging and simply fun to play. It's certainly not a watered-down version of a turn-based game, either. It's hard, nuanced, and full of customization options to build out your team. I had an absolute blast playing it, and while I might still make fun of the selfie-taking Peach Rabbid, I can't wait to play more. -- Alex Newhouse, Writer
Metroid: Samus Returns
Nintendo has finally done it. After 13 years of waiting, we're actually getting a new side-scrolling Metroid game. And not only that, it's a reimagining of Metroid II: Return of Samus, which originally released on Game Boy in 1991. Titled Metroid: Samus Returns, the game looks to recapture the magic of old-school Metroid games, while also introducing new mechanics, like a melee counter attack and the ability to freely aim. These changes, while fairly minimal, are welcome additions to the series' classic formula that I'm eager to spend more time with. But the biggest appeal of Samus Returns is the opportunity to experience the narrative of Metroid II. The original game is available on Virtual Console, but by today's standards, it's nearly unplayable. To be able to experience the narrative bridge between Metroid and Super Metroid with proper, modern design is a godsend. Metroid II has been dying for the remake treatment, so to see Nintendo finally act on it with the help of Mercury Steam (a dev best known for Castlevania: Lords of Shadow), is incredibly exciting. This alone is what makes Samus Returns one of the most exciting games at E3. Let's just hope that it isn't as short a Metroid: Zero Mission. -- Matt Espineli, Associate Editor
Middle-earth: Shadow of War
Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor was a delightful surprise back in 2014. It managed to both offer a different sort of Lord of the Rings experience than we were accustomed to seeing and provide some unique mechanics like the Nemesis system. Shadow of War makes that game look almost like a proof-of-concept, as it expands on what worked in Shadow of Mordor while also addressing its shortcomings. Shadow of War expands the Nemesis system, with more potential variety for orcs. This serves to make them feel less like procedurally generated NPCs, and more like actual beings who are worth being remembered. Followers that you've recruited can also be impacted by Nemesis--choose not to help one when they're bleeding out, and they might end up turning on you, creating a foe with a particular grudge against you. Similarly, fortress assaults provide you with massive set-piece moments that can also feel uniquely your own. Whether through your personal history with the overlord, your approach to hunting down its warchiefs ahead of time, or simply the upgrades you choose when launching an assault (like bringing poisonous spiders to the fight), there are more ways for a playthrough to be distinct from that of another player. Whether this all holds up over the course of the full adventure remains to be seen, but from what I've been able to play, Shadow of War has the makings of a game that thoroughly improves on its predecessor in all the ways that matter. -- Chris Pereira, News Editor
Need for Speed: Payback
When I think about my favorite Need For Speeds, I recall the narrative focus of The Run and the chase-centric focus of the last Hot Pursuit. Having a Need For Speed that paired these two elements into one package seems too good to be true, but that's exactly that Payback promises to deliver. Based on my time with this next Need For Speed, I have reason to be optimistic. This would not be possible if not for the uninterrupted transitions from the driving sections that make up most of Payback to the cinematics, forming the narrative connective tissue. Even better, you'll be jumping from the different perspectives of the story's co-protagonists--who appear to be car thieves for hire--with very little warning. In 2017, it seems that no racing game that has elements of heists and chases is worthwhile unless it offers some degree of The Fast And The Furious theatrics. If what I've seen and played at E3 was a sample indicative of the full game, prepare for some vehicular antics beyond the usual sideswipes at 120 mph. And having plot-driven goals provides a fresh change of pace from the usual objectives of finishing first or getting the best race times. -- Miguel Concepcion, Senior Editor
Ni no Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom
Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch enraptured fans by bringing the magic of Studio Ghibli to a fully fledged RPG with an emotional journey. It felt as if I lived in a Miyazaki film, with the likes of Mister Drippy and a vast cast of Familiars. But this sequel separates itself from the the first with a whole new cast and story, but retains its charm. We get to return to this universe but with the king of Ding Dong Dell, named Evan. Instead of the pokemon-like creatures of the previous game, Ni no Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom gives us the Pikmin-inspired Higgledies. Although they don't do much in terms of damage, their support was key to surviving in the playable demo. The battle system has been revamped as well, and it feels much faster and fluid, but there was too much to learn in a short period of time. I'm hopeful that its depth will compel me to see the game through, since it's going to be a massive RPG with a huge game world. My battle with a fire dragon could have taken up my entire session, so you can expect some long, drawn-out battles. All the while, Revenant Kingdom is still wrapped in a familiar charm and beautiful design that makes even the tougher moments enjoyable. -- Michael Higham, Associate Editor
Spider-Man
Insomniac's upcoming PS4 exclusive, simply titled Spider-Man, was the surprise finale to Sony's E3 2017 conference on Monday. We saw a gameplay demo of Spidey climbing rooftops, beating bad guys, and gliding around to save the world from the latest bad guy. It was all very Batman: Arkham, only with added arachnids--and you know what? That's fine by me. Since Treyarch made Spider-Man 2 in 2004, Rocksteady's Batman series has been the sole shining light for video game superhero fans. Arkham Asylum and Arkham City in particular set a new standard for comic book video games, and it's about time Spider-Man got back into that action. The combat may have borrowed a few ideas from Batman's, sure, but what's a little crowdsourcing between super-friends? Insomniac also says it's attempting to appeal to a broad range of the Spider-Man audience, from casual players like myself who might have only watched the films to hardcore comic book fans who know the franchise inside out. That's reflected in the cast: the demo shown at E3 showcased both Wilson Fisk--one of the more well-known villains of the Marvel universe--and Mr. Negative. I'm excited to learn more about which other bad guys we might fight in the full game, to explore Marvel and Insomniac's universe in greater detail, and to smash headfirst into a New York skyscraper (or three because I'm bad at games). -- Oscar Dayus, Staff Writer
Star Wars Battlefront II
2015's Star Wars: Battlefront was a fun game that captured the spirit of the Star Wars franchise, and gave players an opportunity to be a hero--or a villain--and live out their fantasies. The multiplayer-only game was tremendously successful, shipping 14 million copies, which made it one of the most commercially successful Star Wars games ever. However, it lacked depth and there was no single-player whatsoever, both points frustrating fans who wanted more. EA is listening to the feedback around the first game, as the sequel has a campaign and the multiplayer is expanded and improved upon in meaningful, significant ways. The campaign stars an all-new hero, Iden Versio, who fights for the Empire. This is a story of the bad guys, and it's pretty cool to think about the storytelling opportunities. The multiplayer, meanwhile, which is the bread and butter of the franchise, looks like it corrects the issues of the original and pushes things forward in a way that fans will be excited about. Weapons feel weightier and lack the same-ness that plagued the original. The map design, at least what we got to play at E3, is smart and alluring. And the new characters--Rey, Darth Maul, and Yoda, to name a few--are exciting additions to the roster. Another bright spot? The multiplayer DLC is all completely free. Battlefront II launches in November for PS4, Xbox One, and PC. -- Eddie Makuch, AU Editor
Super Mario Odyssey
The Super Mario series has an excellent track record, and Nintendo could have played it safe when developing a new Mario game for Switch by following in Super Mario 3D World's footsteps. Instead, Nintendo cooked up a game that bucks tradition, introducing surprising mechanics and systems that ultimately reshape what a 3D Mario game can be. It worked for The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, and based on our hands-on time with the game, we are already convinced that Super Mario Odyssey is going to be special when it releases later this year. Chief among these changes is the structure of the game: rather than introduce levels within a themed world, Super Mario Odyssey gives you open-ended sandbox-style kingdoms to explore. These mini-worlds are jam-packed with platforming challenges, one-of-a-kind puzzles, and NPCs ready to hand out sidequests. But even within this very non-Super Mario structure, there are bite-sized obstacles that feel like they could have been ripped straight out of Super Mario 64 or Super Mario Sunshine. Where power-ups earned by killing enemies gave you the upper hand in the past, Super Mario Odyssey allows you to literally inhabit enemies' bodies by throwing Mario's hat, Cappy, onto their head. You can do this to just about any enemy you see, and experimenting with your options opens up new ways to navigate environments, defeat enemies, and solve puzzles. This mechanic and Super Mario Odyssey's creative level design feel like the perfect pairing, and we can't wait to see what lies in store for us when the game ships in the fall on October 27th. -- Peter Brown, Senior Editor
The Artful Escape
Gorgeous indie game The Artful Escape was one of the many games shown at Microsoft's E3 conference, and it flew under my radar among all the other announcements until I actually played it. It stars a guitar player navigating a 2D dreamlike world. It's not yet clear exactly what's happening story-wise, but he sees a ghost-like vision of a woman who speaks to him in mysterious riddles. Most interestingly, he can navigate by playing his guitar: "shredding" gives him an extended jump, and playing the right notes in the right places will allow him to pass through. Along the way, he's grappling with his place in the world. The Artful Escape is visually stunning--the demo, at least, takes place in a shimmery, twilight mountain area decked with pink string lights that reflect off the snow. But it also has an ethereal tone and intriguing take on a story about identity, both of which make me want to see more beyond its aesthetics. -- Kallie Plagge, Associate Editor
Total War: Warhammer II
The uniqueness of this first sequel to the Total War: Warhammer trilogy is two-fold, by taking both the Total War and Warhammer properties to completely new realms. From The Creative Assembly's perspective, their strategy series has come a ridiculously long way since Shogun: Total War. As a Warhammer game, it pushes the boundaries of what one can expect from this long-running fantasy sci-fi franchise. As a sequel with a new setting, Total War: Warhammer 2's main region is generally known as The New World. While it's not meant to draw analogies to North America, jungle settings and stone temples convey an unmistakable South American feel. The Lizardmen tribe--one of the four factions that also includes High Elves and Dark Elves--complement the land's many tropical areas. Conquering this vast region with one of the factions by relying on classic real-time strategy tactics is involving on its own but it wouldn't be a complete Total War experience if there weren't other significant variables to consider. A great vortex has swirled for a millenia and--depending on your race--you're tasked to either destroy or save this maelstrom. And if that weren't enough, a free update will combine the regions from the first game with this sequel into a new campaign. Total War: Warhammer 2 looks to exemplify The Creative Assembly as a developer that knows how to plan out and weave a trilogy. -- Miguel Concepcion, Editor
Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus
Wolfenstein: The New Order was one of my favorite first-person shooters of this generation with its violent drama, bits of comic relief, and great level design. So, I was eager to get my hands on the sequel after watching its wild reveal trailer during Bethesda's press conference. Having played through an early mission, it was clear that Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus doesn't stray away from its established formula, nor does it need to. I was plenty thrilled to be back in BJ Blazkowicz's shoes, or in this case, chair. BJ is crippled gets by on a wheelchair, but that doesn't stop him from fighting. It seems that the Nazis have found the makeshift hideout which is a U-boat obtained by the Kreisau Circle resistance group. By activating electric fields that work as traps, I could avoid firefights. As I explored the nooks and cranny's of the U-boat, I picked up context to exactly what's happening back home. I even got to see familiar faces like Caroline, joining the fight in an exo-suit. However, this mission left me hanging as I was captured by an old nemesis, Frau Engel. I enjoyed my time with the mission, but it's not indicative of the entire experience since you won't be strapped to a wheelchair the whole game. I wish I got to see a more frantic or suspenseful mission that could've potentially showed off new mechanics, but the premise of retaking Nazi-occupied America is more than enough to keep me hyped up for The New Colossus. -- Michael Higham, Associate Editor
Xbox One X
Microsoft already revealed that its upcoming console, previously codenamed Project Scorpio, will be the most powerful console on the market with its 8-core AMD SOC, but at E3 2017, Microsoft several new things about the system at E3. Perhaps the most notable announcement was the reveal of the Xbox One X name and that the system will launch worldwide for $499 on November 7. Design-wise, it's the smallest Xbox yet, and aesthetically, it looks a lot like a black Xbox One S. The system played Forza Motorsport 7 at 60 frames per second at 4K, and I didn't notice any frame rate hiccups. Developer Turn 10 Studios says the Xbox One X version basically runs somewhere between the PC port's high and ultra settings. While the console is geared towards gamers with 4K TVs, Microsoft also asserted that the Xbox One X could offer gaming improvements for those who don't own UHD displays: things like faster load times, added anisotropic filtering, and supersampling. Microsoft also showcased several games to support the new hardware that include Shadow of War, Metro: Exodus, Assassin's Creed: Origins, and more. -- Jimmy Thang, Technology Editor
By Array on Jun 16, 2017 02:36 am
Days of Sony.
For the first time ever, E3 is open to the public this year. As a result, it seems Sony has brought its best to the show, creating a booth themed revolving around some its upcoming games, like Days Gone, Spider-Man, and Detroit: Become Human. For a deep for a deeper dive at what Sony announced at this year's show, take a look at all the news and announcements from Sony's press conference, all of the new E3 Sony trailers, and a list of all the Sony games announced at the show! For our complete coverage, head to GameSpot's E3 hub for all of our news, videos, and impressions. And be sure to check back often as more stories and videos get published.
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