Believe it or not, E3 2018 is here. The annual gaming extravaganza returns to Los Angeles for what is poised to be one of the biggest weeks of the year for gaming news, reveals, and trailers. As always, announcements will primarily come from the various conferences that take plays in the days leading up to E3; here's when all of those happen and where you can watch livestreams and liveblogs.
EA kicked things off on Saturday, June 9, with its EA Play briefing, while Microsoft and Bethesda followed on Sunday afternoon and evening, respectively. Devolver Digital, a relative newcomer to E3 press conferences, also hosted one on Sunday. Square Enix followed these on Monday morning with a shorter-than-expected broadcast; Ubisoft then takes its turn in the afternoon, with Sony's presentation slated for later that evening. The PC Gaming Show also happens on Monday. Nintendo then concludes the press conferences with its briefing on Tuesday morning.
Below we've laid out the exact schedule, complete with times, for all of this year's press conferences. We'll be streaming all of these press conferences here on GameSpot as well as on Twitter. The show itself runs June 12-14, and like last year, it's open to the public--here's how to get tickets.
343 Industries has shared more details on the recently announced Halo: Infinite, which right now seems like it's more of an idea than a game. In a blog post, studio head Chris Lee said the game will focus on Master Chief and his saga. This is good news, as Halo 5: Guardians moved away from Master Chief somewhat with a story that split its time between Chief and Agent Locke.
Lee said the team at 343 is well aware of the feedback that Halo 5 strayed too far from Master Chief. "The team also heard feedback loud and clear on the amount of time spent playing as the Master Chief in Halo 5," Lee explained. "In Halo Infinite, the game will focus on the Master Chief and continue his saga after the events of Halo 5."
In Halo 5, you don't always play as Master Chief, which isn't the experience some fans wanted. Seeing the world through the lens of Agent Locke was an intriguing move for the franchise, but as a core entry in the series, some fans understandably wanted an all-Master Chief game. Thankfully, then, it's good to hear 343 is re-focusing on Chief for Halo: Infinite.
The trailer for Halo: Infinite shown at Microsoft's E3 briefing was actually a video for the game's new engine, Slipspace, not the game itself. As such, what you saw is not necessarily representative of what the game will be. Lee added in his statement that 343 is taking its time with Halo: Infinite to make sure it's the "right game." He also added that 343 is "making changes to how we approach things," which could be interpreted in a number of ways.
A current rumour circulating online is that Halo: Infinite will be two separate releases: single-player and multiplayer. According to noted Microsoft insider Brad Sams, the Halo: Infinite single-player experience will launch at the end of 2019, with multiplayer coming in 2020. This is not confirmed, and a Microsoft representative declined to comment when approached by GameSpot.
"The goal of the entire 343 Industries team is to make a great Halo game for our fans that also invites new players into our franchise," Lee said. "We will have some new and unexpected directions to take folks in and I believe the way we achieve that is to build alongside our community, iterating and improving as we go."
Also in the blog post, Lee teased that 343 will offer multiple Halo: Infinite "flighting programs," which are essentially alpha and beta tests. These will start small and grow as time progresses, he said. This is just the latest example of a developer becoming more open and transparent in the development process, and that is good to see. Microsoft is already doing this with the flighting programs it holds for Halo: The Master Chief Collection where select people can check out new updates before launch.
For more on Halo: Infinite, you can re-watch the E3 2018 announcement trailer in the embed above. Microsoft's E3 briefing also brought news about Gears of War 5, a new Battletoads, and more.
On top of that, Square Enix revealed two new games. See all of the trailers below, and for more details on Square's press conference, check out our roundup of all the news and announcements.
Kingdom Hearts 3
Although a trailer for Kingdom Hearts 3 was shown during Microsoft's press conference on Sunday, the extended trailer shown during Square Enix's press conference had a few more details. It shows Pixar's Ratatouille as well as the characters Kairi and Axel. Kingdom Hearts 3 is coming January 29, 2019.
Shadow of the Tomb Raider
Microsoft showed a trailer for Shadow of the Tomb Raider during its press conference, but Square Enix's briefing gave us the first look at gameplay. The video shows off some of the game's new mechanics as well as its darker tone. There's also a look at the stealth in this game and new ways of traversal, including fully-fledged swimming.
Just Cause 4
Square Enix went into more detail for Just Cause 4, which included outlining new destruction and physics models. The upcoming open-world shooter continues the story of Rico Rodriguez along with all the wild antics you'd expect from the series. The iconic grappling hook will function differently as it can be used in new ways. Vehicle handling and AI is said to be drastically improved while dynamic weather is a new variable to shake things up. Just Cause 4 launches December 4.
Nier Automata: Become As Gods Edition
Last year's hit, Nier Automata, is coming to Xbox One! This was revealed ahead of the press conference, but we got another look at it during both Microsoft's and Square Enix's briefings. Called Nier Automata: Become as Gods Edition, it launches in the Xbox Store on June 26.
Babylon's Fall
Babylon's Fall is a new game from developer Platinum Games. The trailer doesn't show much, but it does include a timeline outlining the lore. It has a fantasy setting involving knights and could potentially have magical or supernatural elements. It's coming out in 2019.
The Quiet Man
A brand-new game from Square Enix was revealed during its E3 presentation. It's called The Quiet Man. As the title implies, it will involve silence in some manner, especially because the games' tagline is "silence rings loudest." The trailer focuses on a character beating up two other dudes in the street. You can watch it above.
Dragon Quest XI
A new story trailer for Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age was shown off during the presentation and fleshed out more of the RPG's world. The instantly recognizable art style from Akira Toriyama (Dragon Ball, Chrono Trigger) and localized English voice acting was on full display. You'll be wielding the light to seal the dark.
Final Fantasy XIV: Stormblood
Square Enix offered a brief look at a forthcoming update for Final Fantasy XIV: Stormblood called Under the Moonlight. It's patch 4.3, and while we don't yet know everything it changes, one of the most notable additions is Monster Hunter World-themed content. A furry Palico friend in Final Fantasy XIV's world, as well as a Rathalos, should excite many fans of both universes.
Octopath Traveler
The upcoming Nintendo Switch game Octopath Traveler is a throwback turn-based RPG that has a gorgeous 2.5D art-style. The game does some interesting things with combat and storytelling and will be available July 13, 2018.
The Awesome Adventures of Captain Spirit
Another game first showcased during Microsoft's conference was Dontnod Entertainment's new game, The Awesome Adventure of Captain Spirit. More details were shown during Square Enix's E3 presentation. The trailer depicts a young boy whose greatest talent is his imagination; he thinks of himself as a superhero and explorer who fights against evil forces on his journey. In this extended look, we got a look at what his fantasy costume looks like.
Square Enix revealed two editions of Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age during its E3 2018 press conference. Dubbed the Edition of Light and the Edition of Lost Time, both versions will be available at launch and include an assortment of bonus DLC items for the RPG, along with other extras.
The "day one" Edition of Light is available either physically or digitally for PS4 or PC. Regardless of which format you choose, you'll get a DLC pack containing the following helpful items: the Supplicant and Healer accessories (which restore MP and HP, respectively), as well as three Seeds of Skill. The physical edition for PS4 features a reversible cover, while the digital version includes a bonus "Legend Reborn" theme.
The Edition of Lost Time, meanwhile, is only available for PS4. It comes with the same bonus content as the Edition of Light, along with an assortment of physical collectibles. These include a two-disc orchestrated soundtrack, steelbook case, 128-page artbook, a cloth map of Erdrea, and an additional set of DLC items.
The Edition of Light retails for US $60, while the Edition of Lost Time costs US $150. The latter is also available exclusively through Square Enix's online store. As an added bonus, everyone who pre-orders any physical edition of the game through the Square Store will receive a special Dragon Quest XI lanyard.
If you prefer to purchase the game through other retailers, you'll get a different set of pre-order bonuses for reserving Dragon Quest XI at either GameStop of Amazon. Those who pre-order the game at the former will get a set of buttons, as well as the Elevating Vest and three Seeds of Skill. Pre-ordering at Amazon, meanwhile, will get you the Arriviste's Vest and three Seeds of Skill.
Dragon Quest XI launches for PS4 and PC on September 4. The game is also in development for Nintendo Switch, although that version is still a way off and does not yet have a release date.
Square Enix joined the E3 fun this year with its own presentation, which included a more detailed look at the upcoming open world shooter Just Cause 4. Rico Rodriguez returns and is now in the fictional South American country of Solis, which is said to be bigger than any previous game in the series.
Improved destruction and physics models are core to Just Cause 4 and an "extreme weather" dynamic shows this off. Tornadoes are taking down bridges, structures, and forestry, but Rico can also use this to his advantage. The handling model for cars and motorcycles has been revamped, but new vehicles like jetskis, microjets, bulldozers, and even wrecking balls change things up even more.
Rico's grappling hook has been a staple of the Just Cause franchise and it's also going through some changes. It'll have more tethers so players can get more creative in how its used. In addition, AI is said to be smarter and more tactical which presents new challenges.
Just Cause 4 launches on December 4, 2018 for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC. If you want to get a deeper look into the upcoming open world game, check out our Just Cause 4 preview.
During its E3 2018 press conference, Square Enix has revealed Babylon's Fall, a new game from developer Platinum Games. The trailer doesn't show gameplay, but it does show a timeline that details the game's lore, indicating that it has a fantasy setting with some religious themes.
The trailer ends with what appears to be a knight engaged in battle with a very large, armored enemy holding an equally large sword. There seems to be a magical or supernatural element to combat, though it's not clear from the trailer alone. However, this is a Platinum Games title, which gives us some idea of the kind of gameplay we can expect.
Babylon's Fall is set to release in 2019 on PS4 and PC. No other details were given. Also announced during Square Enix's press conference was The Quiet Man, a new game that involves silence in an as-yet unknown manner. We'll get more details on that game in August.
To catch up with all the news out of Square Enix's press conference, be sure to see our roundup of every announcement. We also got a look at Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Kingdom Hearts III, and more.
A new story trailer for Dragon Quest XI: Echoes Of An Elusive Age was unveiled during Square Enix's E3 2018 presentation and fleshed out more of the RPG's world. The iconic art-style from Akira Toriyama (Dragon Ball, Chrono Trigger) was on full display, and we had a taste of the localized English voice acting.
Early in the game, you'll arrive at the city of Heliodor, where the main character Hero is referred to as a "Luminary", which is a common class title in past Dragon Quest games. Hero is sent to jail by King Carnelian, who seems to have a vendetta against luminaries, believing they're conspiring with darkness.
Dragon Quest XI comes to PlayStation 4 and PC worldwide on September 14, 2018, while the Nintendo Switch version does not have a release date yet. Pre-orders are now open and there will be two separate editions of the game. The game launched in Japan for PS4 and Nintendo 3DS in July last year and sold extremely well, with over three million units sold in a four-month period.
Square Enix continues the E3 2018 reveals with a bevy of announcements about its latest games. There was a diverse roster of games from both western and Japanese developers, many of which come from some of the industry's most well-known studios.
But it also gave us a look at brand new games. It revealed a new adventure by Nier: Automata developer Platinum games. Titled Babylon's Fall, the debut trailer only gave a brief glimpse at the game's world and its history. In addition, a new game called The Quiet Man was briefly teased; though not much else was detailed around what it'll be about.
Square Enix's E3 presentation was packed with a wealth of exciting new games, so be sure to check out the rest of this feature to see everything the company showed off. And if you'd like to read about all the announcements that came from the briefing, check out our news roundup. But which games from the press conference are you most excited about? Feel free to discuss it in the comments below.
The Awesome Adventures of Captain Spirit
The Awesome Adventures of Captain Spirit is the latest game by Dontnod Entertainment. It takes place in the universe of Life is Strange, and puts you in control of a young boy who's greatest talent is his imagination. He thinks of himself as a superhero and explorer who fights against evil forces on his journey. Its events and characters are directly connected to the upcoming second season of Life is Strange.
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC | Release Date: June 26
Babylon's Fall
Babylon's Fall is the latest game by famed studio, Platinum Games. Based on the reveal trailer, the upcoming project appears to be fantasy-themed action game. You appear to play as a knight with unique magical abilities.
Platforms: PS4, PC | Release Date: TBA 2019
Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age
The latest chapter in Square Enix's beloved RPG series arrives in the West more than a year after its Japanese release, and it comes with some notable tweaks. We know the western release of Dragon Quest XI will feature a few new elements, including a dash function, redesigned menus, and a new Draconian Quest hard mode.
Platforms: PS4, PC | Release Date: September 4
Just Cause 4
Rico Rodriguez returns for another ridiculous adventure full of mayhem and destruction in Just Cause 4. This time, Rico will be taking his grappling hook, wingsuit, and other assorted gadgets to South America.
Platforms: Xbox One, PC | Release Date: December 4
Kingdom Hearts III
We've gotten sneak peeks at some of the worlds and characters that Kingdom Hearts III will contain, including Hercules, Monsters Inc., and Toy Story. We're not sure exactly where the story will specifically take Sora and friends, but we do know it is the direct sequel to Kingdom Hearts 2 and an end to the saga.
Platforms: Xbox One, PS4 | Release Date: January 29, 2019
Nier Automata: Become As Gods Edition
Xbox One is finally getting the critically acclaimed Nier: Automata, which first released on PS4 last year. It will release at a discounted price and will include all previously released DLC.
Platforms: Xbox One | Release Date: June 26
Octopath Traveler
Octopath Traveler is a unique and beautiful-looking RPG that uses what the developers call HD-2D graphics, which combines Super NES-style 16-bit graphics with polygonal environments and HD effects. There are eight different playable characters, each with their own unique playstyle and starting area. Combat is turn-based, during which characters build up Boost Points to help them perform special abilities.
Platforms: Nintendo Switch | Release Date: July 13
The Quiet Man
The Quiet Man is a brand-new game where you play as a silent protagonist who appears to be deaf. The brief trailers showed him getting into a fight and quickly dispatching two hooligans in an alleyway. As the title implies, the game's mechanics will likely involve silence and sound in some manner. According to Square Enix, more information concerning The Quiet Man will be revealed in August.
Platforms: PS4, PC | Release Date: TBA
Shadow of the Tomb Raider
Lara is back on her tomb raiding spree in Shadow of the Tomb Raider. This time she's in the thick of the jungles in Latin America searching for a Mayan relic connected to her father. Little does she know she's about to set off the Mayan apocalypse, requiring her to save the world.
Platforms: Xbox One, PS4, PC | Release Date: September 14
Starting the third day of the E3 2018 conference is none other than Square Enix. With big upcoming games like Shadow of the Tomb Raider and Kingdom Hearts III just on the horizon, it makes sense that the tenured Japanese company held a press conference to discuss more about what it has in store.
We've rounded up all of the announcements from the briefing, and below you'll find all of our coverage of Square Enix's event. But if you'd like to re-experience the excitement of the event alongside us, be sure to jump into our Square Enix press conference liveblog.
E3 2018 got its unofficial kickoff on Saturday with the EA Play press conference, where the publisher finally unwrapped the future of one of its Star Wars games currently in development, Jedi Fallen Order. Although there wasn't any video or gameplay footage, Respawn Entertainment's Vince Zampella was able to offer a few details on the new game in production at his studio, which is best known for the Titanfall series.
Respawn's new Star Wars game is titled Jedi Fallen Order. It will be set between Episode III: Revenge of the Sith and Episode IV: A New Hope, during a period of time when the galaxy was plagued by darkness and the Jedi were being hunted. There are few details on who the protagonist is, but players will assume the role of a surviving Padawan, meaning you'll get to wield a lightsaber. The game is scheduled for release during the holiday season in 2019, but unfortunately we don't have any more ideas about what will set this game apart from.
Late last year, EA shut down Visceral Games and said it would be revamping the single-player Star Wars game it was working on. An open-world game is also planned. No new details on those were shared during EA Play, nor do we know exactly when either one will be released. As for Respawn's other teams, it has two more games in the works, but again, those were not showcased during EA Play.
E3 will continue along tomorrow with press conferences from Microsoft and Bethesda, and then even more to follow on Monday and Tuesday. Follow along with our full schedule to plan your viewing.
A new trailer for Kingdom Hearts III premiered at the Xbox E3 2018 briefing and was then extended during Square Enix's event. The video showed a lot of characters from Pixar's Frozen such as Elsa and Olaf. Also on display were characters from Disney's Wreck-It-Ralph. Check out the trailer above.
Kingdom Hearts III's release date is set for January 29 for Xbox One and PlayStation 4. This was announced just prior to E3, and we learned a few additional details during Square Enix's press conference. That was simply home to the same trailer above from Microsoft's press conference, but slightly extended--we got to see Ratatouille, for instance.
Last month, we had some hands-on time with the game, and we were pleasantly surprised at how much the game's style and tone has held over the years. While fans can still expect to explore worlds themed after many classic Disney animated films, Pixar is now set to make its debut with the Kingdom Hearts series. As of now, the confirmed Disney worlds in Kingdom Hearts III are Tangled, Big Hero Six, Hercules, Toy Story, and Monsters Inc.
For more info on Kingdom Hearts III and other Square Enix titles during E3 2018, be sure to keep up with us we publish more content from the gaming world's biggest event. The game will likely feature in Square Enix's press conference, which is scheduled to be held on June 11.
The Monster Hunter series is famous for its crossovers, bringing gear and equipment themed around numerous other games. With Monster Hunter World proving to be a major success, it's now World's chance for a cross-company crossover. During its E3 press conference, Square Enix revealed that Monster Hunter World content is on the way to the MMO, Final Fantasy XIV.
Square Enix offered a brief look at a forthcoming update. Patch 4.3 is called Under the Moonlight, and while we don't yet know all that it will add, one headlining aspect is Monster Hunter World-themed content. We saw a Palico companion in Final Fantasy XIV's world, as well as a Rathalos. It's unclear what the Palico will do, but it looks like Rathalos will be a boss fight in the MMO. A press release states it will "bring new challenges to players of Final Fantasy XIV Online featuring characters from Monster Hunter World to the world of Hydaelyn."
Under the Moonlight launches sometime during Summer 2018. It looks to be a completely free update, although you will need to own the Stormblood expansion pack, have completed it, and reach level 70 in order access it. Of course, Final Fantasy XIV is a subscription-based MMO, so you'll need to have an active subscription if you hope to check out the new Monster Hunter content and whatever else might be added. More details will be shared during a Square Enix stream on June 12 at 11 AM PT / 2 PM ET / 7 PM BST.
Square Enix's press conference also brought news about Dragon Quest XI and offered a new look at Shadow of the Tomb Raider, among other things. It was a relatively brief event; you can see everything that was shared in our Square Enix briefing news recap.
By Anonymous on Jun 11, 2018 11:17 pm Fist of the North Star: Lost Paradise will be launching in North America and Europe on PlayStation®4 on October 2, 2018!
Following a trailer and a few details during Microsoft's press conference, Bethesda has revealed even more about Fallout 76. During the Microsoft conference it was confirmed that the game is set in the hills of West Virginia, and you're one of the first to emerge into the Wasteland after the nuclear apocalypse. Furthermore, Fallout 76 is a prequel to the other games and four times the size of Fallout 4. However, appearing on stage at E3 2018, executive producer Todd Howard provided more information.
Howard said that Vault 76 was built to celebrate America's tercentenary, and you're selected to enter the vault and wait for the day when you can return to the world. During a gameplay demo, the player is given the command to leave by the Overseer, who says it's reclamation day.
On the way out, you learn that most of the others have already left. Emerging into the outside world, Howard said Fallout 76 has new rendering and lighting technology, which allows for "16 times" the detail. Players will travel through six distinct regions, each with its own style, and each with its own set of risks and rewards. There will be new creatures for players to encounter.
Fallout 76 is also "entirely online" but you'll be able to play it solo. The idea for open-world survival came to Bethesda four years ago, when it started to work on building a multiplayer Fallout experience. Howard described the survival "softcore," which means death doesn't equal loss of progression. You'll never see a server when you play, and instead you'll just automatically go into a game with "dozens" of others. Of course, you can also join your friends and play together.
Howard continued to say player choice will also be incredibly important, so players will be able to decide who are the heroes and who are the villains. During the gameplay shown, multiple payers were shown engaging in combat, hanging out playing instruments, fighting aliens, emotions, crafting, and generally engaging in all the types of gameplay you expect from a Fallout, but together.
Although you can play solo, the easiest way to survive is to team up with others and build together. Making its return from Fallout 4 is the construction aspect of the game, which allowed players to erect structures to build towns. Your constructions will be attacked periodically by enemies, such as the Schorchbeast, which you'll need to bring down either alone or with friends. Once defeated, you can take pictures with your prey.
The Fallout 76 map will also have multiple nuclear missile sites, and players will be able to utilize them. To get them, you'll have to defeat enemies to find codes needed to access them, this is easier when you have multiple people, as codes are multi-part. With a full code, you can activate a nuclear launch targeted anywhere on that map you choose. In the resulting fallout, players will find valuable and rare rewards, but you'll have to make it through the numerous pitfalls of nuclear radiation to get them.
Fallout 76 will have dedicated servers that will support the game "now and for years to come." While on stage Howard also announced a beta--which stands for Break-it Early Test Application, according to Vault-Tec. He also revealed a special edition of the game, which has a map of the world that glows in the dark. It'll also have figures you can put on the map, as well as the T-51 Power Armor Helmet that you can wear. It has voice modulation and a headlight, so you can use it.
Fallout 76's release date was confirmed as November 14, 2018. It's coming to Xbox One, PS4, and PC, and will be available for preorder June 15.
Ending the second day of E3 2018 is Bethesda's press conference. The company gave an in-depth look at many of its upcoming games, which include Fallout 76, Rage 2, and Doom Eternal. The developer even offered brief glimpses at its roster well off into the future. The first being a sci-fi game called Star Field. But the show's closer was what got everyone excited: the reveal of The Elder Scrolls VI.
To catch you up on everything that happened at the briefing, we've gathered everything that was discussed. Below you can find all of our coverage of Bethesda's big event. But if you want to re-experience the event, you can check out our Bethesda press conference liveblog.
Rage 2 is Coming Spring 2019--More details about Rage 2 were revealed during Bethesda's E3 2018 press conference, including a release date; coming in early 2019 for PS4, Xbox One, and PC.
Rage 2 Extended Look Explores The Wasteland--Bethesda gave a deep-dive of its post-apocalyptic action game Rage 2 at its E3 2018 press briefing, shedding more light on what awaits in the wastes.
Fist of the North Star: Lost Paradise will be launching in North America and Europe on PlayStation®4 on October 2, 2018!
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