It took 14 long years to get a second Incredibles film from Disney/Pixar. However, it seems as though the latest installment in the superhero franchise didn't miss a step. As GameSpot's Incredibles 2 review points out, the new film is a worthy sequel--and just might be even better than the original.
It's also well on its way to earning Disney/Pixar's best opening weekend at the box office, with $18.5 million in Thursday night domestic preview screenings. That news comes via Deadline.
With seemingly everything working in its favor, it's only natural to wonder what happens next. After all, Pixar wouldn't wait another 14 years to revisit the Incredibles universe, would it? There have been three Cars movies since the first Incredibles movie hit theaters, proving the animation studio isn't afraid of sequels. You should stop reading now if you haven't seen Incredibles 2, as we're going to discuss spoilers.
So when should fans expect Incredibles 3? "Yeah, don't go there," writer-director Brad Bird tells GameSpot. "It's best not to talk to the mom who's just delivered a child about, 'How about the next child?' Don't do it. Don't do it, man."
Given that Bird and his team are just now closing the book on Incredibles 2, it's easy to understand why he's reticent to discuss another sequel. However, there are plenty of opportunities to explore in the new film. Whether it's the introduction of a new generation of supers or the fact that the Underminer is still at large, there are plenty of plot threads to address in another movie.
However, the biggest "unexploded bomb," as Bird refers to it, is Jack-Jack. The youngest member of the Parr family has a ton of crazy superpowers, and the writer-director teases there may be even more to see beyond what's in Incredibles 2. "He's all potential, right?" Bird asks.
Whatever the case, another Incredibles movie seems like an obvious road for Disney/Pixar to go down. As for when it will happen, that's anyone's guess.
Season 2 ofStar Trek: Discoveryis currently in production, ahead of a 2019 premiere. The series was being overseen by showrunners Gretchen Berg and Aaron Harberts, who replaced Bryan Fuller early into the production of Season 1. It has now been reported that Berg and Harberts have themselves left the show, with producer Alex Kurtzman taking over as showrunner.
Kurtzman's new role was confirmed in a statement from CBS Television Studios, which produces Discovery. It reads, "We've made some producer changes at Star Trek: Discovery. The series continues under the creative vision and leadership of executive producer and co-creator Alex Kurtzman. Discovery remains on course for season two in 2019 with new and continuing stories that build on its successful premiere season."
Kurtzman has been involved with the show since the very start and remains the most consistent figure amongst the various behind-the-scenes personnel changes. Fuller was originally appointed as showrunner, but in October 2016, he left the show to focus on Starz's American Gods. Berg and Harberts were already involved as executive producers and took over from Fuller.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, there were a number of rumored reasons for their departure, including a ballooning budget for Season 2's premiere episode and disagreements with members of the show's writing team. The site notes that the production was due to go on a planned hiatus soon, and that the change of showrunners will not affect its schedule.
In April, it was reported that Inhumans star Anson Mount will join Season 2 in the role of Captain Christopher Pike, the predecessor of James T. Kirk at the helm of the USS Enterprise. The arrival of Pike was first teased in the Season 1 finale when the USS Discovery came face-to-face with the iconic Star Trek vessel.
In related news, it has also been revealed that there are in fact two separate Star Trek movies in development. Although the direction of the franchise on the big screen has been uncertain following the commercial disappointment of 2016's Star Trek Beyond, Paramount boss Jim Gianopulos confirmed that it was still an active property at the studio. While we don't know what these projects are, one of them could be the Star Trek movie that Quentin Tarantino has been reportedly developing.
By Anonymous on Jun 15, 2018 10:30 pm In the third episode of this series we talk to the people who invested millions in Blizzard's vision for Overwatch League sight unseen, discussing the potential they see in esports, how they're committed to its growth, and the responsibilities they now have to their players.
American Horror Story fans were expecting a crossover season at some point, but no one expected it as soon as this year! Ryan Murphy officially confirmed on Twitter that there will be an American Horror Story crossover season coming out this September combining two of the most popular seasons, Murder House and Coven.
Murphy did previously confirm that Evan Peters, Sarah Paulson, and Kathy Bates will all be rejoining the cast for season 8. He even gave us a vague idea of who some of their characters may be, describing Peter's character as a funny hair stylist whose grandmother will be played by Joan Collins. Murphy also said that the season takes place 18 months from now, but things are a bit confused with the confirmation of the crossover season.
The Coven/Murder House AHS crossover season won't be happening next year...because it's happening THIS YEAR. AHS #8 WITCHES RULE THIS SEPTEMBER
Many fans are wondering, is the character that Murphy described for Peters in the crossover, or the season after it? When Murphy said it will take place 18 months from now, does that mean the crossover will be in the near future? Or was he talking about the season after this one? Will Sarah Paulson or Kathy Bates be reprising any of their roles? Will any of the old characters be coming back? In typical AHS fashion, the answers seem to only lead to more questions.
Details aside, what we know at this point is that the worlds of Murder House and Coven will be colliding in an American Horror Story crossover season this September, and we can't wait to see the ghosts party with the witches.
Pixar reinvented animated films. When the studio launched Toy Story in 1995, movie-goers both young and old fell in love with the way Pixar told stories. It appealed to the young with its themes of acceptance and to adults with themes revolving around redefining what it means to be in a family with a large dash of nostalgia. Now, two decades later, 20 feature-length movies have been produced, ranging from life-changing experiences to mildly enjoyable.
That's the thing about Pixar as a whole. It doesn't particularly make bad films. Of course, there are films within the company's catalog that are completely outshined by others, but that's only when compared to other Pixar films. Fans and critics alike put Pixar on a pedestal because it's pretty great at what it does, even when it's bad by comparison.
So we decided to look at what the critics have to say about Pixar movies over the past two decades. Using the scores from Metacritic, which averages out the ratings of a plethora of credible reviews, we're ranking all of Pixar's movies.
Disclosure: Metacritic is owned by CBS Interactive, GameSpot's parent site.
20. Cars 2 (2011)
Cars 2 is the only Pixar film to have received mixed reviews by critics which is why it's ranked last. In the film, anthropomorphic racecar Lightning McQueen returns with some friends from the first movie to compete in the world Grand Prix in Japan and Europe.
While Cars 3 was monetarily successful and an improvement on Cars 2, it still isn't considered one of Pixar's best because it only received "generally positive reviews." This may seem like a good thing but in comparison to Pixar's other films, which usually get rave reviews, "generally positive" isn't great. In this film, McQueen along with other Piston-Cup winners are feeling displaced by racing's new superstar, Jackson Storm, voiced by Armie Hammer.
Monsters University is a prequel to Monsters, Inc. which follows protagonists Mike and Sulley during their college years. They start out disliking each other but find their way to friendship. The film did very well at the box office, becoming the 12th highest-grossing animated film of all time, but it only got fairly good reviews which, again, doesn't really compare to many of Pixar's other films.
The Good Dinosaur is set in a world where dinosaurs never went extinct. It follows the story of a human boy and a dinosaur who become friends while trying to traverse the landscape together. It became Pixar's lowest-grossing film ever, earning a resounding, "meh," from audiences for what many consider a bland and unimaginative story.
Brave was Pixar's first feature-length film with a female director. The strong-willed teenage princess Merida, played by Kelly Macdonald, makes waves in her kingdom in the Scottish Highlands when she decides that she would rather not be betrothed to some random guy for political purposes. The film won Best Animated Feature at the Academy Awards, the Golden Globes and the BAFTA Awards. Unfortunately, many moviegoers felt misled by the trailers, which didn't give viewers a clear description of the movie.
Cars, Pixar's last independently produced movie, features some high profile actors like Owen Wilson, Tony Shalhoub, and Michael Keaton. The story follows the anthropomorphic race car, Lightning McQueen who has an inflated ego but learns how to be a bit more considerate when he gets lost in the small town of Radiator Springs. Cars was nominated for Best Animated Feature at the Academy Awards and won Best Animated Feature Film at the Golden Globes.
Finding Dory focuses on everyone's favorite amnesiac, Dory the fish, voiced by Ellen Degeneres. When Dory gets lost looking for her original home and ends up on the California coast, her best friends Marlon and Nemo set off on an adventure to find her. Despite its relatively low ranking, the movie was highly anticipated because of the success of Finding Nemo and it set a few box office records including highest-grossing animated film in North America. Sure the movie was enjoyable, but it felt a little too close to the story of the first movie. How many times can these fish get lost?
A Bug's Life is one of Pixar's first films, released only a few years after Toy Story, and it did pretty well at the box office. The story follows a colony of ants defending itself against the evil grasshoppers along with help from a few circus bugs. The debate still continues as to whether it's better than Antz.
Monsters, Inc. centers around best friends James P. "Sulley" Sullivan and Mike Wazowski. The monsters work at a company where their job is to scare small children into screaming, so that they can collect the screams and turn them into power. When the pair meet a child who inspires their sense of compassion, they begin to have a difficult time staying emotionally detached from their work. The film received excellent reviews from critics and did very well at the box office.
Incredibles 2 was released only one week ago, but so far, people are loving it. It takes place exactly where the first Incredibles left off and follows the Parr family as mother Helen Parr AKA Elastigirl's career is taking off while Mr. Incredible stays home with the kids. The family deals with a brand new villain as well as the continually evolving powers of youngest son Jack Jack.
Coco follows the story of Miguel, a young boy who accidentally travels to the land of the dead, where he has to find his great-grandfather in order to return to the land of the living and pursue his dream of becoming a musician. The film was highly praised and raked in all kinds of awards including Best Animated Feature (or the equivalent of that) from six different sources including the Academy Awards where it also won Best Original Song. The film is received particularly enthusiastic reviews for its celebration of Mexican culture.
Toy Story 2 isn't ranked as high as the third movie or the original, but many critics were big fans; there were some who thought it surpassed the original. The story is about a toy named Woody who was taken captive by a toy collector and is tempted by a chance at fame and immortality as Woody's friends Buzz Lightyear and the other toy pals set off to rescue him.
Up had many viewers crying within the first 10 minutes. It tells the story of a lonely old man whose wife never got the chance to have a baby and died before being able to satisfy her adventurous spirit by traveling to South America. By attaching thousands of balloons to the roof of the house they once shared, widower Carl Fredricksen sets off to fulfill he and his wife's dream of traveling to see the biggest waterfall in the world, unwittingly taking an annoying but lovable Wilderness Explorer with him. The movie got five Academy Award nominations and was the second of only three animated film to be nominated for Best Picture. It is arguably the most tear-jerking Pixar film to date (though Inside Out might give Up a run for its money on that one).
Toy Story 3 follows the fate of the toys when their human bestie Andy is leaving for college, and his mom accidentally puts them out on the curb. Feeling dejected, the toys escape and are donated to a day care where they meet new toy friends, while Woody tries--and fails--to convince the toys that throwing them away was a mistake. It was the second Pixar film to receive the Academy Award nomination for Best Picture, along with several other nominations. It was also the highest grossing film of 2010 worldwide, and the third highest-grossing animated film of all time, clearing over $1 billion.
Finding Nemo follows clownfish father, Marlon, as his son, Nemo, finds himself captured by a scuba-diving Australian dentist while journeying into the sea for adventure. Marlon looks far and wide for his son, encountering fun characters like Dory and conquering his fear of the unknown. Finding Nemo was hugely successful, winning Best Animated Feature and Best Original Screenplay at the Academy Awards as well as being named the 10th best animated film ever made by the American Film Institute. It was the highest-grossing G-rated film ever until Toy Story 3, and it remains the highest selling DVD of all time.
The Incredibles was very popular, earning box office success as well as critical acclaim. It follows the Parr superhero family as they try to suppress their powers and instincts in an attempt to live a normal life after a wave of backlash against superheroes hits newspapers. Bob AKA Mr. Incredible is tempted to get back in the game by an evil corporation run by a power hungry genius who felt rejected by Mr. Incredible as a boy when he wanted nothing more than to become a superhero using his inventions. It earned two Academy Awards and the Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation.
Inside Out was released in 2015 and is set inside the mind of a young girl named Riley. Her emotions are personified with names like Joy, Anger etc. The movie takes on some serious topics in regards to emotional health as the characters scramble to help Riley adjust to moving to San Francisco. The film was very well received and won accolades from six different sources, including the Golden Globe Award for Best Animated Feature.
Wall-E was is set in a semi-apocalyptic futuristic world where human pollution has rendered the Earth uninhabitable and unhealthy habits have made the majority of people overweight to the point where they are incapable of walking. Humankind now survives on massive ships traveling through space. The AI pilot of the ship would have them stay forever whereas trash-compactor robot Wall-E and his friend Eve take a growing plant as a sign that Earth has become habitable again. Adventuring and some incredible animation ensues. Wall-E was massively successful at the box office and won all kinds of awards, including the Hugo Award for Best Long Form Presentation. It was also voted one of the best 100 films of the 21st century, and it was at the top of Time's list for Best Films of the Decade.
Toy Story was Pixar's very first feature length film and is still considered one of their best. It centers around a group of toys who pretend to be inanimate when humans are around but have a life of their own when the humans leave. When a new astronaut toy named Buzz Lightyear joins the mix, cowboy toy Woody becomes a bit jealous, which isn't helped by Lightyear's attitude. The two eventually develop a friendship in the midst of some misadventures during the family's move to a new house. Toy Story was nominated for three Academy Awards and won the Special Achievement Award. It was also entered into the National Film Registry for its cultural significance.
Ratatouille is Metacritic's big winner for the best Pixar film to date, but given the popularity of all the Pixar films, surely fans would have something to say about that. The film is set in France and follows Remy, voiced by Patton Oswalt, a personified rat who is an outcast even in the rat community. Remy loves cooking more than anything, but being a rat, people don't generally want him near their kitchens so he must take a risk to prove himself as a talented chef, with the help of his struggling human chef friend, Alfredo Linguini. Ratatouille won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature and was voted one of the 100 best films of the 21st century.
The next Pokemon Go Community Day is right around the corner. The event takes place this Saturday, June 16, giving players another chance to capture rare Pokemon and earn some extra bonuses.
As Niantic previously revealed, the featured Pokemon in this month's Community Day is Larvitar. The Rock-type monster will spawn much more frequently than normal during the event hours, and if past Community Days are any indication, players will also have a chance to encounter Shiny variants of the Pokemon.
Any Larvitar that evolves into Tyranitar before the Community Day ends will also learn a special event-exclusive move, which Niantic recently revealed is the Rock-type attack Smack Down. This also applies to Larvitar that were captured prior to the Community Day; however, the Pokemon will only learn Smack Down if it evolves during the event hours.
On top of increased Larvitar spawns, players who participate in the Community Day will earn triple the normal amount of XP for capturing Pokemon. Additionally, any Lure Modules that are activated during the event will last for three hours, rather than the usual 30 minutes.
As is typically the case, June's Community Day will be held during a specific window of time rather than at a particular location. The event runs for three hours and kicks off at different times depending on where you live. You can find the Community Day schedule for each major region below.
North America
11 AM - 2 PM PT
2 PM - 5 PM ET
Europe and Africa
10 AM - 1 PM BST
Asia-Pacific
12 PM - 3 PM JST
On top of the new Community Day, Pokemon Go players can still participate in the ongoing Water Festival event, which runs until June 21. During the Water Festival, Water-type Pokemon such as Magikarp and Wailmer spawn more frequently, while 2km Eggs will hatch into Totodile, Mudkip, Corphish, and other Water-types.
The Legendary Water Pokemon Kyogre has also returned temporarily as part of the Water Festival. As before, the Pokemon can be found as a Raid Battle at Gyms, and this time, Niantic teases that players may have a chance to encounter its Shiny form.
By Anonymous on Jun 15, 2018 07:30 am The eighth season of American Horror Story has been confirmed to be a crossover of "Murder House" and "Coven." Ryan and Greg discuss everything we know about the upcoming season that will air this September.
Prior to E3, things weren't looking great for Microsoft. Crackdown was delayed to 2019. Sea of Thieves launch got off to an unstable start. And the console's list of exclusives looked lacking, to say the least. But the Microsoft press conference cracked open the shell obscuring what the Xbox has planned for the near future. And things are now looking much better. Matt Booty, the recently appointed head of first party studios, explained in an interview at E3 that he's trying to do more than just put out sequels to existing franchises; he he hopes to do more "branching out sideways."
"For example, you saw what we're doing with Gears of War," Booty explained. "We're putting the game on three different platforms with three different games in three different genres. We've got a core Gears game on console. We've got a new exploration off in mobile. We've got a whole new kind of game off in PC with Gears Tactics, right? And that's one way we'll grow."
But the other avenue for growth is equally headline-making: Xbox announced partnerships with five new studios, all of which will fall under Booty's umbrella. "We're going to bet on people, we're going to bet on ideas. We're going to go on, Phil [Spencer] used the word, a 'quest' to find creators. You think about the common thread with people like Guillaume [Provost] at Compulsion Games, Nina at Ninja Theory. These are studio leaders who really understand the craft of the game and the creativity."
Booty says that he also has some "complete blank slates." For the hiring of Darrell Gallagher, who heads up the newly formed Santa Monica studio, Booty gave him a "blank piece of paper," and told him, "You go hire the team you want. You go work on the game you want. We're going to get you a building you want, and we want to just start a studio from scratch."
The future of Xbox games sounds promising, but 2018 still feels light on exclusives. In response to that, Booty boasts that the power of the Xbox One makes the console's strong third party line-up an equally important selling point. "We saw partners of our stage, folks like Bethesda, who have decided to show their content many times first on our stage, and flat out have said, 'Hey, we think this looks best on Xbox One X.' So we've got some cool stuff coming from first party as we get into holiday, but we've got a whole bunch of partners that are bringing content over the next year that really plays best on Xbox."
But the Microsoft gaming division is about more than just games. Spencer teased that a console streaming service is on the way. There's the dedicated streaming app Mixer. And on the hardware side, there's already a team at work on the next iteration of Xbox hardware. How does someone like Booty help elevate his teams while also making sure everything else Microsoft has coming up gets the attention it needs?
"The job of first party, really at the core, is to be kind of a beacon and a lighthouse for a lot of our things," he explains. "So when we first said, 'What if we put games into Game Pass at the same time that we put them into retail and digital?' There were some questions about that. Does that mean that people are only going to play it in the Game Pass? Is that going to impact retail sales?
"Sea of Thieves was our first game to go day and date into Game Pass, followed by State of Decay, and what we have found is that we've had great success with both of those games at retail and digital, and we've got a bunch of people inside Game Pass engaging with the game either because they were already subscribed to Game Pass, or they might not have engaged with that game before, but because it's available to them inside Game Pass, they try it out. It's about exploration, and about discovery. We've had over two million people play State of Decay so far just in its short time since launch, and that really is, I believe, because Game Pass has opened up a bigger audience. There is some inherent risk in there, but the job of Microsoft Studios is to go first, and to really be that lighthouse.
"When you think all the way back to the very first Xbox: Halo as a shooter--it's almost hard to believe now, but at the time, there was all this debate about whether shooters would work on console. 'How can you possibly play a shooter on a console? Are you going to be able to have the internet? Multiplayer, how does that work?' And yet Halo took the risk and was there first, really made it work, and it was obviously a great success.
"So when you think about balancing those priorities, the thing we've got to remember and that we've got to orient to is that's our job. Our job is to sort of be there first, and I sit in the same meetings in the same rooms with folks who are the leaders for Game Pass, for Mixer, with our hardware engineers, and we all collaborate very closely. One of the advantages of being part of first party is that we have access with them and we have the ability to influence those decisions."
The balancing act is not an easy, and the coming year will show how well Booty is going to be able to execute on his plans for coordination and expansion. But whether or not it's ultimately successful, Microsoft is going to have some exciting announcements in the next few years.
After a week of big announcements, reveals, and trailers, E3 2018 is finally coming to a close. Every big press conference is over, and we've finally seen everything we possibly can across the weeklong event. There was more than enough to get excited about, but at the same time, there were some moments that were lacking.
In this feature we go over our favorite parts of E3 2018, a few of the things we wish some of the companies could've done differently, and a handful of the biggest games. This is the spot for an analysis of the major things from the show, where we discuss what went well and what went wrong.
Some of the biggest moments stemmed from high-profile game reveals; others came from the companies pushing for better representation. But where there were amazing highs, there were some debilitating lows. A selection of well-known upcoming games were missing, and some poor logistical decisions lead to stilted press conferences.
Despite all this, there was plenty of exciting news from many of the biggest companies at this year's E3. To get more information about all of announcements, check out all of the news from the press conference, all of the best trailers, and a list of all the new games announced. Otherwise, be sure to keep checking back for all of GameSpot's remaining E3 coverage.
What were some of your favorite moments at E3? What do you think could've gone better? And what about your most anticipated games? Let us know in the comments below.
Highlight: CD Projekt Red Proves Cyberpunk 2077 Has Been Worth The Wait
CD Projekt teased Cyberpunk 2077 six years ago, and for six years we have waited for the Witcher studio to share any info on the game. It wouldn't budge, and for many of us Cyperpunk began to feel more like an idea than a project that's made significant progress. Witcher 3 arrived in the meantime and blew the industry and consumers away with its gorgeous and occasionally haunting world--success that actually made Cyberpunk followers even more anxious to find out more about the talented studio's next project.
So it was that this would be the year that our questions get answered. The public still hasn't had a chance to see what Cyperpunk really is, but the press who saw the demo at E3 are all in agreement: Cyberpunk is shaping up to be a phenomenal game that may set a new benchmark for AAA game design. It's rare that a game can live up to the wildest imaginations of the most excited minds, and yet it surpasses them in many ways through incredible depth and attention to detail. Its world is raw and thoroughly advanced. It is dangerous and beautiful, and you can't help but wonder about every little detail that pops up. There's no looking back for CD Projekt Red, and we cannot wait until everyone gets a chance to see why this has been the most talked about game of the show. -- Peter Brown, Reviews Editor
Highlight: Queer Characters Took Center Stage
While queer game characters are nothing new, they're still rare--and it's even more rare to see them featured front and center in a game's marketing. But this year, several of the E3 press conferences included explicitly queer characters in gameplay and trailers for big games. For many people, this is a hugely important gesture that makes gaming seem like a more welcoming and inclusive place.
Perhaps the biggest was the gameplay reveal for The Last of Us Part II. We learned that Ellie is queer in The Last of Us: Left Behind DLC, but it was another thing entirely to see her kiss a woman on Sony's E3 stage. The moment is tender, intimate, and most importantly, sincere--it's a perfect transition into the brutality of the combat that comes after, rounding out our first real look at who Ellie has become.
On Ubisoft's stage, we saw Assassin's Creed Odyssey's female playable character, Kassandra, able to flirt and romance another female character (and maybe flirting a bit with her). And at the beginning of the week, EA showed a trailer for Battlefield V that might includes two women embracing and saying "I love you"--not necessarily queer, but a reasonable enough guess given that they look nothing alike. These are more subtle examples than The Last of Us, but it points to a trend of more AAA games expanding their target demographics and the kinds of people their characters represent. Seeing that at an event as big as E3 just makes it even better. -- Kallie Plagge, Associate Editor
Highlight: Death Stranding Still Makes No Sense
Kojima Productions finally provided a better look of the gameplay of Death Stranding but, importantly, did so without revealing too much. Thus far, very little is clear about Death Stranding. Between the babies giving thumbs up, floating ghost-like entities, and dead whales, it's been difficult to actually get a grasp on what the story is about. The gameplay reveal creates a similar air of mystery, with Norman Reedus's character hauling around a corpse. There's strange footsteps appearing on the floor, and ghostly apparitions floating in air. All the while, Reedus carefully sneaks around, with his overactive shoulder-mounted robotic arm incessantly yapping like a dog sensing danger. In typical Kojima Productions fashion, the Death Stranding gameplay trailer created as many questions as it provided answers for, which, if you're a fan of the studio, is very exciting. -- Tamoor Hussain, Editor
Needs Improvement: Square Enix's Press Conference Fell Short
Square Enix has plenty of interesting games in the works, and Microsoft featured four of them during its showcase just prior to the official start of E3. We got looks at Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Kingdom Hearts 3, Just Cause 4, and The Awesome Adventures of Captain Spirit, Surely, I thought, Square Enix would use its own E3 presentation to share new information on those games as well as the hotly anticipated Final Fantasy VII Remake or the intriguing Front Mission reboot teased at last year's Tokyo Game Show, Left Alive. What Square Enix went with was about 30 minutes of trailers, including the same four mentioned above.
There were a couple of interesting new announcements, to be fair, including a new Platinum Games project titled Babylon's Fall, but for such a short press conference to be dominated by repeat content was a huge letdown. Square Enix could have easily distributed the meager bits of news that appeared during its presentation to Microsoft or Sony's shows and not even bothered with its own. Rather than use E3 as a platform to excite its fanbase, Square Enix potentially dinged its reputation by posturing and building up anticipation that it never stood a chance of satisfying in the first place. -- Peter Brown, Reviews Editor
Needs Improvement: The Break During Sony's Press Conference Was Too Long
Sony surprised people when it announced that its E3 2018 press conference was going to primarily focus on four of its latest games. The show started off great with an incredibly tense gameplay demonstration of Naughty Dog's highly-anticipated The Last of Us: Part II in a Church theater. While you think Sony would build off the momentum of this reveal, it instead brought the show to a complete stop, taking nearly 15 minutes to transport people from the church theater to a completely different theater nearby. All the while Sid Shuman and Shawn Layden attempted to fill in the void with insubstantial discussion and banter.
Luckily, the rest of the show turned out better with a solid string of trailers and gameplay reveals, but the damage had already been done. It's a small gripe, but I can't help but be curious as to why Sony decided to use two theater venues instead of one. -- Matt Espineli, Associate Editor
Needs Improvement: No Metroid Prime 4 Or Pokemon Switch
I didn't expect Nintendo to drop release dates for Metroid Prime 4 or Switch's Pokemon RPG, but how could the company not even acknowledge either game? We got no trailers or screenshots. We didn't even get name drops. It's like both games don't even exist.
Not hearing anything about Metroid Prime 4 is especially disappointing after Nintendo's tease at last year's E3. You'd think that would be the company's way of letting players know that the title is currently being worked on and almost ready to talk about. And yet you'd be wrong.
Now I'm worried Metroid Prime 4 is still early in development, and my dream of a 2019 release date is a far-fetched fantasy. I also really wanted to know what Prime 4's official name was going to be, and whether the game would connect the events of Metroid Prime 3: Corruption and Metroid II: Return of Samus or finally continue Samus's story after Metroid Fusion's cliffhanger.
Hearing nothing in regards to Nintendo's new Pokemon RPG is slightly understandable, if for no other reason that doing so would probably have stolen some of Pokemon: Let's Go Eevee and Let's Go Pikachu's thunder. -- Jordan Ramee, Associate Editor
Biggest Games: Anthem
"While playing Anthem, I had to repeatedly remind myself that I was playing a BioWare game. It's the first new IP from the veteran RPG developer in a decade, and although it falls into that particular style of role-playing and third-person shooter hybrid the studio honed with the Mass Effect franchise, this is the hardest it has leaned into that concept. With Anthem, we're seeing a major shift in what BioWare is capable of. Although it still exhibits some of the studio's role-playing pedigree, it's the vast online open-world that sets Anthem apart.
In the vein of Bungie's Destiny and Ubisoft's The Division, Anthem is a shared-world online shooter focusing on groups of players taking on new challenges and chasing new loot. But in familiar BioWare fashion, your particular Freelancer will make important narrative choices throughout the game's main campaign, altering their relationships with allies and other factions. While this sounds pretty standard, this is all housed within an online world where other players are making similar or conflicting choices in their own story.
As of now, we only know what the story is about in the broad sense: humans on a hostile alien planet, a powerful ancient presence of some form, and major world-altering events. While BioWare wasn't ready to share just how those choices will be reflected in the game for others to see, it did say they'll be surfaced in some form. With that said, the general narrative feels much more of a nebulous concept right now, and I am intrigued to see how the developer will be able to inject that familiar BioWare-style storytelling into Anthem." -- Alessandro Fillari, Editor
For the rest of our impressions, check out our in-depth preview of Anthem.
Biggest Games: Assassin's Creed Odyssey
"Assassin's Creed Odyssey is three years in the making; Ubisoft Quebec conceived this entry into the long-running franchise as the team wrapped up development for Assassin's Creed Syndicate back in 2015. Ubisoft Montreal was in the process of transforming the series with Origins (that released in 2017) which gave the Quebec studio a foundation to further evolve Assassin's Creed into a full-fledged RPG the team envisioned. It's not just about the inclusion of branching dialogue or seemingly arbitrary choices during quests, though. Consequence is at the heart of making the journey through Ancient Greece something more than just another historical fiction.
During a visit to Ubisoft Quebec's studio, I had the opportunity to spend around five hours with Assassin's Creed Odyssey, starting at a point deep into the story. Many of its features jumped out immediately, like choosing to play as the female protagonist Kassandra through the entire game--regardless, I'm a mercenary on the search for lost family members in the midst of the Peloponnesian War in 431 BC. Docked ashore the Delos Islands following a storm, I'm immediately posed with conversation options with my shipmate Barnabas. At first, it's striking to see this in an Assassin's Creed game, but considering Odyssey's full RPG approach, having agency in what I say to others is to be expected. While I could tease out more information or evoke different responses, words can have a much larger impact in certain situations." -- Michael Higham, Associate Editor
For the rest of our impressions, check out our in-depth preview of Assassin's Creed Odyssey.
Biggest Games: Control
"Remedy's reputation as a developer of great action games with compelling stories has never quite faded; even Quantum Break, despite some complications, had many redeeming qualities that its biggest detractors (like me) couldn't ignore. Chief among them was the combat system, which gave you control over time itself, allowing you to slickly thwart swarms of enemies in unusual and flashy ways. These same qualities are echoed in the announcement trailer for Remedy's next game, Control, but what you won't find in that video is the mind-bending series of events I saw during a private gameplay demo at E3.
I'm looking forward to games like Cyberpunk and Death Stranding as much as most people, but Control has quickly become my most anticipated game at the show. Circling back to combat, Control gives off similar vibes to Quantum Break, but a key difference lies in the sort of powers at your fingertips. The two abilities we saw allowed the main character, Jesse Faden, to grab objects strewn around the environment and hurl them at enemies, or bring them close to create a temporary shield. Performing these moves results in chaos as other objects get caught in the crossfire, making each encounter look messy (in a good way.) An eye-catching flurry of special effects helps complete the chaotic spectacle. These are just two of many powers Jesse will acquire throughout her harrowing journey." -- Peter Brown, Reviews Editor
For our full impressions, check out our in-depth preview of Control.
Biggest Games: Cyberpunk 2077
"CD Projekt Red's next game, Cyberpunk 2077, is a massive departure from the developer's previous efforts on The Witcher series. Instead of lush forests, picturesque fields, and towering mountains, the devs are creating a world set in the concrete jungle of Northern California in the distant future. Unlike a lot of fiction focusing on a darker future, Cyberpunk 2077 aspires to move away from grimdark and towards a more exuberant but equally cynical vision for a future where capitalism and technology has run amok.
Inspired and influenced by the original Cyberpunk 2020 pen and paper RPG, 2077 extrapolates many of the themes and iconography while capitalizing on the developer's skillset for crafting dense and visually rich environments. We saw a near hour-long gameplay demo behind closed doors at E3 2018, showcasing many of the game's systems and locales, and came out impressed by the scope of CD Projekt Red's ambitious project." -- Alessandro Fillari, Editor
For our full impressions, check out our in-depth preview of Cyberpunk 2077.
Biggest Games: Dying Light 2
"Dying Light 2 really ups the stakes when it comes to traversing a lawless open-world where danger lurk around every corner. With the original Dying Light offering a clever blend of parkour exploration and brutal combat of a zombie-survival game, the follow up to Techland's stellar open-world game plans to focus more on offering its players more freedom in movement, while letting them decide the fate of one of humanity's last stable cities. Revealed at the Microsoft Press Conference, the sequel plans to maintain the momentum that the developers have had with the original's post-launch success, while offering a more reactive and living world to explore.
During E3 2018, we had the chance to see an extended demo presentation of the game in action, showcasing its broader scope and focus on a more ambitious, adaptive narrative. Stick with many of the core features of the original game, such as freeform parkour traversal, melee combat, and other gradual characters growth--the sequel goes a bit further by making some tough choices in a far more dire and bleak circumstance." -- Alessandro Fillari, Editor
For our full impressions, check out our in-depth preview of Dying Light 2.
Biggest Games: Fallout 76
Fallout 76 is the latest entry in the tenured post-apocalyptic RPG franchise. It's the earliest game in the Fallout timeline, and it features major online components. From its recent trailers alone, the game has already captured the attention of the series' most ravenous fans. We're already imagining what sort of fights and awkward encounters we'll get into with others during our post-apocalyptic jaunt through the American wasteland.
Biggest Games: Ghost Of Tsushima
Ghost of Tsushima is the latest game by developer Sucker Punch Productions, the studio responsible for Infamous and Sly Cooper. The game is set on the island of Tsushima during the Mongol invasions of Japan in 1294. You play as a lone samurai turned vengeful assassin--likely fighting to drive out the Mongol army from Japan.
For the rest of our impressions, check out our in-depth preview of Ghost of Tsushima.
Biggest Games: Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
"We've known that a new Super Smash Bros. game has been in development, and during the E3 2018 Nintendo Direct, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate was revealed. It's an original Smash game built specifically for the Nintendo Switch, and it features every single character that has ever been included in a Smash game.
We got hands on with the E3 2018 demo of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate shortly after viewing the Direct. It's a build that features a limited character and stage selection, but it gave us a good feel for how new game feels to play." -- Justin Haywald, Managing Editor & Edmond Tran, Editor/Video Producer
For the rest of our impressions, check out our in-depth preview of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.
Biggest Games: The Last of Us: Part II
"Sony debuted gameplay for The Last of Us Part II during its E3 2018 press conference. What Sony and developer Naughty Dog showed is just as gruesome as the previous trailer for the sequel; on top of a man getting eviscerated, we see Ellie perform a number of brutal takedowns and kills. It's definitely a lot to take in all at once, and it's also cinematic--it can be hard to tell what's pure combat and what's a cutscene-like transition.
While at E3 2018, we had a chance to speak to co-directors Anthony Newman and Kurt Margenau about the game. They gave us insight into what exactly we're seeing in the trailer in terms of combat, and as it turns out, much of what looks cinematic--Ellie's perfectly timed dodges and pulling an arrow out of her shoulder--is actually within your control. That looks to be a key component in framing and shaping the intense violence in The Last of Us Part II, as well as something that can add greatly to Ellie as a character." -- Kallie Plagge, Associate Editor
For the rest of our impressions, check out our in-depth preview of The Last of Us Part II.
Biggest Games: Resident Evil 2 Remake
"Resident Evil 2's upcoming remake rides a fine line between new and old. When it triggers nostalgic memories with its familiar characters and locales, it instantly makes you uneasy with its new retelling of classic events.
My time with the demo began in the main hall of the Raccoon City Police Department as Leon S. Kennedy--who's just as strong willed and naive as we remember. He's no longer the invincible superhero that latter entries transformed him into; he's desperate and vulnerable. These qualities should come as no surprise to fans of the original version, but the remake really leans into them, making your time spent as the rookie cop all the more tense and dire. And with higher-quality voice performances, Leon's circumstances feel grounded and believable.
It helps that the Resident Evil 4-style, third-person over-the-shoulder camera provides a far more intimate view than the original's fixed camera angles. The remake faithfully recreates the original RPD's narrow halls and pathways; its floor layout is nearly identical. The third-person perspective plays well with the labyrinthian police department, making exploration feel unsettling and claustrophobic; gone are the door-opening loading screens." -- Matt Espineli, Associate Editor
For the rest of our impressions, check out our in-depth preview of Resident Evil 2 Remake.
Biggest Games: Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
"Dark Souls, Bloodborne, and many more of From Software's games contain incredibly detailed worlds, with incredibly deep combat and an incredible number of deaths. You see, as impressive as From's previous games have been, I'm not particularly good at playing them. I'm one of those people you tell to "git gud." I play each of From's games for eight or so hours, get sick of dying, and give up.
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice might be the game to break that rule. Death is no longer a barrier which must be overcome. It's no longer simply a "learning experience." Death and immediate resurrection is now a mechanic. From Software says you can use death to your advantage--fooling your enemies into a false sense of security before coming back to life and sneaking up on them using the game's light stealth mechanics. Perfect for those who--like me--are fed up of dying. From is staying coy, however, on the exact mechanics of the resurrection ability. It says you'll only be able to use it a limited number of times, and that "in no way does [resurrection] make the game easy."
Sekiro also speeds up the From formula, even moreso than Bloodborne did. Your main character--for now, simply named the Shinobi--is more agile than that of Soulsborne. He has a proper jump, which can be utilized in combat. He has a grappling hook, which can be used to gain a vantage point over the enemy. And his prosthetic limb can be customized to wield a shuriken, which you can use to propel yourself towards an enemy in a flash." -- Oscar Dayus, Staff Writer
For the rest of our impressions, check out our in-depth preview of Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice.
Biggest Games: Tom Clancy's The Division 2
"When you're looking at Tom Clancy's The Division in the broader sense, the game has shown considerable growth since its launch. After several expansions adding in new events and areas to explore, along with many updates tweaking the power grind and endgame content, Ubisoft's shared world action-RPG title slowly evolved into the game that many fans wanted when it was first released. And with The Division 2, the same developers at Massive Entertainment and Red Storm are looking to maintain that momentum with the series' next outing.
Set seven months after the initial outbreak of the Black Friday virus, The Division 2 will bring the online action-RPG to Washington D.C, which has also been decimated by mass panic, and opportunistic new factions looking to take advantage of the power vacuum. Unlike Manhattan's snow-covered wasteland from the original game, D.C. is far more lawless, made worse by an an immense heatwave driving more people to desperation. With the Division agency having gone silent, the remaining agents in the field have to reclaim control of the city. Prior to the official announcement at the Microsoft Press Conference, we got the play a short section of the game, while speaking with creative director Terry Spier about their continued sights on trying to keep things interesting for the long term.
When looking at the CG trailer, it's clear that the sense of scale, along with the stakes, have dialed up significantly. The Division 2, like its predecessor, will focus on building up your unique agent's resources as they acquire new weapons while taking on the multiple enemy factions that have taken hold of the city. Washington D.C., is about 20 percent bigger than Manhattan, which is almost a 1-to-1 recreation of the city. The developers wanted to offer a greater level of variety in the locations you'll explore, which includes more residential areas and the nearby forests outside the capital." -- Alessandro Fillari, Editor
For the rest of our impressions, check out our in-depth preview of The Division 2.
By Anonymous on Jun 15, 2018 05:59 am Brendan Greene stopped by to ponder how AAA games are adopting the genre he helped spearhead. He's also really excited for Cyberpunk 2077.
By Anonymous on Jun 15, 2018 05:58 am The man who crashed into the Ubisoft press conference stage has a lot to say about going from a web browser game to a multiplatform hit.
A lot of the games shown at E3 2018 this week are coming out this year, but not all of them. As Tom Petty said, the waiting is the hardest part. Some of the games we saw at E3 this week are due out in 2019 or later, and we're rounding them up in this gallery.
Click through the gallery here to learn more about BioWare's ambitious new multiplayer game Anthem, the zombie game Days Gone from Sony, and Ubisoft's pirate game Skull & Bones. While waiting for games you're excited about can be tough, there are no shortage of big, exciting games coming this year.
Anthem, Days Gone, and Skull & Bones were each originally scheduled to launch in 2018, so they have been delayed. While that's a bit of a bummer, it's good to see the developers taking the time they need to make a better product in the end.
Other big-name games we're expecting to be released in 2019 or beyond include The Witcher developer CD Projekt Red's Cyberpunk 2077, the much-anticipated The Last of Us: Part II, and Life is Strange developer Dontnod's Twin Mirror. Click through the gallery here to see a rundown of all the big games from E3 coming next year or later.
E3 2018 runs through June 14, so keep checking back with GameSpot for more. You can see all of GameSpot's E3 2018 coverage in our E3 2018 hub. In the meantime, which games are you looking forward to the most? Let us know in the comments below.
Anthem
Anthem is easily BioWare's most ambitious title. Focusing on the exploits of heavily armored freelancers on a hostile alien planet, you'll work together with other players online to take on dangerous missions while exploring the furthest reaches of the world. While this sounds a lot like Destiny, BioWare's approach to the concept of the shared-world shooter looks like an interesting change of pace from other games of the genre.
Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One | Release Date: February 22, 2019
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
Battletoads
A brand-new Battletoads game has been announced. No gameplay was shown, but we did learn, however, that it will have three-player couch co-op and 2.5D graphics. In addition, the art in the game appeared hand-drawn--at least according to the announcement trailer.
Platforms: Xbox One, PC (Expected) | Release Date: TBA 2019
Beyond Good and Evil 2
We saw a teaser of Ubisoft's spunky new space adventure at E3 last year. What we know now about Beyond Good & Evil 2 is that it will be a prequel to the 2003 game and that players can choose a male or female character and explore different planets.
Platforms: Xbox One, PS4, PC (Expected) | Release Date: TBA
Control
Control is the latest game by Remedy Entertainment, the studio behind Alan Wake and Quantum Break. The debut trailer showcased a strangely shifting world, with a protagonist who can fly and control objects using telekinesis.
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC | Release Date: TBA
Crackdown 3
Crackdown 3 is one of Microsoft's biggest upcoming Xbox One exclusives. The game utilizes cloud-based server technology for its multiplayer mode, which allows for environmental destruction on a large scale. It retains the gameplay of its predecessors, featuring a number of different organizations controlling the city of New Providence that you'll need to take down by killing their kingpins, destroying their bases, and destabilizing their infrastructures.
Platforms: Xbox One, PC | Release Date: February 2019
Cyberpunk 2077
The next game from the creators of The Witcher, Cyberpunk 2077, is set in a dystopian, sci-fi future world. It appeared more bright and vibrant than the initial tease a few years back. It appears to take place in a dazzling city of dreams, a metropolis of giant buildings adorned with dazzling screens, where organic skin is meshed with futuristic tech.
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC (Expected) | Release Date: TBA
Daemon X Machina
Daemon X Machina is an upcoming mech action game. It's a collaboration between developers First Studio and Marvelous Entertainment, with an array of notable Japanese developers. In the game, you take your Arsenal, a fully customizable powered suit, out for an array of missions to fight the enemy at all costs. You can choose and equip your Arsenal with a multitude of weapons, obtain more from downed enemy Arsenals, and swap them on the fly to suit your strategy in the face of ever-changing threats.
Developer: Marvelous Entertainment, First Studio | Release Date: TBA 2019
Days Gone
Days Gone takes players to a post-apocalyptic open world, set in the Pacific Northwest. The action-adventure/survival-horror game puts you in the shoes of Deacon St. John, once an outlaw and now trying to survive in a devastated world. While on the road, Deacon must battle Freakers, zombie-like humans and animals that have become mindless and violent and travel in fast-moving hordes, much like the zombies in World War Z.
Platforms: PS4 | Release Date: February 22, 2019
Dead or Alive 6
Kasumi, Hayate, Helena, and plenty of other familiar faces return to the arena in Dead or Alive 6. This fighting game will continue to utilize the franchise's staple complexity when it comes to combos and counters, while upping the realism of its visuals. Two new mechanics, Fatal Rush and Break Gauge, shake up the combat by introducing an easier way for beginners to compete.
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC | Release Date: Early 2019
Metal Gear creator Hideo Kojima no longer works for Konami, but his new studio's game, Death Stranding, looks significantly weirder than that often-bizarre series. We don't know much about Death Stranding's gameplay other than it's an open-world action game. But it'll feature The Walking Dead's Norman Reedus and what appears to be a very important baby.
Platforms: PS4 | Release Date: TBA
Ghost of Tsushima
Ghost of Tsushima is the latest game by developer Sucker Punch Productions, the studio responsible for Infamous and Sly Cooper. The game is set on the island of Tsushima during the Mongol invasions of Japan in 1294. You play as a lone samurai turned vengeful assassin--likely fighting to drive out the Mongol army from Japan.
Platforms: PS4 | Release Date: TBA
The Last Of Us Part II
There is a huge amount of hype for Naughty Dog's next big game, The Last of Us: Part II. One of the biggest changes for the sequel is that you play as Ellie, not Joel. We're expecting to see a lot more of the PS4 exclusive very soon.
Platforms: PS4 | Release Date: TBA
Ori and the Will of the Wisps
Xbox One console exclusive Ori and the Blind Forest was a critical hit when it launched in 2015, and now developer Moon Studios is back with a sequel. Ori and the Will of the Wisps will hopefully build on the first game's ingenious platforming and compelling story, and we can't wait to see more.
Platforms: Xbox One, PC | Release Date: TBA
Rage 2
Rage 2 is perhaps the most unlikely sequel to come out of E3 this year, but with id Software bringing Avalanche Studios along for the ride there's plenty of reason to be excited about its potential. Avalanche has years of experience crafting large and chaotic worlds in games like Mad Max and Just Cause, with vehicle combat and special effects chief among their notable talents. Id, of course, is the studio that pioneered first-person shooting and continues to deliver hard-hitting games like 2016's Doom. It could be a match made in heaven, but we won't know until it ships sometime in 2019.
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC | Release Date: TBA 2019
Sea of Solitude
Sea of Solitude is an upcoming EA Originals game about a lonely girl whose emotions manage to turn her into a monster and the world into a flooded post-apocalyptic world. She must explore this world in order to find a way to turn back into a human.
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC (Expected) | Release Date: TBA
Skull & Bones
Skull & Bones sets sail in the Indian Ocean, setting you on a quest to become a pirate of the ages. The game will feature single- and multiplayer options and is centered around naval warfare.
Platforms: Xbox One, PS4, PC | Release Date: TBA 2019
Starfield
For the first time in 25 years, Bethesda is creating a new IP. We don't know much about Starfield. However, based on the game's title and brief teaser trailer, it's probably safe to say that this RPG will take place in space.
Platforms: The next generation of consoles, PC (Expected) | Release Date: TBA
Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order
Star Wars Jedi Fallen Order is the upcoming Star Wars game created by Respawn Entertainment, the studio behind the well-received Titanfall series. It takes place between Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope during the Jedi hunts.
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC (Expected) | Release Date: Holiday 2019
Twin Mirror
Dontnod Entertainment is partnering with Bandai Namco to bring Twin Mirror, a new psychological thriller, to PC, PS4, and Xbox One in 2019. Based on the E3 2018 trailer, the story focuses on a character named Sam who wakes up one day to discover a shocking amount of blood on his clothing with no memory of the cause. As Sam attempts to piece together the events from the night before, he will explore both the real world and surreal manifestations of his own psyche. Twin Mirror looks intriguing so far, but being one big mystery, we'll have to wait until we see more of the game to get a grasp of how we ultimately fit into Sam's harrowing investigation.
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC | Release Date: TBA 2019
Devil May Cry 5
After years of waiting, we're finally getting a brand new Devil May Cry game. And in a rather surprising twist, it's a direct continuation to the first four Devil May Cry games. The debut trailer mainly focused on returning protagonist, Nero, who appears to be accompanied by an unnamed woman. However, the last few seconds indicated that Dante will return too.
Platforms: Xbox One, PC | Release Date: Spring 2019
The Division 2
Ubisoft Massive is at work on The Division 2, a follow-up to its open-world shooter, as it looks to build upon the foundation established in the previous game. This time around it's set in Washington D.C. and deals with the exploits of the Division attempting to reclaim the capital.
Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One | Release Date: March 18
Doom Eternal
Doom Eternal is the upcoming sequel to the critically-acclaimed Doom reboot from 2016. The game takes everything that the previous game did and pushes it forward: the Doomslayer is more powerful than before, the number of enemies have doubled, and it takes place on Earth.
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC (Expected) | Release Date: TBA
Dying Light 2
In the sequel to the first-person apocalyptic survival shooter, players will have plenty more chances to practice their sweet parkour while killing zombies. However, this time around, player's choices will have real effects on the world and push the story down different paths.
Platforms: Xbox One, PS4, PC | Release Date: TBA
The Elder Scrolls VI
Bethesda finally announced the next game in the Elder Scrolls series: The Elder Scrolls VI. No other details about the game were provided outside of a short teaser. It shows a mountainous region and some fog accompanied by a version of the iconic Dovahkiin music. A setting wasn't specified, although fans are sure to do some sleuthing to narrow down the list of possibilities. Hopefully, we'll get more details sooner than later.
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC (Expected) | Release Date: TBA
Fire Emblem: Three Heroes
Fire Emblem: Three Houses is the latest entry in Nintendo's critically-acclaimed strategy series. It retains many of the core mechanics the series is known for. Though, it does offer some changes. Battle screens are filled with armies, and you directly command one character, but they're leading a small battalion of other soldiers who join in on the attack. In addition, you can explore what looks to be a fully realized 3D world.
Developer: Nintendo | Release Date: Spring 2019
Gears of War 5
Gears of War returns with its fifth entry. This time around you play as Kait, who originally appeared in Gears of War 4. This latest entry sees Kait embark on a journey to discover the truth behind the visions plaguing her mind--most likely an effect of the Locust necklace she inherited from her grandmother.
Platforms: Xbox One, PC | Release Date: TBA 2019
Gears Tactics
Gears Tactics is a turn-based strategy spin-off of the Gears of War franchise. The game takes place 12 years before the first Gears of War. You can customize your own squad to take on threats in what was described as a more aggressive version of the classical tactics formula. And of course, as a Gears game, it will feature larger-than-life boss battles.
Platforms: Xbox One, PC | Release Date: TBA
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
Metro Exodus
Metro Exodus puts players back in control of Artyom. Even though Artyom will be venturing above ground this time, there will still be plenty of mutated creatures to gun down and unsettling environments to explore.
Platforms: Xbox One, PS4, PC | Release Date: February 22, 2019
Nioh 2
In a rather surprising announcement, Sony announced the sequel to the critically-acclaimed samurai-action game, Nioh. Not much is known about the game's story or if you'll be playing as the original's protagonist, WIlliam Adams.
Platforms: PS4 | Release Date: TBA
The Quiet Man
The Quiet Man is a brand-new game where you play as 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
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is the long-awaited new game from acclaimed studio, From Software. It appears to be expanding upon the classic Dark Souls formula by introducing stealth-action elements and more acrobatic maneuvers.
Platforms: Xbox One, PC (Expected) | Release Date: Early 2019
Session
Session is a brand-new skateboarding simulation game, which was kickstarted early last year. Not much else was shown about the game, but it's at least great to hear that the skateboarding game genre isn't dead.
Platforms: Xbox One | Release Date: Early Access TBA 2018
Wolfenstein: Youngblood
Wolfenstein: Youngblood is set in an alternate 1980s Paris and follows the events of Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus. It stars series protagonist BJ Blazkowicz's twin daughters, who are working together to continue the fight against the Nazis. The game can be played solo or co-op.
Platforms: Xbox One, PS4, PC, Nintendo Switch (Expected) | Release Date: 2019
Halo Infinite
Halo Infinite is the latest entry in the tenured first-person shooter franchise. Not much is know about the premise of the game or when it's set, but it appears you'll be once again playing Master Chief as he embarks on another mission to save the galaxy.
Platforms: Xbox One, PC (Expected) | Release Date: TBA
Assassin's Creed Odyssey is three years in the making; Ubisoft Quebec conceived this entry into the long-running franchise as the team wrapped up development for Assassin's Creed Syndicate back in 2015. Ubisoft Montreal was in the process of transforming the series with Origins (that released in 2017) which gave the Quebec studio a foundation to further evolve Assassin's Creed into a full-fledged RPG the team envisioned. It's not just about the inclusion of branching dialogue or seemingly arbitrary choices during quests, though. Consequence is at the heart of making the journey through Ancient Greece something more than just another historical fiction.
During a visit to Ubisoft Quebec's studio, I had the opportunity to spend around five hours with Assassin's Creed Odyssey, starting at a point deep into the story. Many of its features jumped out immediately, like choosing to play as the female protagonist Kassandra through the entire game. Regardless, I'm a mercenary on the search for lost family members in the midst of the Peloponnesian War in 431 BC. Docked ashore the Delos Islands following a storm, I'm immediately posed with conversation options with my shipmate Barnabas. At first, it's striking to see this in an Assassin's Creed game, but considering Odyssey's full RPG approach, having agency in what I say to others is to be expected. While I could tease out more information or evoke different responses, words can have a much larger impact in certain situations.
The ability to steer your own course was abundantly clear when I could affect the rebellion on the Delos Islands. Would I endorse a brute force approach suggested by Thelatas or devise a more subtle, strategic plan with Kyra? Thelatas offers naval combat missions while Kyra points out enemy camps where you destroy weapons and supplies to weaken them. Siding with either ally on how take down the unjust ruler Podarkes would lead to liberation, but in this case, it's about changing the journey, not the destination. You won't be able to go through both missions in the same playthrough.
Decision-making in Odyssey is taken a step further when factoring consequences. A side-quest given by the philosopher Socrates tasked me with handling a prisoner situation. This particular prisoner could aid the rebellion, but he's known to be dangerous and unhinged. I could straight up kill him, save him, or just ignore the quest altogether. So, as a dedicated paragon all throughout Mass Effect, I'm willing to give others a second chance. Little did I know that saving him would impact the conclusion to the main quest line. After taking down Podarkes, the Delos Islands erupted in celebration. However, the man I saved went rogue and assassinated an ally that he believed to be a threat to maintaining independence. It was an unforeseen consequence, but I quickly realized that Assassin's Creed is now asking us to think twice, watch our backs, or anticipate the effects of our actions.
Of course, the demo was just a small slice of a much larger open world, and if Odyssey can weave all the variables into a cohesive RPG experience, it's easy to see the game stand with some of the genre's best, which have also served as inspiration for the new approach. Director Scott Phillips said it himself; The Witcher 3, The Elder Scrolls, and Fallout are among his favorite games, and stated "that's what we wanted to push Assassin's Creed as a franchise into: more choice for the player."
Everything that's new is layered on top of the foundation Assassin's Creed Origins built. Franchise staples still permeate the game like climbing up to vantage points for synchronizations, stealth assassinations, and a modern day tie-in story. Genre trends such as weakening an enemy presence in specifically mapped zones to take control runs core to the game. Traversal holds Odyssey back from feeling fluid, though. Unintentionally leaping off building and scaling walls in the wrong direction happens more often than you'd hope. Hand-to-hand combat, in particular, is similar to Origins in feel, cumbersome targeting system in all. It's somewhat sluggish, but stays varied through different weapon types. However, Odyssey stands on its own with the number of abilities available in combat.
The skill tree gives players access to many more options this time around. Yes, the Spartan kick is thrilling to use for launching enemies off cliffs or into the sea during ship combat, but comes in clutch when you just want to create more distance. A shield rip makes defense enemies less irritating and much more manageable. The multi-arrow show helps tack on more damage per shot, which was really useful when fighting a burly bear with a whole lot of HP. These skills are easy to access because of how they're seamlessly mapped to the face buttons when you either hold the left trigger or left bumper. That's eight skills at your disposal at any time.
Trekking the open deserts of Origins wasn't the most exciting part of the game. Odyssey replaces that with the dangerous waters between Greece's collection of islands. In a similar vein as Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag, ship combat plays a large role. Fire arrow barrages, waves of javelins, or full-speed naval rams tear enemy ships, and hopping aboard to finish off the last of an enemy crew yields useful loot. It makes all the in-between more interesting and the game feels full.
The initial impression is that Assassin's Creed Odyssey makes meaningful strides for the franchise by going all in on being an RPG, and it seems to be better for it. By looking at the genres frontrunners, Ubisoft adapts the web of choice and consequence for the first time in franchise history while building on established mechanics. It's a bold move for a series that traditionally tells you a story; soon you'll be telling your own.
In the third episode of this series we talk to the people who invested millions in Blizzard's vision for Overwatch League sight unseen, discussing the potential they see in esports, how they're committed to its growth, and the responsibilities they now have to their players.
The eighth season of American Horror Story has been confirmed to be a crossover of "Murder House" and "Coven." Ryan and Greg discuss everything we know about the upcoming season that will air this September.
Brendan Greene stopped by to ponder how AAA games are adopting the genre he helped spearhead. He's also really excited for Cyberpunk 2077.
The man who crashed into the Ubisoft press conference stage has a lot to say about going from a web browser game to a multiplatform hit.
We've got info on the latest features coming to NBA Live 19 here in this video.
We sit down with Mikael Kasurinen from Remedy to dissect Control's fascinating world.
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