For the first time in over 10 years, EA has hold of the official Champions League license for use in its FIFA franchise. FIFA 19 will be the first game in the series to boast the official license of Europe's elite club competition since the 2007 spin-off title UEFA Champions League 2006-2007.
The news comes soon after UEFA confirmed its long-running partnership with Konami--which saw the Pro Evolution Soccer series exclusively contain the competition for a decade--had come to an end. EA and UEFA's new deal also means the lesser Europa League license will be exclusively seen in FIFA from now on. The length of this deal has not been divulged.
FIFA now has a near total monopoly over real-world soccer licenses when compared to Konami and PES. Most recently, EA released a free World Cup update for FIFA 18.
Last year's FIFA was well-received at launch; we awarded the sports game a 7/10 in our FIFA 18 review. "It's off the pitch that EA excels," we said. "From the variety of game modes on offer and how everything's presented, to the constant updates in FUT's Team of the Week, Daily Objectives, and discussion of real-world happenings in commentary, FIFA 18 captures the world of football and confidently translates it into a video game. On the pitch, however, EA's soccer series is still lagging far behind PES 2018's more fluid, satisfying football. This year's improvements are welcome, but more needs to be done in the coming years if FIFA is to be a world-beater once again."
At the EA Play presentation during E3 2018, the company took a few moments to outline its roadmap for the future of Star Wars Battlefront 2. After acknowledging it had a "rough start," design director Dennis Brannvall said EA remains committed to the game. To that end, he explained what's coming next: the iconic Clone Wars.
This year Battlefront 2 will get heroes and maps from the prequel conflict, including several new heroes and villains as well as iconic locations from the Clone Wars setting. New Heroes will include General Grevious, Count Dooku, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Anakin Skywalker. The update will be set between Episodes III and IV in the movie universe.
The announcement joined another Star Wars announcement made during the presentation. Respawn's Star Wars game is called Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order, and takes place in the dark times after the Emperor exerts his control over the galaxy. It's coming in holiday 2019.
E3 2018 got its unofficial kickoff today with the EA Play presentation, where the publisher finally unwrapped the future of its Star Wars projects. Although there wasn't any footage, Respawn Entertainment's Vince Zampella was able to offer a few details on the new game in production at his studio.
Respawn's new Star Wars game is titled Jedi Fallen Order. It will be set between Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope, during a period of time when the galaxy was plagued by darkness and the Jedi were being hunted. Although there are no details on who the protagonist is, the player's character will be able to use a lightsaber. So we could be playing as one of the Jedi who's being hunted. The game is scheduled for the holiday season in 2019.
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.
Today is the first day of E3 2018, and EA has kicked things off by dropping some major news at its EA Play press conference. Much of the big news is likely to center around its two biggest upcoming games: Battlefield V and BioWare's new IP, Anthem. They aren't the only games that are scheduled to get some attention on the big stage, though; EA will also probably share updates on Madden NFL 19, FIFA 19, NBA Live 19, and NHL 19. But what other surprises are in store? Let's see!
We're rounding up all of the announcements from the briefing, and below you'll find all of our coverage of EA's kick-off event. Be sure to keep refreshing this page to see all the new stories as they develop. You can also experience it all alongside us in our EA press conference liveblog.
FIFA 19 Release Date Confirmed--In addition to the FIFA's release date, EA provided a look at its new soccer/football game.
Madden NFL 19
Madden NFL 19 Coming To PC--Alongside PS4 and Xbox One, the upcoming football game is coming to PC, making it the first game in the series to hit the platform since Madden 08.
E3 2018 is underway, and in EA's press conference the company unveiled a brand new platformer: Unravel 2. As you might expect, it's a sequel to the gorgeous 2016 game Unravel, and it's out right now.
As with the first game, Unravel 2 focuses on the adventures of Yarny, a small, woolen toy. Developer Coldwood says the sequel will be a more upbeat affair than the original, with a slight shift away from puzzler and towards the platformer end of the spectrum. Yarny is more agile than before, and this is emphasized in some of the story mode's trickier sections.
Two Yarnies are playable for the entire game, meaning you can either switch between the two in single-player or play the game in drop-in/drop-out co-op. Aside from the main story, Unravel 2 also contains numerous bonus challenges. These are extra-difficult tests of skill best enjoyed after completing the campaign. Like the first game, Unravel 2 is available on PS4, Xbox One, and PC.
We awarded the original title a 7/10 in our Unravel review. "Unravel's wonderful sights and sounds won't escape your own memory so soon," wrote critic Rob Crossley. "But assessed purely on gameplay, it's everything I tend to fear about indie projects; Beautiful, heartfelt, but like Yarny himself, not robust enough."
FIFA 19 has been officially unveiled at EA's E3 press conference, meaning we've received our first glance at some of the new features coming in this year's edition of the sports phenomenon.
FIFA 19 is coming on September 28, although pre-ordering the Champions Edition will get you access three days early, beginning on September 25. A full list of platforms has not yet been confirmed, but PS4 and Xbox One are sure to be among them.
PES 2019 is coming earlier than usual this year; FIFA's challenger will launch before the end of August, meaning it has a several week head start over FIFA 19. Last year's FIFA, meanwhile, was well-received at launch.
We awarded the sports game a 7/10 in our FIFA 18 review. "It's off the pitch that EA excels," we said. "From the variety of game modes on offer and how everything's presented, to the constant updates in FUT's Team of the Week, Daily Objectives, and discussion of real-world happenings in commentary, FIFA 18 captures the world of football and confidently translates it into a video game. On the pitch, however, EA's soccer series is still lagging far behind PES 2018's more fluid, satisfying football. This year's improvements are welcome, but more needs to be done in the coming years if FIFA is to be a world-beater once again."
We'll have more FIFA details from E3 as it's announced.
It's almost E3 2018, and that means lots of press conferences to watch. The first of them is EA Play, and it takes place on Saturday, June 9, starting at 11 AM PT / 2 PM ET / 7 PM BST. As in past years, you'll be able to watch here on GameSpot, as we'll be hosting all of the big briefings that run through June 12.
Come back on Saturday to watch the entire show, which is called EA Play. We'll also have a pre-show beginning at 10:30 AM PT / 1:30 PM PT, and then a post-show after EA wraps up. If you can't watch or prefer your news in text form, we'll have a play-by-play liveblog of EA's briefing as well.
EA Play is expected to have big news on EA's biggest upcoming games like Battlefield V and Anthem, as well all the EA Sports titles, especially FIFA given that it's a World Cup year. We are also expecting surprise game reveals and other unexpected announcements.
The press conferences continue with Microsoft and Bethesda on Sunday, with Ubisoft and Sony following on Monday, and then Nintendo on Tuesday. Here is the full E3 2018 press conference schedule.
The E3 show floor is open June 12-14. Keep checking back in the days ahead for lots more on E3 2018.
Battlefield 5 may have been one of the least mysterious games in EA's E3 2018 lineup. It already had its own dedicated announcement event, and DICE has been slowly teasing details like new modes ever since. That didn't stop EA from making it a major part of its EA Play showcase, including the confirmation of a battle royale mode.
The incredible success of Fortnite and PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds has made battle royale into a phenomenon that numerous other companies are looking to capitalize on. Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 has already been confirmed to have such a mode in development, and now Battlefield 5 will as well. During EA Play, developers confirmed it will offer teamplay, vehicles, and destruction for an experience they claim you haven't gotten before in Battlefield or any other game.
Unfortunately, EA didn't elaborate any further on what this mode will consist of, including whether it will feature the 100-player count that's often used in these modes. More details will be shared sometime later this year.
This comes on the heels of EA announcing it will ditch the premium pass model for this latest Battlefield in favor of cosmetic upgrades and free maps. Battlefield 5 will be available for all players on October 19, but those who subscribe to EA/Origin Access and pre-order will be able to play early on October 11. Pre-ordering the Deluxe Edition will get you in a few days later, on October 16. An open beta is also planned.
One of the more unexpected announcements to come out of EA's E3 2018 press conference is a new streaming service. Titled Origin Access Premiere, the service is by EA's admission not quite ready yet, but it is slated to launch sometime this summer.
EA shared very few details about Origin Access Premiere, but it will bring all-new PC games to players. Among those specifically singled out during the press conference were FIFA 19, BioWare's new IP, Anthem, and Madden NFL 19, which will mark the series' return to PC for the first time in more than a decade.
EA didn't share a release date for Origin Access Premiere. However, the publisher did announce that fans will be able to sign up for a free trial of Origin Access, the subscription service that gives players unlimited access to more than 95 PC games as long as they have an active membership.
EA shared a lot of other announcements during its EA Play event, including a battle royale mode for the upcoming Battlefield V. You can follow along with all the news from the conference in our liveblog and on GameSpot's E3 2018 hub.
As expected, EA's E3 2018 briefing has delivered a new trailer for DICE's much-anticipated upcoming World War II shooter Battlefield V. The trailer started with paratroopers jumping out of a plane onto a large-scale map set in Norway where aircraft, tanks, and ground troops were all engaged in a snow-covered town. The Aurora Borealis was clearly visible in the sky with huge mountainsf out in the distance. New features like the destruction model for buildings, anti-air guns attached to the back of tanks, and reverse prone movement were showcased.
We also had a sneak peak at War Stories, the single-player campaign where you play through different vignettes of the larger conflict. The Nordlys campaign was teased with two female characters under duress with one saying, "Not a single drop. I love you." One is then tossed into the water as enemy soldiers approach. More details are expected to come during Microsoft's Xbox showcase tomorrow, June 10.
EA Play is underway, and among the titles EA showcased during its big pre-E3 event is Madden NFL 19. This year's installment in the annual football franchise has already been confirmed for PS4 and Xbox One, and now we've learned that it will also return to PC for the first time in a very long while.
EA has announced that Madden 19 will launch for PC alongside the console versions, on August 10. This makes it the first entry in the series to release on the platform in more than a decade; the last Madden game to come to PC was 2007's Madden 08.
There's no word regarding a Nintendo Switch version; as was the case with last year's installment, the football game may be skipping Nintendo's hybrid console.
Madden 19 will be released in standard and Hall of Fame editions. We don't who will grace the cover of the former, while Terrell Owens will be featured on the latter. Those who pre-order the standard edition will get five Gold Team Fantasy packs and an Elite player from the team of their choice. Meanwhile, reserving the HOF version will also get access to the game three days early, on August 7.
The wave of E3 2018 briefings kick off today with EA's big show in Hollywood. EA Play is a show expected to bring big news and trailers on EA's biggest upcoming games like Battlefield V and Anthem, as well as the suite of EA Sports titles, including FIFA 19. Of course, we're also expecting surprise game reveals and more--Respawn will be showing something that could potentially be its Star Wars project.
If you can't watch the livestream, which we're hosting here on GameSpot, you can follow along with all the news in our liveblog here on this page, which you can see below (it may take a moment to load). We'll be giving you a blow-by-blow rundown of all the big announcements and everything else that EA shows off and talks about.
EA Play kicks off at 11 AM PT / 2 PM ET on Saturday, June 9. So come back then to follow along with our liveblog below and get all the big news about EA. After the show wraps up, we'll have a roundup of the big news stories so you can catch up with everything all in one place.
For now, you can check out GameSpot's breakdown of two of EA's biggest upcoming games: Battlefield 5 and Anthem.
The details of EA's press conference at E3 2018 are out, and that means we're getting closer to seeing all the big announcements from one of the world's biggest video game companies. You'll be able to watch the event, which should be packed with news about Battlefield V and Anthem, here on GameSpot, and on our Twitter, YouTube, Twitch, and Facebook accounts.
Once again, EA's press conference is the first event of E3, taking place on the Saturday before everything gets underway in Los Angeles. The event actually kicks off three days of EA events; until June 11, EA Play takes place at a separate venue in Hollywood, featuring player events, featuring lots of demos and fan-centric content. Here's the exact schedule for EA's press conference:
EA E3 2018 Press Conference Start Time
Saturday, June 9
11 AM PT
2 PM ET
7 PM BST
4 AM AEST (June 10)
So far, we know EA will be dropping some news about Battlefield V, DICE's World War II first-person shooter. Here are all the Battlefield V details we have so far. The other big one, BioWare's Anthem, is still more of a mystery. Anthem will be an open-world action game with a very Destiny-esque feel. We know it will support co-op multiplayer that you will also be able to play it on your own, but there are still many questions left about gameplay and story (battle royale?). Here's everything we want from Anthem at E3.
We're also certain to hear more about EA's sports titles, as well, including Madden NFL 19, which has now been officially announced and will release on August 10 on PS4 and Xbox One. EA Play is open to the public, and if you'd like to attend you can pre-register for the show here.
BioWare is poised to reveal more information about Anthem, its first new IP In 10 years, during EA's E3 2018 press conference today, but one critical piece of information has apparently leaked ahead of the briefing. According to a leak on Amazon Italy, the Destiny-esque shooter will launch for PS4, Xbox One, and PC on February 19.
Anthem puts players in the role of Freelancers, who are tasked with exploring uncharted worlds and protecting humanity. Freelancers are equipped customizable exo-suits called Javelins, which can be outfitted with various weapons and abilities. Like the aforementioned Destiny, Anthem is designed as a "live service" game and places a heavy emphasis on cooperative, although BioWare assures it will also be playable solo.
BioWare first unveiled Anthem during last year's E3, although since then, new details about the game have been scare. Anthem's Twitter and Facebook accounts have lain dormant for nearly a year until just recently, when the social media pages shared a new clip and piece key art of the game.
EA's E3 press conference is scheduled to begin at 11 AM PT / 2 PM ET; you can watch it right here on GameSpot. We'll have lots more on Anthem from E3 2018 this week and further down the track. Go to GameSpot's E3 2018 hub to follow along with all of the big news from the show.
It may not be a surprise, but it's official: Madden NFL 19 is coming to PS4 and Xbox One on August 10. This year's installment features improvements to the graphics and animation, thanks to Real Player Motion Technology. Players will also have better tools for building their roster and new ways to train and develop the players. You can find more details here.
Whether you buy the new edition each year or you're looking to get into the franchise for the first time in 2018, you might be wondering what editions are available, how much they cost, and where to pre-order Madden NFL 19. We have you covered below.
Madden NFL 19 Standard Edition
Suggested retail price: $60
This is the standard version of the game. Pre-ordering it from Best Buy gets you a $10 reward certificate, but Newegg has it for $10 off. The cover athlete hasn't been revealed at the time of this writing.
Where to buy the Standard Edition:
Best Buy - PS4 / Xbox One: $60 ($10 reward certificate with pre-order)
The Hall of Fame Edition has 2018 Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee, wide receiver, Terrell Owens on the cover. It costs $20 more than the standard edition, but it gets you the core game, plus a number of extras. It also lets you choose between Owens or four other NFL legends (Brian Urlacher, Rod Woodson, Dan Marino, and Terrell Davis) to add to your team. Additionally, you get 12 Gold Team Fantasy Packs, one Elite Madden 19 cover athlete (TBA), and two All-Madden Uniforms.
As above, pre-ordering from Best Buy gets you a $10 reward certificate redeemable at Best Buy, but Newegg gives you $10 off the price from the start. And if you pre-order it anywhere, you get access to the game three days early (August 7).
Where to buy the Hall of Fame Edition:
Best Buy - PS4 / Xbox One - $80 ($10 reward certificate with pre-order)
EA has announced Battlefield V will release for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC on October 19. The series has hopped around between conflicts and time periods, but Battlefield V is bringing us back to World War II. It will have a single-player campaign that's divided into short stories--much like 2016's Battlefield 1--plus an array of multiplayer modes that include both fan favorites and new modes like Airborne. For more information, here's everything we know about Battlefield V.
If you're already sold on the game and are ready to place your pre-order, you may be wondering which version to get and where to get it. To help ease the decision-making pain, we've gathered all the information you need into one place. Read on for the goods.
Pre-Order Bonus
Pre-order Battlefield V at most retailers, and you'll receive a number of incentives and goodies. Here's what you get.
Early Access to the Battlefield V Beta
Paratrooper Outfit: Choose one of eight Special Soldier Sets to customize your troops.
Special Assignments: Earn rewards and get an edge over the competition by completing Special Assignments.
Immediate Access to Five Battlefield 1 Weapons: Ready for use in Battlefield 1, unlock five of the Great War's most modern weapons and bridge the technological gap between the two world wars.
Battlefield V Standard Edition
The standard edition of Battlefield V just comes with the core game itself, but if you pre-order it, you'll also get the bonuses mentioned above. Here's where you can pre-order the standard edition right now. Note that Newegg has it for $50 and that Best Buy is offering a $10 reward certificate with your pre-order.
Amazon -- Unavailable at the time of writing -- PS4 | Xbox One | PC
Best Buy -- $60 (comes with $10 rewards) -- PS4 | Xbox One | PC
The Deluxe Edition of Battlefield V retails for $80, but it includes some extra goodies you won't get from the standard edition. In addition to the core game and the pre-order bonuses, it also comes with the following:
3 Days Early Access to the Base Game: Lead your Company in all-out multiplayer with new experiences like the massive Grand Operations and the timeless Conquest mode. Play untold War Stories in the single player campaign--or squad up with friends in the cooperative Combined Arms.
Five Sets of Paratrooper Outfits: Customize your soldiers with five Special Soldier Sets containing stunning weapon skins, camo patterns, head gear, and face paint for British Special Air Service and German Airborne troops. Choose these five Sets from eight available when deploying into Battlefield V.
Special Assignments: Battlefield V Deluxe Edition includes Special Assignments for the British Special Air Service and Special Assignments for the German Fallschirmjäger troops. In addition, Battlefield V Deluxe Edition includes Starter Assignments--test your skills on the battlefield and gain rewards.
20 Weekly Items with Airlift: Battlefield V Deluxe Edition lets you receive vital supplies with 20 weekly Airlifts, each containing one customization item.
Here's where you can buy Battlefield V Deluxe Edition. Once again, Newegg offers $10 off the price and Best Buy offers a $10 reward certificate for pre-ordering.
Amazon -- Unavailable at the time of writing -- PS4 | Xbox One
Best Buy -- $80 (comes with $10 rewards) -- PS4 | Xbox One | PC
Another week of Fortnite challenges presents Battle Pass owners with another opportunity to complete a Blockbuster challenge. As always, completing all of the challenges in a given week provides you with the opportunity to earn an additional free Battle Pass level--provided you know where to look. Here's what to do.
Once you've completed your sixth full set of weekly challenges in Season 4, you'll again receive a loading screen. This gives you something different to look at while waiting for a match to load in, but it also hides a secret waiting to be found. As pictured below, you can see a Fork Knife food truck in the background, and subtly floating above it is a Battle Pass icon.
This food truck is located in Greasy Grove. If you've managed to complete the requisite number of challenges to unlock this loading screen, you can head there in-game to pick up the Battle Pass icon. Doing so ranks up your Battle Pass by one level, getting you whatever rewards await at the tier above your current rank. That could mean skins, V-Bucks, XP bonuses, or other things. You can see all the Season 4 skins to get an idea of what you still have to unlock.
The map above and accompanying images should help you locate the exact spot where the Battle Pass icon is. To earn the loading screen, you'll have to complete all of the challenges during six different sets of weekly challenges. That's no simple feat, but we have a complete guide to Season 4 challenges to help you out. That includes a walkthrough to Week 6 challenges, which involve new posters and another of the "search between" objectives that periodically pop up.
Another batch of challenges are available in Fortnite: Battle Royale. Players who have purchased the Season 4 Battle Pass can complete a set of seven objectives for Week 6, including those that have you searching for a point near a playground, as well as Carbide and Omega posters that you have to spray over. Here's how to complete all of the Week 6 challenges.
First up are the posters. Week 6 challenges task you to spray over different Carbide or Omega posters. You'll find these scattered around the map, and you'll need to spray on top of seven of them total. There are more than twice as many on the island, and this doesn't need to be done in a single match. Spraying over a poster just involves holding the use button/key, just as you would to open a chest. You can consult the map below to see all of the poster locations that we've been able to confirm.
The other tricky challenge for this week is a Hard-difficulty one that has you search between a playground, campsite, and footprint. This might not be tough if you recognize some of these locations, but you can just check out the map below to see exactly where you have to go. Located in between these points, you'll find a Battle Star icon; just walk up to it and you can collect it to complete the challenge.
The remainder of Week 6 is relatively straightforward. You'll need to deal 1,000 damage with shotguns, which you'll most easily be able to do in close-quarters, indoor locations--heading to a place like Tilted Towers may be your best bet. Another calls for you to search three supply drops; these spawn more often in some alternate modes, so you may have more luck finding one by jumping into one of those. Searching chests in Loot Lake and eliminating opponents in Retail Row is as simple as repeatedly dropping at those locations at the start of a match until you've racked up your requisite numbers. If you can get your hands on an SMG while in Retail Row, you can also knock out another challenge--three SMG eliminations.
Completing these challenges will reward you with varying numbers of Battle Stars, which rank up your Battle Pass and allow you to get your hands on new skins and cosmetics. For a rundown on everything this season, check out our Season 4 challenge guide.
Fortnite Week 6 Challenges
Search Supply Drops (3) -- 5 Battle Stars
Deal damage with Shotguns (1,000) -- 5 Battle Stars
Search Chests in Loot Lake (7) -- 5 Battle Stars
Spray over different Carbide or Omega Posters (7) -- 5 Battle Stars
Hard: Search between a Playground, Campsite, and Footprint -- 10 Battle Stars
E3 2018 is about to begin. As usual, there are massive posters being draped across the Los Angeles Convention Center, the site of E3, and on buildings throughout downtown LA.
GameSpot is now on the ground at E3 and we've taken some photos of the huge posters. You can see them in the gallery below, which we'll keep adding to a the show goes on. The E3 show floor itself is not open yet, but keep checking back with GameSpot for images inside the hall.
E3 begins today, June 9, with EA's press conference. The show kicks off at 11 AM PT / 2 PM ET, and GameSpot will have complete coverage, including a livestream and a liveblog. After the event, we'll bring you further preview pieces and video content from EA's showing.
For more on show, check out GameSpot's E3 2018 hub.
E3 2018 is nearly upon us, and much of the industry has outlined their plans for this year's show. The expo formally begins on Tuesday, June 12, but a number of major publishers will host their own press conferences in the days leading up to the event. Microsoft's briefing is scheduled to take place on Sunday, June 10, although this year's showing will be much different than in past years.
Instead of having a presence inside the Los Angeles Convention Center, where E3 is traditionally held, Microsoft has announced it will move to the nearby Microsoft Theater in LA Live. According to the publisher, this move allows it to have its "biggest E3 showing ever," as it will be able to host the bulk of its efforts in a single venue. It won't be entirely absent from the convention center however, as there will still be a traditional booth for its streaming service, Mixer, on the show floor.
Moving to the Microsoft Theater also allows the publisher to host more fans at its Xbox FanFest events than it could have in the past. "Not only does the Microsoft Theater allow us to centralize our Xbox presence at E3, but its size enables us to include even more fans and partners in the Xbox E3 2018 Briefing than ever before," said Microsoft's corporate VP Mike Nichols.
"These changes--expanding our presence, multiple venues, taking over the Microsoft Theater--give us the opportunity to bring together a variety of Xbox experiences into one primary location and, most importantly, let fans in on what we're up to in 2018 and beyond in a fresh new way."
Microsoft's press conference kicks off at 1 PM PT / 4 PM ET / 9 PM BST (6 AM AET on June 11). Xbox boss Phil Spencer has promised there will be "positive changes" for the company at this year's E3, although just what those could be remains to be seen. Likewise, we won't know what games the publisher plans to show off until its press conference rolls around, as Microsoft has remained tight-lipped about its E3 lineup. Despite this, a number of Xbox One games have been confirmed for the expo.
You'll have a variety of options for watching Microsoft's E3 2018 briefing. The broadcast will air online on the company's Twitch, YouTube, and Mixer channels. GameSpot will also host a stream of the conference, so you can tune in right here to see all of Microsoft's announcements, or through our social media and streaming platforms below. Additionally, Xbox One owners can watch the briefing on their console using the Mixer app.
Where To Livestream Microsoft's E3 2018 Press Conference
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 kicks things off on Saturday, June 9, with its EA Play briefing, while Microsoft and Bethesda will follow on Sunday afternoon and evening, respectively. Devolver Digital, a relative newcomer to E3 press conferences, will also host one on Sunday. Square Enix follows these on Monday morning; 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. It's unlikely any others will be announced at this point, but we'll keep this up to date with any changes. 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.
E3 2018 is effectively here. The Electronic Entertainment Expo is the biggest event of the year in terms of game announcements. Video game companies have increasingly begun to share news in the weeks ahead of E3 itself, and that's certainly proven to be the case this year--Battlefield V, Call of Duty: Black Ops 4, Rage 2, and Fallout 76 have already been announced. Still, there's plenty more to look forward to, both in terms of further specifics about those games--like just what is Fallout 76?--and others still to be revealed. It all starts with the EA Play press conference on Saturday, June 9.
But in terms of E3 itself, we've got a complete rundown on everything you need to know. From the games and companies we know will be there to the press conference schedule and details on the event, you'll find all of the key information about E3 2018. Be sure to stay tuned to GameSpot in the lead-up and through the event for full coverage.
When And Where Is E3?
E3 officially begins on Tuesday, June 12, and runs through Thursday, June 14. That's when the show floor is actually open at the Los Angeles Convention Center, as game companies set up booths and demo their games to press, members of the industry, and--in a much more recent move--a select number of public attendees.
While E3 itself lasts only three days, things unofficially begin much sooner. Electronic Arts has branched off from E3 and now hosts its own event, EA Play, the weekend prior. That begins on Saturday, June 9, while other companies--including Microsoft, Sony, Nintendo, Bethesda, and Ubisoft--will host their own press conference in the days before E3 begins.
When Are The Press Conferences?
EA Play kicks things off, serving as both a mini E3 dedicated to Electronic Arts' games and playing host to the publisher's annual press conference. That happens on June 9. On June 10, we'll get press conferences from Microsoft, Bethesda, and Devolver Digital. June 11 will see Square Enix (new to hosting its own press conference), Ubisoft, and Sony take their turns, in addition to the PC Gaming Show, which is a slightly different sort of beast. Nintendo rounds things out with its online broadcast on June 12, the same day E3 begins.
Why, right here on GameSpot, of course! We'll be streaming the press conferences live, followed by reactions from our staff. Additionally, we'll have a livestream filled with developer interviews and game demos throughout the week. Meanwhile, Nintendo will follow its Direct-style press conference with its typical Treehouse stream that showcases games coming to its platforms. The PC Gaming Show will stream on platforms like Twitch.
What Companies Are At E3?
A huge number of developers and publishers, both big and small, will be in attendance at E3. Of course, just being there doesn't mean they have something to announce or show, although Witcher fans are nonetheless hoping CD Projekt Red is there to showcase Cyberpunk 2077, not just take meetings.
Similarly, there are tons of games at E3 that we already know about. That includes big-name ones like Fallout 76, Death Stranding, Super Smash Bros. for Switch, and Battlefield V, along with updates and DLC for existing games like Destiny 2 (the fall DLC/update for which is set to be shown). There's also sure to be a lot of as-of-yet unannounced games there.
Speaking of which, rumors and leaks have already spoiled some pre-E3 announcements, including Rage 2 and Lego DC Super-Villains. There are plenty of other rumors circling ahead of E3 for games that--assuming they're real--we won't hear about until the companies' respective press conferences, including Assassin's Creed Odyssey, Just Cause 4, and Forza Horizon 4. There's also word that Fallout 76, which appears to be a pretty standard Bethesda RPG, will have online survival elements.
Like you, we've got a long wishlist of things we're hoping to see at E3 2018. That includes specific details and features in games that we both know will be there (Rage 2, Death Stranding, Spider-Man) and those we do not (a new Splinter Cell, Borderlands 3, Just Cause 4). We've compiled what we know about these projects and what we're hoping to see at the event.
Unlike most of E3's history, yes, E3 is now open to the public, but you can't just show up and get in. Tickets for the Gamer Pass are up for sale for $249, though you should be prepared for long lines to get into see most things on the show floor. Hours for when you can get in are different than in 2017, as Industry Pass holders (including exhibitors and members of the media) will get in before everyone else on Tuesday and Wednesday.
What Does E3 Stand For?
It's a seemingly silly question, but given how often the term "E3" is used, it's easy to never consider what it actually stands for. E3 is short for Electronic Entertainment Expo, although as the show has evolved, the name has changed slightly at times over the years.
There's a lot of excitement around Anthem leading into E3 2018 since it's BioWare's next big project and new IP. Expectations are high given this is a franchise debut from the same studio that brought us a slew of iconic RPGs: Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, Mass Effect, and Baldur's Gate to name a few. To prepare you for what's ahead, here's what we know about Anthem, as well as what we're hoping to see from it at this year's E3.
What We Know So Far
Currently, we know that Anthem isn't going to be structured like the developer's previous story-based RPGs and instead will take on qualities of loot-based online shooters, like Destiny and The Division. However, BioWare boss Casey Hudson said the game "will feel very distinctly BioWare" and is more accurately described as "science-fantasy." While the initial reveal at E3 2017 kicked off with a few minutes of narrative and world-building, it quickly delved into a two-player co-operative PvE gameplay sequence where you fight robotic enemies and wildlife both big and small. Towards the end of the reveal trailer, a shaper storm (where weather turned hostile) formed and two additional players jumped in making a party of four. It has also been confirmed that the game will still be playable on your own.
When it comes to the world of Anthem, we understand that players belong to a faction of operatives known as freelancers who don mechanized suits called javelins--think the Fallout power armor, but much more flexible and with jetpacks. The first descent into a lush, tropical environment showed off the versatility of movement with the player weaving through the terrain. In combat, we saw the javelin suit capable of a lock-on rocket barrage--one of the abilities on cooldown at the bottom of the HUD. And we witnessed a co-op partner execute a sort of ground pound ability for area-of-effect damage.
Given the style Anthem is going for, loot will be the centerpiece for equipment, which we had a glimpse of in last year's reveal; a level 35 legendary volt rifle called Jarra's Wrath was a reward at the end of big firefight. Based on information shown on-screen during the reveal, weapons will have specific statistics like range, damage, accuracy, rate of fire, and ammo count.
BioWare stated that it's solely focused on development for Anthem after making it clear that Mass Effect: Andromeda will not have new content or story-based DLC. Despite the all-hands-on-deck approach, Anthem was delayed from its initial Fall 2018 release window to sometime in Early 2019. As with many EA-published games, there will be a period in which subscribers to EA/Origin Access can play the game ahead of its full launch date. EA CEO Andrew Wilson also stated, "Anthem is a fundamentally social experience, and we will open new ways for fans to join the community and play early, enabling us to shape and refine the game with their input and feedback." This could imply a beta period, which is common for multiplayer-centric games. If anything, EA is anticipating continually tweaking the game with post-release updates and content.
Even though it was specifically showcased during Microsoft's E3 press conference last year, Anthem will release for PS4, Xbox One, and PC. Oh yeah, and there was a sweet trailer where game director Jon Warner takes us to a corn maze.
What's Confirmed For E3?
Anthem will be heavily featured at EA Play, which is EA's own off-site E3 event that runs from June 9 to June 11. Alongside the upcoming Battlefield V, Anthem is one of the focal points according to publisher. It hasn't been confirmed if the game will be playable to those who attend, but EA said it'll offer a closer look at the game. And even though Anthem was revealed during Microsoft's stage show in 2017, it's unclear if it'll be part of the Xbox showcase again this year.
What We Hope To See At E3
With this being a new BioWare IP, we hope to see how the developer's knack for storytelling is woven into a multiplayer experience. This could come in many forms; perhaps some backstory to accompany playable sections or a more in-depth showcase of the world that the freelancers inhabit. What exactly is it they're fighting for? What is the prevailing force behind its hostile world? BioWare isn't a stranger to this given its work on the MMORPG Star Wars: The Old Republic, but it's a whole other challenge when building a franchise from scratch.
Another important aspect we hope to be addressed is the depth and breadth of content that makes up Anthem. That's to say, we hope the game is taking note of where Destiny 2 falls short. It's fair to say that many players are concerned about having meaningful goals to work towards. Almost anyone going into E3 with Anthem excitement wants to know about quest structure, mission types, how progression works, and how it can be more than just compilation of combat sequences. It'd also be nice to know about the loot system and what types of weapons or javelin modifications we can mess with. It appears that javelin suits come with their own set of powers and could be a factor in making combat more complex. The teaser trailer focused a great deal on these suits, which has us thinking that Anthem's progression system is centered around building these suits and customizing their capabilities. We'd love for BioWare to unpack what javelin suits can do seeing as their abilities affect both combat and traversal.
We had a taste of Anthem's world in E3 2017, and its scale, verticality, and varied terrain certainly caught our eye. The ability to fly through the sky and take huge leaps across the environment has piqued our interest, but we want BioWare to tell us more about what there is to see on the other end.
New week, new Netflix. As summer gets closer and the temperature keeps rising, you might be looking for a reason to stay inside where the air conditioning is. Thankfully, Netflix is giving you plenty of reasons to avoid the sun with its arrivals for the week.
Most of the week's new additions come in the form of Netflix originals. Among the titles arriving is the series finale of Sense8, as well as the second season of Hyori's Bed & Breakfast, The Hollow, The Staircase, Treehouse Detectives, and Season 2 of Marcella.
Other new options include new seasons of The Night Shift and Wynonna Earp, plus a major Marvel Cinematic Universe premiere. If you somehow missed Thor: Ragnarok in theaters, it begins streaming on June 5. So make sure to get your fill of Thor (Chris Hemsworth) and Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), during their space adventures.
All three games are currently on sale on the Xbox marketplace for Xbox Live Gold members. So if you've been looking for an excuse to buy any of these games, there's no better time like the present. Both San Andreas and Midnight Club have a 35% discount and Table Tennis is 60% off.
Red Dead Redemption is also on sale with a 67% discount. The game is already Xbox One backwards compatible. It might be a good time to pick up this classic before playing its sequel later this year.
Once a game is on the backwards compatibility list, it stays there for good. However, these discounts are only available until Tuesday, June 12. If you want to take advantage of any of them, act now.
Hi-Rez's Paladins: Champions of the Realm is coming to Nintendo Switch. The game is already up for pre-order on the Nintendo Eshop and will officially release halfway through E3 on June 12. Paladins will run at 60 frames-per-second on Switch in both docked and handheld modes. The Switch version will also support cross-play with Xbox One.
Paladins is a team-based shooter similar to Team Fortress 2 and Overwatch. Gamers play as Champions, powerful heroes who use a mixture of guns and magic to defeat their opponents. Each Champion belongs to one of four classes. Front Line Champions operate as tanks and protect their allies from enemy fire. Damage Champions spearhead offensive assaults with their faster speed and high attack output. Support Champions keep their allies healed up and ready to fight. Flank Champions excel at circumnavigating the battlefield to ambush enemy teams from behind. Players can equip cards to augment or transform a Champion's abilities in order to experiment with different play styles.
Paladins features three different game modes. There's the FPS classic Team Deathmatch. Siege has teams of Champions fighting over a payload that they need to push into an enemy base. Onslaught is two teams fighting over various control points on the map.
"We're thrilled to bring one of the world's most popular shooters to an incredible platform like Nintendo Switch," said Paladins executive producer Chris Larson. "Players will experience the same fantastic team-based shooter gameplay they know and love in Paladins, now in the palms of their hands."
This initial Switch version of Paladins will not be free-to-play, as on PC; it will cost $30 (no word yet on international pricing). Referred to as Paladin's Founder Pack, this version of Paladins comes with all 36 Champions already unlocked. Buying this founder pack will also automatically net players every future Champion as they release and provide players with several exclusive cosmetic items.
An additional, free-to-play version of Paladins will release on the Nintendo Switch later this summer. Although it hasn't been confirmed, it will most likely play like the Paladins on other systems, where players start with eight Champions and need to unlock the other 24 with in-game currency.
Dead or Alive 6 is on its way. An announcement trailer dropped on the eve of E3 2018, showing off a few of the fighters, arenas, and new combos that will be included. The game is coming to Xbox One, PS4, and PC in early 2019. Dead or Alive 6 will be the first in the franchise to release exclusively on current generation hardware, and it shows.
The Dead or Alive franchise has always boasted impressive graphics, but Dead or Alive 6 appears to feature the most realistic visuals yet. The trailer for the game, which debuted on IGN, shows off how characters make different facial expressions in response to attacking, defending, dodging, or being hit. A more haggard look and bloody wounds appear on fighters who suffer a nasty combo, and delivering a flurry of blows will leave a combatant covered in sweat.
Visuals aren't the only aspect that's getting a makeover. Although Dead or Alive 6 features the same system of complex combat that appeals to fighting game veterans, it introduces two new mechanics to aid beginner players: Fatal Rush and Break Gauge. These new special combos let players pull off devastating attacks with very little practice. Mastering the perfect timing for these attacks will still prove challenging though, providing an extra incentive for more advanced players to learn the ins and outs of these new moves.
So far, only Kasumi, Hayate, Hayabusa, Helena, Jann Lee, and Zack have been confirmed for Dead or Alive 6. However, according to director and producer Yohei Shimbori, more familiar faces are on the way, as well as some brand new fighters that players haven't seen before.
Though he may have only lasted two episodes of Gotham--appearing as "The Mask" Richard Sionis in Seasons 1 and 2--Todd Stashwick isn't ready to leave the DC universe just yet. The actor, who also stars on 12 Monkeys as Deacon, will co-write the sequel to Suicide Squad.
The Hollywood Reporter confirms that Stashwick and co-writer David Bar Katz will tackle the script, alongside Suicide Squad 2 director Gavin O'Connor. The duo is taking over from Adam Cozad (Legend of Tarzan), who previously worked on the movie's script.
The movie will be Stashwick's first feature writing credit. However, given his intimate knowledge of DC villains--thanks to his playing one--he could very well be the right choice when it comes to writing an entire movie about them. Katz has a bit more experience. After writing a number of projects with John Leguizamo in the 1990s, his script for The Man in the Rockefeller Suit landed on the black list--the annual list of highly regarded scripts that have not yet been produced. He's also developing a film with Warner Bros. and Robert Downey Jr.'s production company.
The news was first revealed when Stashwick appeared on an episode of the web series Popcorn Talk. The actor says it came about after working with O'Connor as an actor, leading to them discussing the project and their shared DC fandom.
No release date or story details have been announced for the sequel to 2016's Suicide Squad. It's also not the only villain-centric DC film in the works. It was recently revealed that Jared Leto's Joker is getting a standalone movie. There's also that Margot Robbie-led Birds of Prey film, in which she reprises her role as Harley Quinn.
The first trailer for Halloween is here. The movie is the latest entry in the long-running horror franchise, and it is a direct sequel to the John Carpenter's 1978 original movie. The film sees original star Jamie Lee Curtis return as Laurie Strode, and it hits theaters in October.
The movie ignores every previous Halloween film since the first one, and the trailer opens with a documentary crew going to interview Michael in prison, where he has been for 40 years. Inevitably Myers escapes while being transported, and heads back to his home of Haddonfield. We learn that Laurie has been getting ready to face him ever since, and there's a nice in-joke about the fact that Michael isn't her brother, a detail that was invented for 1981's Halloween II. There's also plenty of menace and scares--in short everything you'd want from a new Halloween movie. Check it out above.
Halloween is directed by acclaimed indie director David Gordon Green (George Washington, Pineapple Express), with a script co-written by comedian and actor Danny McBride (Eastbound and Down, Alien Covenant). Carpenter is involved as a story advisor and is composing the movie's score.
In a recent interview with Collider, Green spoke about Carpenter's involvement with the film. "His advice was brilliant: make it relentless, " he said. "He had notes, which is something I was extremely nervous about, we worked very hard on the script, we were all very excited. It's one thing for three movie nerds to geek out over the opportunity of manoeuvring within this property, another to basically go kiss the ring of the godfather and see how that goes."
As if there weren't enough Souls games already, Bandai Namco has announced the release date for its Souls-like RPG, Code Vein. The game is scheduled to launch on September 28, following the releases of Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age (September 4), Spider-Man (September 7), Shadow of the Tomb Raider (September 12), and the Spyro Reignited Trilogy (September 21). It seems September is a pretty jammed-packed month this year, and E3 2018 is still just a week away.
Back in October of last year, we had a chance to check out Code Vein, saying, "Dubbed 'anime Dark Souls' by many, it draws heavy influence from From Software's acclaimed Souls series, most notably in its difficulty." Around the same time, we learned that Code Vein will not feature an easier difficulty setting. Instead, you'll be able to "freely change your character's Blood Code during the course of the game, allowing you adjust your character's stats to adapt to new challenges."
And, of course, in similar Souls fashion, Code Vein will feature online co-op. "You can send out a distress signal to summon a different player," but "this player will have to fulfill 'certain conditions,' although it's unclear what these conditions will be." We'll have a few months to see what those conditions are.
Code Vein will be available on PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
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