Gaming's most anticipated annual event, E3 has officially wrapped up with high-powered publishers and platforms announcing cutting-edge developments in their wares and games.
Notably missing from the line-up is Sony, perhaps the biggest player in the gaming industry, creator of the Playstation console, and publisher of AAA games. But despite this the competition for the best E3 show for 2019 is fierce. Everyone brought their AAA games to the table--even the so-called newbies.
The 3-day event can be a lot to take in. So we condensed all of the good stuff to serve you on this recap.
Nintendo
The final conference closed off E3 2019 with a bang. Nintendo revealed Witcher 3 for Nintendo Switch, the next Super Smash Bros. Ultimate DLC characters, and information on a Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild sequel. Nintendo Direct did not disappoint.
Cyberpunk 2077
The most anticipated game announcement for E3 2019 also had perhaps the biggest moment. CD Projekt Red showed a cutscene from the game set in fictional Night City, California, eventually revealing a bombshell by the end: Keanu Reeves is in the game and at the venue to reveal the release date!
“You’re breathtaking,” Reeves said, after taking the stage to reveal Cyberpunk 2077’s release date. “You’re all breathtaking.” The open-world, RPG will be available April 16, 2020 on PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.
Death Stranding
Finally, a release date! Just a few months from now (can't wait), the first new game made by the legendary Metal Gear series creator, Hideo Kojima, will finally be available for the whole world to play. It looks to have everything Kojima is known for — a nonsensical yet hypnotic story, breathtaking cinematics, great game design, and this time, brilliant dialogue delivered by A-list actors Norma Reedus, Mads Mikkelsen, Léa Seydoux, and Guillermo Del Toro. Find out what Death Stranding is all about on November 8, 2019.
Halo Infinite
Master Chief is back in the latest installment of the critically-acclaimed and highly-successful Halo series. The trailer is cut from in-game footage running on the next-gen Xbox console codenamed: Project Scarlett. It didn’t show gameplay, but it’s safe to assume Infinite will continues the mythical lore of Master Chief. Speaking of continuations...
Project Scarlett
One of the biggest announcements of the jam-packed Microsoft conference, Xbox E3 2019 calls its next console “Project Scarlett”, which is expected to come holiday season of 2020. The graphics are next level: able to play 120 fps at 8k resolution. Microsoft also claims that their next-gen console has almost no loading times, possibly making titles for this next-gen console more immersive.
Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild sequel
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild was the best-selling Zelda game of all time. It makes sense then that Nintendo is working on a direct sequel, something it doesn’t often do for Zelda games. The trailer isn’t long and features Zelda and Link exploring a crypt and encountering the desiccated corpse of a princess who comes alive. Very creepy and very cool. Also clearly very early in development.
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order
Fans of Star Wars video games have had a bad run since publisher Electronic Arts took over the license a few years ago. Star Wars: Battlefront II was an alright shooter, but is mostly remembered as the game that introduced lawmakers and worried parents to lootboxes. Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order looks like an attempt to win back the audience. Set after the events of Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith, players take control of Cal Kestis—played by Gotham’s Cameron Monaghan—as he learns the ways of the force and attempts to rebuild the Jedi Order. There are lightsaber battles, force powers, Stormtroopers, and the morally dubious resistance leader Saw Gerrera.
The George R.R. Martin x FromSoftware Collab
Game of Thrones author George R.R. Martin has been busy since the most popular television show of all time launched. In addition to writing his iconic book series, he’s helped Japanese video game developer FromSoftware create Elden Ring, an action RPG set in a world Martin developed. FromSoftware is famous for its notoriously difficult and rewarding cult classic Dark Souls series. The combination of Martin’s imagination and FromSoftware’s excellent design make Elden Ring a game to watch out for.
Final Fantasy VII Remake
Released in 1997, Final Fantasy VII is a beloved game that introduced millions of fans to RPGs. It had it all: incredible music, compelling characters, and a fully realized 3D world. More than 20 years later, publisher Square Enix is giving Cloud, Sephiroth, and Aerith a complete makeover it hopes will appeal to nostalgic fans and curious newcomers alike. More than just a remaster, Final Fantasy VII Remake includes entirely new graphics, voice acting, and a completely reworked combat system.
Watch Dogs: Legion
Watch Dogs: Legion is a third-person action game set in a post-Brexit London. According to the trailer, extremism is on the rise, the government’s abandoned all hope, and cops are brutalizing citizens. The player works with DedSec, a hacker collective recruiting people to fight the powers that be. In previous Watch Dogs games, players could hack anything and snoop through people’s phones for private information. Legion continues the trend, but allows players to recruit anyone from young punks to retired grandmothers to the cause. Go anywhere, hack anything, and recruit anyone.
The Outer Worlds
The Outer Worlds is basically Fallout in space. Obsidian, the developers behind Fallout: New Vegas, are experts at creating bizarre science fiction worlds. The Outer Worlds trades the post-apocalypse for a brighter future where humans have colonized the stars. The only problem is that huge corporations run those colonies. Enter the player, who — in classic RPG style — can become a hero, villain, or sociopath. Like Fallout, The Outer Worlds is a first-person RPG.
The Outer Worlds comes to PC, Xbox One and PlayStation 4 on October 25, 2019.
Google Stadia
Google is diving into the video game business with Stadia, an online platform it claims will let gamers stream the newest titles in 4K using their home internet connection. Set to release this November, the basic package costs $129 and comes with a Chromecast-style receiver and a Stadia controller. The catch is players have to pay a monthly $9.99 for 4K and surround sound. Meanwhile, some games come with the subscription, while others have to be purchased individually.