EA took their turn on the E3 Press Conference merry-go-round and they came out shooting with both barrels. But one of their biggest new games mostly eschews guns for a more physical form of combat. I’m talking, of course, about the insane parkour that’s at the center of Mirror’s Edge: Catalyst.
In addition to showing the trailer embedded above, developer DICE got a chance to talk about their latest passion project, which seemed unlikely to ever exist just three years ago. Taking place in the city of Glass, and serving as a prequel (of sorts) to the original Mirror’s Edge, Catalyst will reveal the backstory behind Faith, a “Runner” working against the dystopian government:
In Mirror’s Edge: Catalyst, you will experience the rise of Faith, a daring Runner who uncovers a hidden truth within the walls of the city of Glass. Through her journey, Faith will explore every corner of the city, from the highest, most pristine skyscrapers, to the dark and gritty tunnels that lie beneath. Players will need to master the environment, using their momentum and timing their combat to fight the oppression of the ruling elite, uncovering the dark secrets behind the city’s beautiful façade. Mirror’s Edge: Catalyst gives players the freedom to explore the entire city, discovering a variety of new activities, like Dash, races from point A to B, environmental puzzles and story missions to complete at their own pace.
Mirror’s Edge: Catalyst is built on top of a sprawling open-world of glass and steel, and DICE has decided to tease out some of the details of that world through the official Mirror’s Edge website. In addition to a biography of Faith, the developer also published a primer on the art of freerunning in the game and a small glimpse at some of the darker corners of the city.
Mirror’s Edge: Catalyst will be released for the PC, PS4, and Xbox One on February 23, 2016.