E3 brings developers, journalists, and fans together for a celebration that is like the video game version of Christmas (or at least, it’s the day when we find out what to ask Santa for six months later).
And while there were so many projects announced, revealed, discussed, and dissected, some people still felt let down because the games they were pining to see were a no show. There were no brief teasers, no tiny morsels of information, just nothing. Radio silence from their developers.
So what were the biggest games you were disappointed you didn’t see at E3 2018? Because I have a few of my own…
Metroid Prime 4
At E3 2017, Nintendo teased the world with a logo for Samus Aran’s next adventure and absolutely nothing else. In the hours after their Smash-heavy presentation, Nintendo Marketing Manager Bill Trinen explained to Game Informer why the company had nothing to show Metroid fans after tantalising them in 2017:
Last year was the first year for Switch at E3, so we took a bit of a departure from our usual approach to E3, which is to focus on more near-term stuff. Last year, because it was the first year for the hardware, we looked at things that were maybe a little further out. This year, you can see pretty clearly, we’re back to focusing on the near-term. We’ll have more to share with Metroid Prime 4 when we have something we think is going to wow people.”
In that context, focusing on the next six months makes sense for the company since the Switch is selling like cocaine-laced Scottish shortbread. We can probably expect to see a special Samus-themed Nintendo Direct in the near future.
Yoshi
Yoshi is another game that was actually shown by Nintendo last year, but was a no-show at this year’s event. The lovable dinosaur has moved on from yarn to cardboard, but the game was supposed to be out in 2018, so what gives?
Well, first of all, the launch date for Yoshi on Nintendo’s eShop quietly changed from 2018 to 2019 during the E3 Expo, suggesting that the game has been delayed. But while we have to wait a bit longer for the game, perhaps they’re retooling the cardboard-themed game to be part of the Nintendo Labo line. Hey, you never know.
Final Fantasy VII Remake
Had Square Enix not taken over a hefty portion of Microsoft’s E3 Briefing, their own Press Conference may have been fun. But what we saw was just a rehash of the four games they have coming out soon… Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Just Cause 4, Kingdom Hearts III, and The Awesome Adventures of Captain Spirit. Those fans who assumed the company were holding something back for its own stage were left sorely disappointed, but especially those yearning for the fabled Final Fantasy VII Remake.
In what was a small silver lining, the game’s protagonist, Cloud, did appear at E3… in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate!
The Avengers Project
Another Square Enix project that did not make its public debut was the mysterious Avengers Project that was announced last year. Given how Avengers: Infinity War ended, and that its followup is due for release in May 2019, you would assume, or rather hope, that the publisher would have the game out by then to capitalize on its presumed success. Especially since Infinity War just snapped over the $2 billion mark in worldwide box office.
That said, Square Enix did announce the digital-only title The Quiet Man with an odd live-action trailer and the mysterious Babylon’s Fall in conjunction with Platinum Games. While an E3 no-show is frustrating, a lot can happen in the next 18 months and we could be playing The Avengers Project before you know it.
Borderlands 3
Gearbox used this year’s E3 Expo to show a game behind closed doors, but it sure as hell wasn’t Borderlands 3. Instead, the developer gave a select few an early look at Project 1v1, a hybrid shooter and collectible card game.
Fans of the Borderlands franchise might be holding out until 2020 before they get the chance to play the third proper game in the series, since Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel was more of a spinoff (and developed by 2K Australia) when it was released four years ago.
Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell 7
For the most part, Ubisoft nailed their E3 Press Conference. There was not much in the way of surprises (save for Star Fox saving the day in Starlink: Battle For Atlas), but one title fans have been screaming for is a new Splinter Cell. While the game was a no-show, Ubisoft President and CEO Yves Guillemot confirmed afterwards (to Geoff Keighley at the E3 Coliseum) that the company does plan to return to the adventures of Sam Fisher “at some point.”
Tom Hardy has been attached to star in a film adaptation of Splinter Cell for several years now. If I had to guess, I would say that the game might be tied to the fortunes of the long-in-development film.
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order (Sort of)
You had to feel sorry for Star Wars: Battlefront II Design Director Dennis Brannvall on stage, as he apologized time and again for the loot box fiasco that followed the horrendous launch of his game. It wasn’t his fault, he obviously cared for the game, but Vice President Patrick Soderlund probably wasn’t going to apologise, so someone had to.
However, before this, What’s Good’s Andrea Rene decided to conduct what looked like an impromptu interview with Respawn’s Vince Zampella, and turned what should have been a cool, albeit small, title announcement into something that resembled getting blood from a stone. It was one in a series of awkward moment’s during the EA Play presentation, but one that made me question why Disney gave the franchise game rights to EA in the first place, or why they cancelled the rather more exciting Star Wars game that was set up at Visceral under Amy Hennig.
We did learn that Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order takes place during what Zampella referred to as the “dark times” of Star Wars. But what he actually meant was the period between Revenge of the Sith and the first film, a period we have already seen in two films, a handful of (now non-canon) books and games, and the awesome Star Wars: Rebels TV series.
But like the rest of EA’s show, this news did not inspire confidence in me.
Skate 4 (Does It Exist?)
While watching the EA Play presentation was like watching paint dry (but with pixels), my Twitter feed was going crazy with #Skate4 trending right up until the end. Fans are clamoring for the game, but EA was not in a pleasing mood.
However, those who watched Microsoft’s thrilling and energetic presentation would have caught a small but rather touching trailer for Session, a new skateboarding game from Crea-ture Studios. What is even more incredible is that this game started life on Kickstarter. Hopefully this twin-stick skateboarding sim can cure the absence of Skate 4.
Rocksteady’s Superman (Does It Exist?)
Like with Skate 4, we don’t even know if Rocksteady’s Superman game exists, but persistent rumours have been suggesting, for quite some time now, that the developer is cooking up something starring the Man of Steel. As they say, there isn’t smoke without heat vision…
