All Articles: E3 2018
The Road to E3 2018: Sony’s Big Showcase… Featuring Death Stranding, Spider-Man, The Last of Us Part II, and More
The 2018 E3 Expo begins in exactly 18 days… so let the speculation begin! Today, we’re peering into our crystal ball at what Sony might have in store for gaming’s biggest showcase.
Sony Interactive Entertainment recently made “a rare break from tradition” and gave fans an early glimpse at the four games they plan to highlight during their 2018 E3 Showcase. As usual, Sony will shine a spotlight on several cinematic single-player adventures, including Kojima Productions’s Death Stranding, Naughty Dog’s The Last of Us Part II, Sucker Punch’s Ghost of Tsushima, and Insomniac’s Spider-Man. All four games are expected to launch later this year (though, full disclosure, only Spider-Man has an official release date), so Sony should have plenty to say. (more…)
Battlefield V gets an Official Reveal Trailer and an October 19 launch date
Like last year’s Call of Duty: WWII, EA and DICE will take the Battlefield franchise back to the Second World War in the upcoming Battlefield V. You can get your first look at the game in the Official Reveal Trailer, which has been embedded above.
Unlike Activision’s biggest franchise, Battlefield V will stick with a single-player campaign, bringing back the “War Stories” format from Battlfield 1:
The acclaimed single-player campaign mode from Battlefield 1, War Stories, returns for Battlefield V. Witness the conflict through the eyes of men and women of World War 2 and experience untold stories of human drama, filled with Battlefield moments. Experience the freezing Norwegian landscapes as a young Norwegian resistance fighter or come ashore into the desert heat of North Africa… and more.
But multiplayer is how most players experience the Battlefield franchise, and DICE is promising that fans will get to experience the “most immersive gameplay” ever in Battlefield V:
Battlefield V multiplayer will deliver the most immersive gameplay of the franchise in a sandbox environment that portrays the battles of World War II, allowing players to feel the force of the fight and truly shape the war as the war shapes them. Players’ soldiers can now tow stationary weapons, build fortifications, and repair war-torn structures to turn the battlefield to the player’s advantage. Whether dragging a squad mate to safety or shooting a grenade out of the sky, players will forge a deeper connection to the ever-evolving world around them and achieve victory against the toughest odds. With the freedom to adapt and evolve the battlefield in new and unseen ways, the battlefield will never be the same.
In new and classic multiplayer modes, players can lead their own unique Company to victory in a dynamic multiplayer experience where every battle is unique. The Company allows players to create and deeply customize their soldiers, weapons, and vehicles that will evolve as they progress, covering everything from the way they look to the way they play. Fan favorite modes like the 64-player Conquest return, with the game’s multiplayer culminating in Grand Operations, an all-new live, event-based experience within Tides of War. These multimap, multi-mode dynamic events take players through vast historical battles to relive moments of bravery and desperation while fighting to the final objective.
DICE also confirmed that Battlefield V will not require a Season Pass to play expansion content. In an effort to “keep the community unified,” the developer said that “all players will have access to the same maps and modes.” This new approach lead to the creation of the new Tides of War mode:
Tides of War is DICE’s new approach to live services, where players will set out on an epic journey with their Company in unexpected battles throughout World War II. There will be no premium pass, all players will have access to the same maps and modes, keeping the community unified as they progress through Battlefield V. In Tides of War, their journey through World War II will grow through themed experiences that will include events and all-new ways to play like Grand Operations, while also unlocking the latest themed rewards such as weapons and vehicles to further shape their Company.
While that’s a lot to digest, if you’re looking to learn more about Battlefield V, EA and DICE promised to share more information about the game during this year’s EA Play event on June 9.
For now, you can mark down an October 19th launch date on your calendar for Battlefield V on the PC, PS4, and Xbox One. But players who opt for the Deluxe Edition will be able to play three days earlier, and all players who pre-order the game will receive early access to the planned Open Beta.
Bethesda reveals first Gameplay Trailer for Rage 2 and confirms Spring 2019 launch date
As promised, Bethesda has pulled back the curtain on the first Gameplay Trailer for Rage 2. Bringing players back to the wild wasteland of the first game, Bethesda also confirmed that Rage 2 will be released for the PC, PS4, and Xbox One in Spring 2019.
In addition, the publisher unveiled a bevy of gameplay and story details in a new post on Bethesda.net (and slipped in a few Walker: Texas Ranger jokes):
Mankind is in peril. In the decades following an asteroid’s devastation, most of the earth has become an unforgiving wildland where bloodthirsty factions vie for control of precious resources. Pockets of civilization have emerged to claim their space in the world, but the tentative peace they’ve established is being threatened. Rage 2 follows Walker, the last Ranger of Vineland, as he fights to survive the chaos of the dystopian world into which he was born. With a wide array of weapons, vehicles and strange powers, Walker sets off to take down the tyrannical Authority.
It’s the perfect mix: id Software’s first-person shooter pedigree, Avalanche Studios’ mastery of the open world sandbox, with a healthy dose of pedal-to-the-metal vehicle combat. From the swamplands and jungles where enemies lurk among the dense foliage, to the open deserts where a passing car is more likely to mow you down than offer you a ride, the world of Rage 2 is not a gentle, nurturing place. The people who have survived in this landscape have had to learn to protect themselves and keep their heads on a swivel, especially with the reemergence of a familiar menace.
Players will have other opportunities for mayhem in Rage 2’s open world by equipping special Nanotrite abilities:
Among the arrows he can choose from his Nanotrite ability quiver are the power to crush enemies into paste from above in a devastating slam attack or send them flying away from him with a lethal energy push. Walker will also learn to channel these Nanotrites into his weapons, pushing them into an awe-inspiring Overdrive, a unique skill that lets him push his guns beyond their limits and unleash absolute hell on his foes. Chain these abilities together to make Walker a powerhouse of destruction, quickly refilling his Overdrive meter. While in Overdrive, Walker’s guns do more damage, they gain new attributes, enemies drop better rewards and Walker’s health starts to regenerate. When timed correctly, Overdrive is more than enough to tip the scales in a tricky fight.
If you’re still hungry for more information about Rage 2, you’ll have to wait until this year’s E3 Expo to really dig in. Bethesda has said they’ll reveal a second Gameplay Trailer and even more details about Rage 2 during their BE3 Showcase on Sunday, June 10.
Bethesda officially announces Rage 2
After a spate of rumors pointed to an impending announcement for Rage 2, Bethesda has thrown up their hands and officially announced that the game is in development at id Software for the PC, PS4, and Xbox One. A short Teaser Trailer has been embedded above, and a longer Gameplay Trailer will be unveiled tomorrow. If the Teaser Trailer is any indication, the next Rage will be considerably sillier than its predecessor.
Rage ended on a huge cliffhanger, and while it wasn’t as well-loved as Doom or Quake, fans have been hoping that the developer would return to the game’s post-apocalyptic world in a sequel. Bethesda has also recruited Avalanche Studios, the team responsible for 2015’s Mad Max game, to assist in the creation of Rage 2.
The announcement of Rage 2 also ups the possibility that the rest of the games included in the recent Walmart Canada leak (as reported by Polygon) are real. So don’t be surprised when game publishers start announcing Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell 6, Lego DC Supervillains, Gears of War 5, Assassin’s Creed 2018, and Just Cause 4 over the next few weeks.
A release date for Rage 2 has yet to be announced.
Sony’s E3 2018 Showcase will feature previews of Death Stranding, Spider-Man, Ghost of Tsushima, and The Last of Us Part II
It looks like Sony wants to do things a bit different at this year’s E3 Expo. Over on the PlayStation Blog, the consolemaker has made “a rare break from tradition” and pre-announced the games that will take center stage at their E3 Showcase.
Drumroll, please.
Sony’s E3 Showcase will take place on June 11 at 6:00 PM (Pacific Time), and a team from Sony Worldwide Studios will provide “exclusive” previews of Kojima Productions’s Death Stranding, Sucker Punch’s Ghost of Tsushima, Insomniac’s Spider-Man, and Naughty Dog’s The Last of Us Part II. A smattering of additional announcements from “third-party publishers and independent developers” will round out the show.
For fans watching at home, Sony’s E3 Showcase will be livestreamed in its entirety on Playstation.com, Twitch, YouTube, and Facebook.
Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate will be released for Switch this Summer
Monster Hunter Generations was originally released for the 3DS in 2016, and Capcom eventually brought an enhanced port of the monster-hunting action-adventure game to the Switch in Japan a year later. This Summer, that version of the game will make its international debut as Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate.
Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate features a blend of classic gameplay and unique new twists, brand new explorable areas and monsters, plus returning fan-favorites like the lightning fast Zinogre and the stealthy long-tailed Nargacuga. This release introduces a new quest level called “G” rank that features even more formidable versions of familiar foes, truly testing experienced hunters’ battle tactics now with different moves and abilities never before seen in the wild!
Hunters can face off against the series’ largest roster of unique monsters in this nostalgic look back at the series’ beginnings and evolutions. Take on the role of a brave hunter on an adrenaline-fueled adventure challenging larger-than-life beasts. Completing quests will yield valuable resources for crafting countless distinct weapons and equipment fashioned after players’ defeated foes. Along their journey, hunters must defend each of the game’s four villages from major threats known as the Fated Four, plus an even more dangerous new Elder Dragon.
Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate will let players join hunting parties (of up to four players) thanks to its online multiplayer support, and two brand new Hunting Styles will give players the chance to experiment with new offensive capabilities. With Brave Style, “[players are rewarded] with new moves for landing successive attacks.” And Alchemy Style is “a support style that grants the ability to create useful items on the fly during combat.”
Capcom will bring a playable demo of Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate to this year’s E3 Expo, but everyone will get a chance to play it on the Switch after it launches on August 28. The first trailer for Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate has been embedded above.
Treyarch will unveil Call of Duty: Black Ops 4’s Zombies Mode at E3 2018
While Activision has yet to confirm the existence of a Zombies Mode for Call of Duty: Black Ops 4, it’s looking more and more likely that Treyarch will resurrect the popular cooperative multiplayer mode for the sequel.
That’s because, earlier today, the official Twitter account for the E3 Expo announced that the developer will discuss the history of the fan-favorite feature during an “E3 Coliseum” panel, as well as provide a glimpse at its future in Black Ops 4:
What’s lurking around the corner of @Treyarch’s next Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 Zombies experience? Come hear the history of Call of Duty Zombies from the creators themselves at #E3Coliseum! Get your gamer pass today and be there. Purchase at https://t.co/QOa74rE263 #E32018 pic.twitter.com/xW9uomRMtI
— E3 (@E3) May 7, 2018
If you can’t wait for the E3 Expo to get a closer look at Call of Duty: Black Ops 4, don’t worry, Activision and Treyarch are planning a “Community Reveal Event” for the game on Thursday, May 17. And the newest entry in the franchise will launch earlier than ever, with an October 12 release date being readied for Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 on the PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
Square Enix officially unveils Shadow of the Tomb Raider in a new trailer
As promised, Square Enix has unveiled our first look at Shadow of the Tomb Raider in a brand new trailer. Dubbed “The End of the Beginning,” it looks like players will close out this chapter of Lara Croft’s life as she takes her rightful place in the world as the “Tomb Raider”:
Experience Lara Croft’s defining moment as she becomes the Tomb Raider. In Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Lara must master a deadly jungle, overcome terrifying tombs, and persevere through her darkest hour. As she races to save the world from a Maya apocalypse, Lara will ultimately be forged into the Tomb Raider she is destined to be.
Key Features
- Survive and Thrive In the Deadliest Place on Earth: Master an unforgiving jungle setting in order to survive. Explore underwater environments filled with crevasses and deep tunnel systems.
- Become One With the Jungle: Outgunned and outnumbered, Lara must use the jungle to her advantage. Strike suddenly and disappear like a jaguar, use mud as camouflage, and instill fear in enemies to sow chaos.
- Discover Dark and Brutal Tombs: Tombs are more terrifying than ever before, requiring advanced traversal techniques to reach them, and once inside they are filled with deadly puzzles.
- Uncover Living History: Discover a hidden city and explore the biggest hub space ever found in a Tomb Raider game.
While today’s trailer lays out the main story of Shadow of the Tomb Raider, fans will get their first look at a Gameplay Trailer during this year’s E3 Expo in June.
Square Enix also announced that Camilla Luddington will once again portray Lara Croft in Shadow of the Tomb Raider, reprising her role from Tomb Raider and Rise of the Tomb Raider. And she’ll continue to tell Lara’s story beyond the release of the game, as the publisher is planning to launch seven downloadable add-ons to Shadow of the Tomb Raider in the months that follow.
Shadow of the Tomb Raider is currently in development at Eidos Montreal and Crystal Dynamics for the PC, PS4, and Xbox One. And it’ll be released on September 14.