Many are calling this year’s E3 the most exciting gaming conference yet and when you look at what the major companies have brought to the table, it’s hard to disagree. From new takes on old classics to surprising new products and a lot of opportunities for user-designed experiences, gamers received a ton of good news at this year’s E3.
Here are some highlights from the industry’s biggest names:
Sony
The Last Guardian
Rumors have floated around E3 for years about this long awaited conclusion of the Ico and Shadow of the Collossus trilogy, and Sony turned heads when it started its keynote by announcing The Last Guardian. At Sony’s press conference, viewers got to see a cinematic gameplay demo, where a young boy and a gigantic dog/chicken thing navigate mysterious ancient ruins, helping each other along the way. The game will be released next year, and is sure to be full of the mystical lore that dominated the earlier features in the series.
Final Fantasy 7
Fans of this action fantasy series have been calling for a remake for decades, and on Monday, Sony announced that they will finally get what they’re asking for. Sony didn’t give fans a ton of info on the new game, but did reveal a stunning trailer and assured customers that Final Fantasy will be coming to Playstation 4 before any other consoles.
Microsoft
Backwards Compatibility
In an E3 press conference that was finally devoted to gaming, Microsoft made an announcement that will please long-time Xbox customers. At the end of the year, the company will make around 100 Xbox 360 games playable on the Xbox One, at no extra cost to game owners. This was a welcome change of heart from Microsoft, which had long resisted backwards compatibility.
Minecraft for HoloLens
Microsoft has taken the pixelated PC classic Minecraft and turned it into something truly awe-inspiring. In an amazing (though somewhat awkward) demo, Microsoft showed users how to create the pixelated world of Minecraft on their coffee tables using voice and gesture commands.
EA
Star Wars: Battlefront
The Battlefront games have always been huge favorites among Star Wars fans, and this reboot looks to be no different. Take everything you love from the old Battlefront games- taking down AT-ST’s, manning Walkers and TIE fighters, even dueling with lightsabers- and combine that with sublime graphics and smooth gameplay, and you have an instant favorite for sci-fi gamers. And the amazing thing is that EA released only what they termed “pre-alpha gameplay,” meaning that there’s a lot of development to come before the game is released for PC, Playstation 4 and Xbox One on November 17th.
EA’s Annual Sports Releases
EA’s new sports releases are often a bit of a snooze for gaming fans, as it generally seems like very little changes from year to year. However, this year is a bit different, as EA has revamped its motion capture, adding more natural, physics-based movements to many of its games. This, in combination with a new fantasy football-inspired mode in Madden and a face-scanning app for NBA Live, makes it an exciting year for EA sports games.
Nintendo
Starfox Zero
Nintendo fans have heard a lot about the new Starfox game, but during Nintendo’s E3 Nintendo Direct Broadcast, they finally received details about the project and got to see some gameplay footage. Users will be able to play the game in first person from a Wii U gamepad, and it seems that the game will have a flight focus, which is the real strength of the Starfox series. The game is set to come out in time for the holiday season.
Super Mario Maker
This game brings a lot more opportunities for user creation into the beloved Super Mario series. Starting September 11th, you will be able to build your own levels and use your Nintendo Amiibos, plastic toy figures that correspond to virtual characters, to control Mario and co.
Bethesda Game Studios
Fallout 4
Bethesda announced Fallout 4 well before E3 and released a trailer a couple weeks ago, but this didn’t take away any of the excitement surrounding Fallout at Bethesda’s press conference. Viewers got a few more details, like that you start the game before the nuclear apocalypse happens and that crafting will be important. Bethesda also announced that the game will be available on PC, Playstation 4 and Xbox One on November 10th.
Doom
At Bethesda’s conference, viewers got a much closer look at what has to be one of the most exciting remakes of late, coming to PC, Playstation 4 and Xbox One in 2016. Gamers now know that Doom will be super gory, melding some old school touches with new school graphics to provide users with realistic ways to tear apart demons. The new Doom will also include a multiplayer option and revolutionary modding tools that let gamers create and share their own arenas.
