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All you need to know about E3 2019

The time that most gamers have been waiting for is officially here!
E3 2019 brings us all the latest and greatest news and inside looks at some of the most highly anticipated games, and a peek at some new developments.

For those that are interested, E3 2019 officially started with the EA Play event but you can watch the rest of it right here;

E3 2019 Live Streams

And the rest of the event looks like this;

  • Microsoft – 22h00 CAT Sunday 9th June
  • Bethesda – 02h30 CAT Monday 10th June
  • Devolver Digital – 04h30 CAT Monday 10th June
  • PC Gaming Show – 19h00 CAT Monday 10th June
  • Ubisoft – 22h00 CAT Monday 10th June
  • Square Enix – 03h00 CAT Tuesday 11th June
  • Nintendo Direct – 06h00 CAT Tuesday 11th June

 

E3 2018 brought us a lot of awesome news, so we can only imagine what E3 2019 is going to bring! If you missed any of the conferences, don’t worry! You can catch up on all the E3 news here.

 

 

EA PLAY

The EA Play event brought us news from the gaming giant on some of their latest developments and updates to some of their current big titles.
The event included information on titles such as Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, Apex Legends, Battlefield V, FIFA 20, Madden NFL 2020 and The Sims 4.

So let’s break it down and see exactly what’s happening.

 

Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order

Now this is a game that I, personally, have been keenly following since its announcement a few months back.
The EA Play event treated us to 15 minutes of gameplay footage and WOW! What a game this thing is shaping up to be.

The game is canon and is set just after Order 66 was given so, for those Star Wars fans out there, it’s set between Episode 3 and 4 and before Rogue One. The 15 minutes of gameplay showed our blue lightsabre wielding protagonist, Cal Kestis, running through spider infested levels and kicking some serious Imperial butt! We are introduced to some of the force powers swordmanship that is available in the game, and both are really impressive!

We are also introduced to Star Wars’ next very lovable droid (move aside BB-8) in the form of Buddy Droid 1, commonly known as BD-1. This little guy is essentially your backpack as we see him dispensing health vials, as well as projecting holographic maps and accessing power ports for you. He’s a very active little guy and moves around on Cal’s back as the various situation’s demand it.

 

If you missed the gameplay footage, you can check it out here.

Once the graphics and things are polished on this game, it really is looking to be a killer!

Apex Legends

The next item up on the list was details on Season 2 of the latest Battle Royale game to take the world by storm. This information included a few weapon buffs, details on a new weapon, what the next battle pass will entail and a new Legend.

The new weapon is the L-STAR which can only be found in care packages, so you can only know that it’s going to be powerful! There are no attachments and ammo for it so you take it as you get it, kind of like the Mastiff.

The biggest excitement in this part was the announcement of the new character, Wattson. She is a defensive type character, with a background in electrical engineering, that places energy type fences as barriers for her squad. Her ultimate ability can block anything coming towards her and her team, recharge the squad’s shields AND accelerate Wattson’s fence cooldown so she can place more. Another added bonus is that she can fully charge her ultimate ability with one Ultimate Accelerant.

 

Battlefield V

The latest game in the Battlefield franchise got some screen time at this year’s EA Play event and, in it, we were informed of a whole lot of new things coming our way.

The first, and probably biggest, piece of news is a new map, called Al Sondon. This is a massive map that focuses more on the large scale battle side of things which Battlefield has always been known for.
They also spoke about Marita, a new map which recently dropped into play.

We were also introduced to Operation Underground, which brings back memories of the much loved map from earlier Battlefield titles, where players have many flanking routes to get behind enemy lines as well as a more intimate, in your face, style of battle.

There was also a lot of talk on the next step for the Battlefield V franchise, Chapter 5.
The team is hard at work trying trying to recreate one of World War 2’s most infamous battlegrounds, Iwo Jima.
This include new weapons, vehicles, and possibly gamemodes that were specific to that aspect of the war.

 

FIFA 20

The FIFA franchise is definitely one of EA’s biggest and best selling titles and fans to the game are fiercely loyal and look forward to any and all new developments in it (as all game fans do I guess).

The EA Play event focused heavily on the Volta game mode that is new to FIFA and coming to FIFA 20. This game mode brings football back to its roots, the streets!

The gamemode is very similar to the FIFA Street games but, rather than being a standalone, it is now included in the main game.
Volta brings with it new gear to customise your player’s look and feel, as well as a female character creator.

In the main game, the usual updates and modifications have been made to bring the title closer and closer to the feel of actual football (minus the gamer actually playing and getting tired – we wouldn’t want that). There have also been major tweaks to the freekick and penalty systems.
All of this will be seen and felt when you actually play the game.

 

Madden NFL 2020

The biggest conversation from this game will be the live updates (South African internet users groan) that will happen to the game during the NFL season. This is really cool as it’ll keep your game as authentic to the real thing as possible! This includes player line-up changes as well as plays that the teams use in the NFL, keeping your playbook for each team as close to the actual NFL coach’s as possible.

Have a look at the reveal trailer here.

By the way – GO STEELERS!

 

The Sims 4

Now, this was a feature that surprised me!
EA Play brought a new expansion for all the Sims lovers out there (myself included).
Sims 4 Island living is here and is dropping on Console on the 16th of June and on PC on the 21st of June.

As with all Sims expansions, you can expect new fashion and home items and a new location, which I’ll talk about in a bit, but some of the really cool additions are these;
There are mermaids – you can create and design them, interact with them, and they have powers.
You can go underwater and SCUBA dive – time to explore the deep and dark places of the Sim world.
You can befriend dolphins – that’s just freaking awesome.

Now, back to the new location.
The Island Living expansion brings an active volcano into the Sims world. Not much is known about this yet but the possibilities in my head are endless!
The Sims 4 is also taking an environmental awareness stance (big up to the creators on this one) in that if you don’t look after the island, like littering and such things, the game will get worse. So pick up the litter and look after the environment – in the game and out.

Take a look at this trailer for the new Sims 4 expansion.

 

 

MICROSOFT

 E3 2019 officially kicked off with Microsoft showing us some of the things we can expect from them in the near future and, with Sony nowhere in sight at this year’s conference, Microsoft took full use of the opening.

We got details on the next generation of Xbox, codenamed Project Scarlett, and a look at the trailers of games like Halo Infinite and Gears 5, as well as when we can expect them to drop.

These are just some of the things that were revealed at E3 2019 but if I told you all the secrets up front then there would be no point in writing further…

So let’s break it down.

 

Project Scarlett

After months of speculation and rumours, Microsoft FINALLY let its fans know what to expect from its next-gen console and, man, what a machine it is!
This thing is said to have 4 times the processing power of the Xbox One X and manages to run at 120 fps, double that of the One X (yes – we know PC Gamers, we know). Project Scarlett also boasts 8K resolution, more photo-realistic lighting effects thanks to new and improved ray tracing (google it – I had to too). Now we can go on about all the other tech stuff but the thing that piques my attention the most is a new breed of SSD, which is said to be 40 times faster than current SSDs available on the market – hello super-fast loading times.

Take a look at the reveal video here.

All of this will be coming to a store near you sometime near the end of 2020.

 

xCloud

With streaming services, like Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Prime, is all the rage at the moment, it was only a matter of time before gaming twigged onto the true essence of “cloud-stream gaming.” We’ve gotten pretty close to it with services like EA and Origin Access and Xbox Gamepass, but those are not true cloud-stream gaming services as a download of the game is still required.

xCloud is Microsoft’s next big market changer as it allows the game to play a game without actually downloading it onto their device but, rather, having it stored in their own private corner of the xCloud. This service also turns your console into your own “little” cloud and gives you the ability to play games on almost any device, from almost anywhere.
I’d imagine this service is going to need a pretty big and steady internet line to play (shakes head in South African) so I’m not sure how functional it’s going to be in countries that don’t have mega-WiFi – Only time will tell I guess.

This new service will become available from October this year.

 

New Elite Controller

After just releasing the Elite V2, which was a colour change with some improvements of the original Elite, Microsoft announced the launch of the Elite Series 2 wireless controller. It is said that this controller has over 30 new ways to play like a pro. Some of these ways being adjustable-tension thumbsticks, interchangeable components, tons of customization options on the Xbox Accessories App on Xbox One and Windows 10. It’s also said to have a rechargeable battery that will go for 40 hours between charge cycles.

And it’s damn sexy too!

 

Gears 5 and Halo Infinite

New instalments for some of Microsoft’s biggest, and most loved, exclusive game franchises are on their way to a console near you (provided you’ve bought it).

Have a look at these trailers to get some hype!

 

Gears 5 will be available from the 10th of September this year! While you can expect to see Halo Infinite in the later months of 2020 and will be launched on Project Scarlett.

 

Elden Ring

The studio that brought us Dark Souls has given the guy, who gave us the first five books of A Song of Ice and Fire and the good seasons of A Game of Thrones, yet another reason to not finish the final two books! But you know what? I’m not even mad…

George R.R. Martin (the guy) and FromSoftware (the studio) have collaborated together to bring us the fantasy game we didn’t even know we needed, Elden Ring.

This game looks great! See for yourself here.

 

Microsoft Flight Simulator

One of the best and most iconic flight sims and games, from my childhood, is making a comeback after almost a decade of leaving a gaping whole in the video game industry.

Microsoft Flight Simulator is one of Microsoft’s longest-running product lines and has been largely regarded as one of the best flight sims available to the general public – although that might just be my own sentiment talking.

Coming in 2020 on PC, you can once again take to the skies in the plane of your choice, from light aircraft to huge passenger carriers, and fly anywhere in the world, night or day, rain or shine and land at realistic, real-life airports and landing strips all over the world.

 

Cyberpunk 2077

A game that has already generated so much hype since it’s sneaky reveal at E3 2018 has generated even more if that’s even possible.

But have a look for yourself.

No – you weren’t seeing things.
Yup – you really did see that!
Watch it again if you don’t believe me.

 

Surprise Game Reveal

Staying true to form, Microsoft unveiled a game we weren’t expecting!

The Blair Witch Project is being turned into a first-person horror game that looks a lot like Silent Hill.
This game is sure to give even the most hardcore horror gamers out there a fright or three.

Have a look for yourself if you don’t believe me.

Other Features

The Microsoft conference was jam-packed full of goodness, if you missed some of the other games that were revealed, check out their trailers here.

Outer Worlds

Bleeding Edge

Minecraft Dungeons

Battletoads

 

BETHESDA

 

Bethesda, never one to leave their fans disappointed once again brought the magic…  Opening with a touching tribute and shout-out to the players, and what we as the players, mean to Bethesda.

Todd Howard was first to take the stage and apologised for the rough start of Fallout 76.  Next was The Elder Scrolls: Blades, the very popular mobile game.  New features such as dragon questline and single person arena modes.  The features don’t stop there, Blades is coming to the Nintendo Switch!

Fallout 76

Fallout had a rocky start, but with tons of updates it has become a rather happy community, and now, the latest update called Wastelanders,  bringing with it Human NPC’s, more main quests, choice and consequences as well as a host of new weapons and gear.  A new and refreshing game mode is also included, Vault 51 needs a new overseer, and in true gaming logic, the only way to decide that is by way of…  a Battle Royale… a 52-man fight to be the overseer, named Nuclear Winter!

Ghostwire: Tokyo

Ghostwire Tokyo is a new paranormal action adventure game.  This title will take you to Tokyo where people are going missing, your job is to find out why.  Along the way, you will meet both good and bad spirits, who will aid or increase your struggles during your adventure.  Looking at the trailer, it would seem that a great deal of your time will be invested in trying to discover which elements are normal and which are paranormal…


Elder Scrolls: Online

Dragons!  Dragons have come to ESO.  Elsweyr was recently launched, allowing players to explore the homeland of the Kajhit and try out the new necromancer class.  The previous season of ESO showed us how dragons were brought to the world of ESO, now see what they are doing to the world and its inhabitants in the new world premiere!  Introducing the new order of dragon hunters that will be launched with the next expansion called Dragonhold which will complete the season of the dragon.  August will bring Scalebreaker, a dungeon-crawling release adding much-requested gameplay to the ESO game.

Elder Scrolls: Legends (mobile)

Bethesda is really investing in the mobile game genre, and taking their biggest names and taking them mobile.  ES: Legends is a card based game coming to mobile, similar to Gwent.  ES Legends will be available for download immediately.

Rage 2

With the release of Rage 2 Id Software has created what is arguably one of the best open world shooters ever, and they are not planning on stopping there.  In the near-future Rage 2 will be getting its first expansion bringing with it a host of new characters, missions, vehicles, and weapons.  The new expansion is called Rise of Ghosts.  Oh and wait, you can now drive… a Mech!!!

Wolfenstein: Cyberpilot (VR)

Time to head back to Europe and kill some more Nazis, this time in VR!  You find yourself in the shoes of a French hacker working for the resistance, hacking the Nazi war machines and turning them on their creators!

Wolfenstein: Youngblood

More weapons!  More custom playstyle and MORE NAZIS TO KILL!  What is better than killing Nazis?  Killing them with a friend!  Grab a friend and jump to the 1980s, BJ is missing, you take control of his twins on the hunt to find their dad, either doing it solo or with a friend!  This is going to be BLOODY GORGEOUS!

Deathloop


Deathloop is a new and interesting title coming from the creators of Dishonored.  Showcasing 2 assassins stuck on an island prison/paradise, depending on who you ask, in a timeless loop hunting and killing each other over and over. With Arkane studios at the helm, Deathloop promises to bring a mind-bending story as well as providing many ways to approach and complete the task at hand.

Orion (new game-engine tech)

With all the talk of game streaming, Orion tech can be applied to any game engine and make it more efficient for streaming!  Up to 20% faster per frame and 40% lower bandwidth,  for us, this means faster streaming of games as well as making it cheaper and less-hungry on data.  You will still be able to stream your game at max settings even if you live further away from data centres.

 

DOOM ETERNAL

DOOM is arguably the poster boy title for Bethesda, and Doom Eternal solidifies this statement!  Insane speed, tremendous amounts of blood and gore!  Doom promises bigger and better!  Demon slaying is the game, and DOOM Eternal brings the newest and best way of doing so with new map designs, new weapons and new enemies to try them on, all while finding your own way of slaying!

SQUARE ENIX

Square Enix is a powerhouse company boasting some of the biggest game names in the industry and at 2019 E3 they did not hold back!

 

Final Fantasy VII remake

Yes, it is finally happening, after many years in development hell and many sneak peeks at previous E3 conferences, Final Fantasy 7 is finally getting some worthwhile info to share.  With visuals that are simply breathtaking, this, arguably the greatest in the Final Fantasy franchise will pull at heartstrings of new and old alike.  Final Fantasy 7 is going to be large it will spand 2 bluray discs!  New players to Final Fantasy 7 should not worry, the game has been tailored for newbies and veterans alike.  Gone is the turn-based fighting system and welcome to the FF15-style combat system.

Final Fantasy VII will drop on 03:03:2020

 

Life is Strange 2

After Life is Strange 2 and The Awesome Adventures of Captain Spirit, comes a continuation of one of the most emotional roller coaster rides you can possibly have in a game.  Daniel is starting to control his powers and meets up and shares it with fellow friends and foes along the way.  Life is Strange cannot be classed in words; all you can do is simply experience this narrative splendour for yourself.

The latest chapter is available now

 

Dragon Quest Builders 2

The builders have been abducted and it is up to you, and your mysterious partner to save them!  Defeat the children of Hargon and become the master builder, but wait, building is always better with a friend, now you can call on your friends to help you save the world!

Battalion 1944

Battallion 1944 is getting many new features and game modes as well as new weapons!  As well as a new multiplayer system allowing for easy leagues and tournaments as well as major bragging rights.  Check out the fast-paced video to see all the newest additions to what is sure to be a classic.

 

Square Enix Music

The music app that gamers want!  You now have Square Enix game soundtracks at your fingertips!  Simply hop onto all leading subscription services and listen to your favourite Final Fantasy soundtrack immediately!

 

Final Fantasy 14 – Shadowbringers

The third expansion for the immensely popular FF14 game is coming,  it releases on July 2 and brings with it enough content that would warrant a new standalone title.  New jobs, gunbreaker and the dancer, new races and even more.

 

Outriders

Outriders is from the creators of bulletstorm and Gears of War, from the video it seems to be a shooter set in an alien time period and sees 3 humans making a stand against an enemy alien force.  One of the human characters are seen to be using telekinetic powers.  Can this be a new challenger for the Gears of War crown?

 

Final Fantasy VIII

The Final Fantasy that got me into gaming is getting a remaster.  One of the biggest games in the franchise and the title that rooted a name in the Western markets is being remastered!  To the fans of the game, this will be a welcome remaster and to the new players, it’s worth every hour spent.

Avengers

Finally, an Avengers game that can be excited about.  This only being a announce trailer, it didn’t give much in terms of gameplay but it sees the Avengers taking on a new enemy.  And it seems that the Avengers have lost and the human race has lost faith in them…  But they are not going to take it laying down!

Stay tuned for more information on E3 2019…

UBISOFT

With a much-anticipated audience waiting to see what 1 of the leading game developers had in store, we had some ups…but maybe not enough?

Ubisoft threw a varied assortment of interesting trailers and line ups at us from new additions, to a new movie to a tv show ripping on game development and a PC subscription service. Let’s start with some of the lesser yet still interesting news, it involves the latest in the assassins creeds “Odessey” which is getting a story creator which allows you to create and design your own quests using a web-based tool.  And scheduled later to drop on us is “discovery mode” very similar to origins Education mode.

We move onto some more interesting news and news some of us have been waiting eagerly for… The new Watchdogs game, set in good ol jolly England, well Britain to be more exact, and the biggest twist on the game? You can control virtually ANY character in the game from that tough looking biker to sweet old Agnus, allowing you to build up your own crew of vigilante hackers.

Ghost Recon: Breakpoint has already been on everyone’s lips but who could’ve anticipated that Jon Bernthal would be a prominent role in the game, he even showed up on stage with the very best doggo “bam bam”, the game is scheduled for launch October 4th.

A Very strange and unusual announcement was that Rob McElhenney, creator of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, is making a tv series which mocks game development and is titled “Mythic Quest: Raven’s Banquet”, no one is quite sure where Ubisoft fits into the plot but many of us can guess.

And Siege fans we were gifted with the announcement of Rainbow Six: Quarantine, its a co-op Squad based survival FPS, and is being spearheaded by a whole new Montreal Team, Will it be with new operators? will it be something similar to outbreak? we can only wait and see.

https://youtu.be/DbL-ZpBle64

And another PC subscription is making its way out of the woodworks, as Ubisoft Unveiled Uplay Plus, which offers over 100 games INCLUDING its DLC and is set to hit your screens September 3rd.

Kinda Exciting news of a Division movie which will be coming to NETFLIX and is being directed by Jake Gyllenhaal, Will it be able to live up to the hype the game had? and we are all dying to see who will take on the iconic roles of our beloved agents.

Step up Sports fans as Ubisoft drops a new game title into the mix, Roller Champions is a competitive multiplayer roller Derby set in a futuristic vibe.  And will set to be free-to-play when it drops.

The team behind Assassins creed Odyssey is working on another yet slightly smaller project called “Gods & Monsters” which dives into Greek mythology, it actually looks pretty good, but we sit in our now butt worn seat for more info, all we know is it will be available 25 Feb next year.

And with that readers Ubisoft drew to a close, leaving us hungry and wanting more.  Did Ubisoft run out of ideas or are they planning to hit us with earth-shattering news in the near future, Ubisoft, in my opinion, is a well-liked and dedicated development team, with everlasting potential and a drive to keep us all entertained.  Were you all excited or let down by the Ubisoft panel? we would love your honest opinion on our FB page, drop us a comment and let us know.