E3 2017 Part 2: Ubisoft | PC Gaming Show | Sony
Arguably the biggest day of press conferences is here, with a line up featuring Ubisoft, Sony and a whole bunch of PC developers.
Ubisoft
Games shown
Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle, Assassins Creed Origins, The Crew 2, South Park: The Fractured But Whole, Transference, Skull & Bones, Just Dance 2018, South Park Phone Destroyer, Starlink Battle For Atlas, Steep Road To The Olympics, Far Cry 5, Beyond Good & Evil 2
The Cliff Notes
Mario Rabbids is the two properties’ characters in an Xcom style game with free roaming outside of battle similar to Paper Mario. Assassins Creed Origins is made by the Black Flag team, is celebrating 10 years of AC. The Crew 2 is bringing boats, bikes and planes into the equation. Transference is an FMV VR game starring Elijah Wood. Skull & Bones is a shared world pirate game with a seasonal structure. Just Dance is still being made for the Wii. South Park is getting a mobile game. Starlink was the game “leaked” in Watch_Dogs 2, looks like No Man’s Sky in aesthetic, has some kind of toys to life component. Steep was the surprise game with an expansion rather than any of the Tom Clancy games. Beyond Good and Evil 2 is actually happening, is a completely different game to the first one and is a prequel yet has a 2 in the name (for now at least.)
Takeaway
So… Ubisoft had the best conference of E3??? A bunch of new announcements for new IP’s is exciting, as well as new games in existing franchises - hell, even Mario Rabbids doesn’t look as bad as it could have. Ubisoft is actually working on BG&E2, though it is important to note that no date was mentioned - still likely to be a 2019 at earliest game.
Personally Interested In
AC Origins, Starlink, Far Cry 5, Beyond Good & Evil 2
PC Gaming Show
Games shown
XCOM 2: War of the Chosen, Ooblets, Battletech, Mount & Blade 2: Bannerlord, Total War Warhammer 2, Shadowverse, Tunic, PUBG, Rising Storm 2, Killing Floor Incursion, Killing Floor 2, Forza Motorsport 7, Sea of Thieves, The Last Night, Ylands, Grift Lands, Lone Echo, Echo Arena, Lawbreakers, Wargroove, Shadow of War, Age of Empires Definitive Edition
The Cliff Notes
The PC Gaming Show is a sequence of short interviews and trailers from developers of said game. XCOM 2 is getting a large expansion, as is Shadowverse and Killing Floor 2. PUBG dev PlayerUnknown himself talked about what the next few months of the game will look like, including climbable walls and 2 new maps. Tunic is a rebranding of Secret Legend. Lone Echo & Arena are the single and multiplayer portions of the same game, a zero G VR experience. Ylands is a sandbox survival game with a pretty robust level creator and a polygon-like art style. Lawbreakers is finally out this August for US$30. Wargroove is a reimagined Advance Wars with a map editor and some cool newer mechanics. Age of Empires (the original game) is getting a full remaster, with more modern quality of life updates, graphical adjustments and re-recorded audio.
Takeaway
This show is always fun if you’re interested in whatever title is being talked about. Tunic is cute af, with a tiny fox as your main character. Ylands, Grift Lands, Lawbreakers, Wargroove, Tunic, Battletech and Oooblets are all ones to watch out for. Lone Echo / Arena is the second game this E3 to sit up and make me pay attention once more to VR. Age of Empires Definitive Edition looks dope.
Personally Interested In
Ylands, Lone Echo, Shadow of War, Age of Empires Definitive Edition
Sony Playstation
Games shown
Uncharted: The Lost Legacy, Horizon: Zero Dawn - The Frozen Wilds, Days Gone, Monster Hunter World, Shadow of the Colossus, Marvel VS Capcom Infinite, COD WW2, PSVR (Skyrim, Star Child, The Inpatient, FF XV Monster of the Deep, Bravo Team, Moss), God of War, Detroit Become Human, Destiny 2, Spider-Man
The Cliff Notes
Sony’s conference was very flashy and extravagant, but a little smoke and mirrors. Most of the games we’ve already seen, and some still have no dates. The year started Strong for Sony, but the only things available for the rest of 2017 for Sony exclusives is Uncharted: The Lost Legacy and Horizon Zero Dawn DLC. Days Gone and Detroit: Become Human still have no date, while God of War and Spider-Man are 2018. A few surprise announcements - Shadow of the Colossus & Monster Hunter World are coming, both in 2018. PSVR was well represented with 6 upcoming games. PSVR’s The Inpatient is an Until Dawn prequel. The rest of the games were 3rd party games coming to all platforms: Marvel VS Capcom Infinite, Destiny 2 and COD WW2.
Takeaway
The mainstays still all look fantastic - Uncharted, Horizon, God of War, Spider-Man, Days Gone and Detroit. Moss is the first VR game that has me genuinely intrigued - you play a spirit like figure helping out an adventuring mouse.
Personally Interested In
Uncharted: The Lost Legacy, Horizon DLC, Moss, God of War, Spider-Man