Didn’t manage to catch E3 this weekend? Well, not to worry – we’ve put all the E3 highlights in one place so you can catch up on all the big news. For those of you who don’t know, E3 is probably the biggest event in the gaming calendar. Gaming developers, studios and publishers fill in their fans on the latest announcements, sneak peeks and previews of everything they’re working on.
This year everything was streamed live online – but that didn’t make it any less of a bumper year for gaming! Nintendo have yet to give their showcase, but we’ll be updating this article when they do. So be sure to check back here tomorrow!
Here’s our E3 2021 round-up so far…
Elden Ring
There’s been a ton of buzz around Elden Ring since it was announced back at E3 2019. If you’re a big fan of the Dark Souls series, you’ll know why. Built by the same developers, Elden Ring looks set to be every bit as beautiful, twisted and absorbing as Hidetaka Miyazaki’s Soul games.
At E3 this year Elden Ring’s publishers, Bandai Namco, gave us three massive and very welcome bits of news. The first was a release date for the game – 21 January 2022. The second was that George R.R. Martin – yep, Game of Thrones George R.R. Martin – is behind the lore and worldbuilding for Elden Ring. The third was a feature length gameplay trailer that did not disappoint.
From what we’ve seen and read, you play as one of the Tarnished. Desperately trying to repair a world that’s been overtaken by demonic creatures, you must find the shattered pieces of the Elden Ring and become an Elden Lord. Sounds pretty cool, right?
The monsters have a nightmarish level of detail. The landscapes are absolutely breath-taking, with natural weather cycles and time of day progression. Apparently there’s also plenty of room for customisation in this RPG, so you can adapt your character to your play style. We literally cannot wait.
Elden Ring is coming to Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PS4, PS5 and PC on 21 January 2022.
Battlefield 2042
Yes, it’s another awesome gameplay reveal! This time it was for EA’s Battlefield 2042. And there’s plenty to unpick from this trailer and the reveal at Microsoft’s Xbox and Bethesda Games Showcase.
As you’ve probably guessed from the title, Battlefield 2042 is set in the near future. Thanks to climate change, the semi-apocalyptic maps will have you facing off against the environment as well as other players. Giant sandstorms, deadly tornadoes, that kind of thing – adding a whole new heart-pounding element to battles.
Oh and about the players you’ll be squaring up against – there are a heck of a lot more of them. Huge maps will now accommodate up to 128 players. Specialists have also replaced the category system. Each specialist has their own backstory and unique gadget, unlocking even more options for combat… like wingsuits. Yes please.
Battlefield 2042 is coming to Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PS4, PS5 and PC on 22 October 2021.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2
So, we don’t have a proper title yet – but what we do have is enough to get us very, very excited. The new teaser showcased some gorgeous artwork that looked straight out of your favourite Studio Ghibli film. And it gave us a hint about some of the gameplay we might expect from the highly-anticipated sequel, like sky diving and some shiny new powers.
When will we get our hands on Breath of the Wild 2? Nintendo are keeping details loose, with a 2022 provisional release date.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2 is coming to Nintendo Switch in 2022
Halo Infinite
Halo Infinite was delayed last year, so the news that we’ll be able to get our hands on the game around Christmas this year is really, really welcome. But that’s not all.
We got a new trailer for the single player campaign. The game picks up where Halo 5 left off – featuring a new AI, the Weapon, to help us stop Cortana who went rogue in the last game. And while that trailer got us pretty pumped, it was the multiplayer gameplay reveal that probably got fans the most excited.
If you’ve got an Xbox Series X, you’ll be able to play in up to 120 fps for seriously smooth gaming. The graphics looked great too, showing Xbox are really listening to the fans – a relief after the criticism following last year’s gameplay reveal. We’re also getting some new gadgets, including a grappling hook for mid-air high jinks. Best of all, it was confirmed that the multiplayer will be free-to-play!
Halo Infinite is coming to Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S around Christmas 2021.
Far Cry 6
The Far Cry series is known for its villains – crazy, ruthless, unforgettable. At Ubisoft’s showcase we got a good look at the latest one for Far Cry 6: Antón Castillo. This baddie’s played by Giancarlo Esposito (of Breaking Bad fame) and it looks like we’re going to love to hate him.
The gameplay trailer also proved what we already suspected – Far Cry 6 is going to be filled with all the usual tongue-in-cheek ridiculousness the franchise is famous for. The biggest number of weapons (including a battle bird), the biggest location yet (the Caribbean island of Yara) and a ton of new gameplay elements to discover. We’ve got a ton of fun to look forward to when it drops this year.
Far Cry 6 is coming to Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PS4, PS5 and PC on 7 October 2021.
Mario Party Superstars
Get your mates round (socially distanced ofc) because it’s the return of your favourite casual multiplayer game. That’s right – Mario Party is back in a big way. Nintendo announced that in Mario Party Superstars you’ll get not only five classic Nintendo 64-era Mario Party boards, but a selection of over 100 minigames from Mario Party’s throughout the ages.
Mario Party Superstars is coming to Nintendo Switch on 29 October 2021.
Forza Horizon 5
Whether you’re into racing games or not, the Forza Horizon 5 trailer is something to behold. The graphics are unreal. Well, let’s rephrase that – they’re so realistic it’s hard to believe you’re watching actual in-game footage.
Thanks to the latest graphical tech like ray-tracing and a volumetric lighting system, players can explore Mexico in mind-bending detail. Plus, this open-world environment is Forza’s largest yet.
There was also plenty of detail on new game modes and other fun features from the long Forza Horizon 5 gameplay trailer. Check it out if you want to be wowed.
Forza Horizon 5 is coming to Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PS4, PS5 on 9 November 2021.
Life is Strange: True Colours
Delving into issues around mental health, identity and trauma is all in a day’s work for the Life is Strange series. At E3 we got a look at the latest’s instalments careful handling of the human condition.
You play as Alex Chen, using her dubious superpower (empathy) to unravel the mystery surrounding her brother’s death. You’ll be able to see when other characters are experiencing strong emotions, hear their thoughts and feelings and even inhabit their brain when those emotions are particularly strong. And, of course, how you react and the choices you make have a powerful impact on the story.
Life is Strange: True Colours is coming to PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S on 10 September 2021.
Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania
It’s the 20-year anniversary of the super-popular Monkey Ball games, so of course SEGA couldn’t just let it pass them by. At Nintendo Direct, they announced a beautifully remastered bundle of the three most popular Monkey Ball games (Super Monkey Ball, Super Monkey Ball 2 and Super Monkey Ball Deluxe). So if you haven’t played the games before, now’s your chance. And if you have, it’s time for you and your mates to soak up the nostalgia.
Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania is coming to Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC, PS4 , PS5 and Switch on 5 October 2021.
Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora
In case you haven’t heard, Disney are working on a whole bunch of sequels to James Cameron’s 2009 film, Avatar. If that wasn’t big news enough, we’re getting a video game to go along with them!
So what did we learn? Ubisoft will be working on the first-person title closely with Disney, to pack in all that awesome worldbuilding. But the story itself will be standalone, so no worries if you don’t catch the film.
Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora is coming to Xbox Series X|S, PS5 and PC in 2022
So, all in all, a pretty amazing E3! And be sure to check out our Xbox showcase highlights if you haven't already.
