The annual E3 conference in Los Angeles sees games developers assembling in one place with a simple goal: to try and outdo each other with the big reveals. And now that E3 2019 is nearing its end, let’s have a look at how this year’s revelations compare to the classics that have come before.
There were a few companies that didn’t attend E3 this year, with Sony choosing not to show off its next-gen console and Rocksteady opting against unveiling its next project. This slightly-less-packed-than-usual schedule meant that E3 2019 was primed quite nicely for a show-stealing moment, and a fair few companies attempted to make the most of that opportunity.
Here’s our rundown of the 11 best reveals from this year’s E3 schedule, including the videos, so you can watch them all again…
11. Banjo-Kazooie is coming to Smash
Even though Banjo-Kazooie is ultimately owned by Microsoft and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is obviously a Nintendo property, those two massive companies came to an agreement to mash those worlds together. Banjo-Kazooie content will come to Smash in the fall, as Nintendo revealed during their E3 2019 presentation. There’s Dragon Quest content coming, too.
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10. Watch Dogs Legion has questionable British accents
After what feels like years of rumors, Ubisoft revealed at E3 2019 that their next Watch Dogs game will be set in London. Watch Dogs Legion will let you take control of any character in a super-realistic-looking rendering of London, set in a post-Brexit future where chaos is rife. The British accents in the trailer weren’t universally loved, but the general concept was mostly well received.
9. Xbox Scarlett has some very impressive specs
With Sony sitting this year’s E3 out, Microsoft execs took the opportunity to share a hot new trailer for their upcoming console. The Xbox Project Scarlett will reach frame rates that we’ve literally never seen in gaming before, apparently, and it will also offer 8K visuals and some snazzy ray-tracing capabilities. If only they’d revealed what the thing actually looks like.
8. The Terminator is in Gears 5
Winning points for randomness, Microsoft’s E3 presentation revealed that it will be possible to get a Terminator: Dark Fate character pack in Gears 5. If you buy and play the game by September 16th, you’ll receive access to a pack that contains a playable T-800. If Dark Fate ends up being a critical dud, though, the Gears team could come to regret this crossover.
7. Saw Gerrera is in Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order
With Forest Whitaker reprising his role from Rogue One and Star Wars Rebels, the character of Saw Gerrera is set to appear in EA and Respawn’s Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order game. The sight of this rebel icon in the first gameplay footage for Fallen Order quickly caused a stir online, prompting us to ponder where exactly that game fits in the cluttered Saw Gerrera timeline.
6. Animal Crossing Switch is really happening
Another smash hit from Nintendo’s barnstorming presentation was the confirmation that Animal Crossing is heading to Nintendo Switch next year. We saw the first gameplay footage of the 2020 title, Animal Crossing: New Horizons, which will put the player on a deserted island and let them build their own little world. Of course, the animals on the island will soon prove that it isn’t actually deserted.
5. Final Fantasy 7 Remake makes a great first impression
Sharing a trailer and gameplay footage for their upcoming Final Fantasy 7 Remake, the Square Enix team made a decent-sized splash with their E3 presentation. They also confirmed that this remake will be so massive that it is released in parts and will span multiple discs. We had a chance to play it and can confirm it was one of the best games at the conference.
4. We saw the first footage from Marvel’s Avengers
Although some corners of the internet lit up with concerns that the characters look a bit odd (which is probably down to the fact that we’ve all become so used to the movie versions), it was still exciting to get our first proper look at Marvel’s Avengers during the Square Enix presentation. We look forward to getting involved with its four-player co-op when the game launches in May 2020. But will it turn out to have a connection with Spider-Man PS4?
3. Elden Ring is a thing
The rumors were true! Game Of Thrones creator George R.R. Martin has teamed up with Metal Gear creator Hidetaka Miyazaki to develop a game called Elden Ring. Although the reveal left us slightly confused about what this game actually is, the prospect of seeing Martin’s worldbuilding talent combined with FromSoftware’s gameplay expertise really is tantalizing. We look forward to learning more.
2. Breath Of The Wild 2 is in development
Nintendo’s E3 2019 live stream showed off so many games, but it saved the best until last: the video concluded by revealing that development has begun on the sequel to The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild. A short teaser trailer left us questioning if Ganon is mounting a comeback, and also inspired theories that you’ll be able to play as Zelda. There’s no whiff of a release date, but this is still huge news.
read more: Breath of the Wild 2 Trailer Breakdown
1. Keanu Reeves is in Cyberpunk 2077
The one moment from E3 2019 that came closest to breaking the internet was surely CD Projekt Red’s reveal that Keanu Reeves is set to play a rockstar/revolutionary called Johnny Silverhand in Cyberpunk 2077. Reeves even appeared at E3 to tell audience members that they’re breathtaking and confirm the game’s release date as April 16th, 2020. You can learn more about Cyberpunk 2077 here.
Which E3 2019 moment was your favorite? And which upcoming game do you most want to play? Please do feel free to let us know in the comments below…