What will we expect and what will we play in the coming years.
Another E3 – which means it’s time to take stock. Fortunately, the virtual format of the exhibition did not affect its level at all: we got no less loud announcements, bright trailers and explosive news than in the “dock” 2019. In fact, there were so many of them that we had to try, selecting the ten most important games from E3 2023.
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chernobyl
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 became a legend long before the official announcement, and after that it remained a ghost game for a long time without screenshots, videos and other details. Now the situation is finally getting better: the continuation of the main brainchild of the post-Soviet game dev not only exists, but is almost ready for release.
The new gameplay trailer showed a damn beautiful Zone, familiar anomalies, seemingly good shooting, mediocre facial animations based on photogrammetry and an extremely convincing bloodsucker. Responsible for the atmosphere are stalkers strumming on guitars around campfires, realistic weather and the native aesthetics of the post-apocalyptic USSR. Everything is just like in 2007 – although now there is still a chance that the new version of life simulation will finally start working normally. It will be possible to go hunting for swag already on April 28, 2023.
Starfield
Large single role-playing games from Bethesda Is always an event. Moreover, the event is very rare: Skyrim, recall, it is already the tenth year, and Fallout 4 – the sixth. It’s high time to treat the fans with something new. So the teaser Starfield became a real bomb even without a single frame of actual gameplay.
True, so far nothing is really clear, but Bethesda is Bethesda: we are promised “Skyrim in space”, and “a mixture of NASA and Indiana Jones,” and “Han Solo simulator”. You can safely wait for a large open world, a developed futuristic universe with a detailed chronology, many factions with radically different views on life, the ability to become anyone in a distant, distant galaxy and, in general, freedom in everything. The release will take place on November 11, 2023. And, to the chagrin of PlayStation fans, exclusive to Xbox Series and PC. Well, at least they promise not to postpone the release date.
Back 4 blood
Back 4 blood not without reason called the “spiritual heir Left 4 dead“. For fans of previous work Turtle Rock Studios everything promises to be familiar: zombies, survivors, asynchronous multiplayer. Moreover, the focus on the online game promises to become so deep that at first there will be no offline campaign in the game at all – even with bots. There will be as many as eight characters to choose from. Each, as usual, has its own chips: for example, the doctor receives a bonus to healing, and the quartermaster provides teammates with additional ammunition. But the main difference from Left 4 Dead is in the system of cards with modifiers, which will be played by both gamers and the “virtual director” – the AI responsible for making everyone have fun.
Back 4 Blood will be released on October 12 on PC and consoles Sony and Microsoft current and previous generations. And already in the first half of August, two waves of beta testing are scheduled: first for those who made a pre-order, and then for mere mortals.
Battlefield 2042
Debut Trailer Battlefield 2042 became one of the best commercials in history Electronic Arts… Dear, handsome, and full of trademark madness – it evokes an immediate urge to play this is even for those who hate multiplayer shooters. What is only a pilot who catapults from a fighter right in the air, knocks down another plane from a bazooka and returns back to the cockpit as if nothing had happened (and this, by the way, is a reference to an old viral video from Battlefield 4)! But you better see for yourself.
This time, operatives took the place of the usual classes in the manner of Call of Duty: Black Ops, however, the basic essence of the game remains the same. As always, we are waiting for huge maps (naturally, unique and dynamic), a lot of technology (judging by the trailers, in the range from tricycles to space rockets) and clean, uncluttered action as the basis of the gameplay. The main feature should be natural disasters like a hurricane or a sandstorm, which can instantly change the balance of power on the battlefield. But the main thing is that it will be possible to fly through the tornado on the wings of a wingsuit on October 22 of this year.
Psychonauts 2
Luckily, E3 isn’t all about multiplayer shooters. It’s nice to know that at the largest video game exhibition in the world there is still a place for unusual author projects like Psychonauts 2… This long-term construction is worse than S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Tim Schafer himself claimed to have come up with the plot of the sequel, barely finished work on the first Psychonauts, that is, 16 years ago. Fortunately, the years seem to have been supportive of the new creation. Double Fine Productions: The game breathes familiar good madness, the graphics look more stylish than outdated, and the gameplay of the classic 3D platformer will not age even after 30 years.
Not to say that at E3 something fundamentally new was told about the game, but now we know the release date. Fans will be able to return to the adventures of Rasputin Aquato on August 25th.
Age of empires 4
Another continuation of the legendary series – this time a strategic one. Age of empires 4 wait not the first year – and, it seems, not in vain. We are promised a classic RTS, in which it will be possible to choose one of the completely dissimilar nations and lead it to prosperity through the centuries. With fire and sword, of course. The release will allow you to play for one of eight sides, including England, France, Mongolia, China, the Holy Roman Empire, the Delhi Sultanate, the Abbasid Caliphate and even Moscow Russia. Each nation will receive its own unique bonuses and great personalities like Joan of Arc.
Battles on land and at sea will begin on 28 October.
The outer worlds 2
The first The outer worlds once again proved: in Obsidian Entertainment they know how not only to develop strangers, but also to invent their own worlds. The “Masters of the second part” created, maybe not the biggest or not the deepest RPG in history, but certainly one of the best games of 2019. She took a stylish retro-futuristic setting, charming partners, excellent black humor and good replayability – a real joy for those who are tired of looking at what the main role-playing series of our time degenerate into. As a matter of fact, oh The outer worlds 2 we know almost nothing, except that it will continue the course of its predecessor, because so far the developers “have come up with only the name.”
Judging by the trailer, the humor here will be at least as good, and the game will offer a new star system and a new crew. The release date of The Outer Worlds 2 is still unknown.
Marvelʼs Guardians of the Galaxy
Studio Eidos montreal boasts a good portfolio: Deus Ex: Human Revolution, Deus Ex: Mankind Divided, Shadow of the tomb raider… But it seems that it was the suddenly announced Guardians of the galaxy will be a real breakthrough for them. After all, we are promised neither more nor less “Mass effect by Marvel“. And without any flirting with the concept of “game as a service”, microtransactions, co-op and multiplayer in general. After half-dead Marvel’s Avengers – just a balm for the soul!
Already on October 26, on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One and Xbox Series, a whole universe will open to us: with a non-linear storyline, moral choices and tactical battles. True, only the Star-Lord himself will be allowed to steer directly, but the rest of his famous team can be given instructions. But the coolest thing here is the soundtrack composed of hits from the 80s performed by mastodons like Iron maiden and Kiss… Look forward to!
Babylon’s Fall
And here Babylon’s Fall announced a long time ago: back at E3 2018. But only this year, the true essence of the project was revealed to us. And it turned out to be the same “game-service” with cooperative online multiplayer and, obviously, microtransactions. However, there is nothing vicious in this – if only the game was good, but so far it looks good: epic, with scope and pathos. Although the main thing here, of course, is in the original watercolor style, which, in combination with three-dimensional graphics, looks extremely interesting.
Babylon’s Fall will be released on PC, PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5. When is a mystery, but the most curious can already apply to participate in the beta test.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2
Doubt that Nintendo sooner or later will continue one of its most important series, no one had. The question, as always, was only in time – and it finally came: “Big N” showed a sequel The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild… True, there is very little information so far: even the subtitle of the new “Zelda” is kept secret. So that Breath of the wild 2 Is just a temporary designation for the convenience of fans and the press. But they promise to rewind time and fly over Hyrule, so it will definitely not be boring.
The project is scheduled for release in 2023, but there is no exact release date yet.
Of course, these are not all the important games that were shown at the past E3. The airtime went to the domestic Atomic heart with a strange trailer to the song of the Mirage group, and a new Metroid under the heading Dread (finally 2D again!), and Two point campus – the continuer of ideas crazy Two point hospital, and a lot of other equally interesting projects. What projects have become the main games of the exhibition for you personally? Be sure to let us know in the comments!
