E3 2018 Review

E3 2018 ReviewE3 has just about wrapped up and there is so much to talk about, especially in the wheelhouse of the console wars. Did Microsoft win? What was that Sony conference mess about? Electronic Arts, Bethesda, Ubisoft & Square Enix highlights…

(Not to single out Nintendo here, but I don’t keep up with their announcements, because I don’t own anything new outside of the classic consoles from when I was a kid.)

I’m lucky enough to own both an Xbox One X & a PS4, so I can get my hands on all the goods.

EA

Usually EA spends time on their worldwide hits Madden & FIFA, but they barley got screen time this year. The focus was on Anthem, Battlefield V and a strange announcement for a new Star Wars games on the way. Everything else in between can be seen above.

Microsoft

Microsoft came out this year with games, games, games. Not only did they start the show with a new Halo, but on the exclusive side we are getting a new Gears, Forza, Ori, Cuphead DLC, Crackdown, Sea of Thieves, etc, etc. Plus we got looks at Devil May Cry, Fallout, Metro, Dying Light and more. That doesn’t even include the fact that they bought up 4 studios and have created a new one in Santa Monica creating AAAA games. Oh yea, they ended the game with Cyberpunk 2077 (the Blade Runner game I’ve been waiting for.) While you can get a bunch of these games on both the Xbox & PS4, Microsoft is continuing the right direction.

Bethesda

Bethesda reveled a lot at their E3 2018 press conference. Outside of the new games and everything in-between we are getting another Elder Scrolls, more Fallout, more Doom and a brand new IP, Starfield! Check out everything else in between above.

Square Enix

Square Enix’s E3 2018 press conference was filled with things we’d already seen, but we did get a teaser for a new Platinum game and of course, Shadow Of The Tomb Raider gameplay. See everything else above.

Ubisoft

Ubisoft is always something I look forward to outside of the headliners, Microsoft and Sony. This year did not disappoint. Outside of the strange Just Dance situation we get every year — we got looks at like Beyond Good & Evil 2, The Division 2, Transference, Skull & Bones (a hidden gem I hope lives up to the way it looks) PLUS a brand NEW Assassin’s Creed. A lot of great games are in the works over at Ubi, it’s always a good vibe. See everything else in between in the conference above.

Sony

This was no doubt, the strangest conference I have ever seen from Sony. Half of it seemed like they were stalling and all the momentum died every-time they cut out of the room. I wish they would have had a 30 minute conference to show off these huge titles coming up and BAM! it’s over. Drop the mic snd walk away.

I’d give the edge to Microsoft this year for the conference side of things, but without a doubt the games Sony showed blew away the competition. First up you get Spider-Man, every-time I see footage of this game, I’m amazed how it runs and I can’t wait to get my hands on it. Then you follow that with AMAZING gameplay footage of Last of Us 2 & Ghost of Tsushima… oh yea, Death Stranding is a game they have too. Whew.

Sony has some BIG BIG amazing looking games coming out that I wish I could get my hands on right now, but for now we wait. Check out the conference above.

Wrapping it up….

I’m of course following things that I like the most, because there are tons of games I didn’t even mention Super Smash Bros Ultimate, Resident Evil or Kingdom Hearts 3, plus games that didn’t even get screen time like Hitman 2 & Red Dead Redemption 2.

Microsoft had a strong conference and they are in full franchise mode from the announcements of Halo, Gears, Forza & Crackdown, not even to mention the Sea of Thieves & Cuphead DLC’s on the way — continuing widely popular games. Then they have all the third party games looking amazing on the Xbox One X, which is a big plus. Crazy thing is that they have all these new studios, plus the secret AAAA one…. So, I’m betting that there are so many big things in the works. Xbox should be in the discussion positively for years to come.

The thing that I don’t understand from Sony is how they are going to roll out their exclusives. We get Spider-Man in September and Days Gone in February…. so when will Last of Us 2 & Ghost of Tsushima get a release? Death Stranding is the furthest out, but I’m assuming they give Days Gone it’s time, so would they release one of these games in April? or maybe around the Summer? I’m guessing no, but I’m also assuming they won’t both release during the Fall next year either.

I’m really worried that all three of these blockbuster games will be showcased again next year at E3 2019, with one getting a Fall 2019 release and the other Spring 2020. It would be awesome to get Ghost of Tsushima April 2019 and Last of Us 2 October 2019, but we can only wait now to find out. Are these PS5 games? I don’t know, it’s possible though. No need to rush the product, but with amazing gameplay shown, GIVE US dates or windows.

What was my favorite from the show? That’s really hard to say, outside of the staple games I’ve been anxiously waiting for, Ghost of Tsushima blew me away and Cyberpunk 2077 is a game that was built for me, something I didn’t know I was waiting for. I’m just going to leave it at that.

There are so many amazing games coming in the next couple years, probably new consoles too. All I know for sure is that it’s a good time to be a gamer.

Cheers,

Matt.

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