We missed you at E3!
This year's E3 was exciting for many reasons: CD Projekt Red finally unveiled Cyperpunk 2077, a game we've waited years to see in action. Nintendo let Super Smash Bros. Ultimate loose, which comes out in just a few short months and will launch with every playable character from every previous Smash game.
Not one to disappoint, Bethesda finally confirmed two games that have only existed as rumors until now: The Elder Scrolls 6 and Starfield. Oh yeah, and they revealed a little game called Fallout 76. That's a lot to be excited about, but it's really just scratching the surface of this year's highlights.
But wait, what about those other big games we know are coming that didn't appear at the show? I'm sure there's one or two you have in mind, but there were a surprising number of absentees, and by golly, we want to call them out. We're not mad, we're just disappointed.
So rather than be too sad about what didn't make it to the show, give a shout out below to your favorite game that did make an appearance at E3. And if you missed out on all the great announcements, and sure, the weird ones too, head over to our E3 hub to catch up on everything you missed.
Red Dead Redemption 2
At the top of our list of the biggest games missing from E3 2018, we have to mention Red Dead Redemption 2. Now Rockstar Games isn't one to make a huge show of its wares at conventions outside of giving platform holders an exclusive trailer, but with the long-awaited Red Dead sequel on the horizon it was a bit surprising that it didn't appear in either Sony's or Microsoft's press conference. We already know a bit about the game's setting and characters, but assuming its scope is as massive as we all believe it to be, surely there's something new Rockstar could have shared to keep the hype train a-rollin'. Alas, we'll have to wait a bit longer it seems, perhaps until the game releases this October.
Metroid Prime 4
Next on our list is a big game from Nintendo that we know practically nothing about. Metroid Prime 4 was revealed at E3 2017 with a simple logo and nothing else. Nintendo has been pretty quiet about the game since then, only revealing the producer, Kensuke Tanabe, and that he is leading a new team on the project. That means the original Metroid Prime team at Retro Studios is out of the picture, but who has taken their place is anyone's guess. Nintendo likely didn't discuss Metroid Prime 4 as it tends to focus on games coming out within the current calendar year, which puts Samus' next adventure further down the line in 2019, or potentially 2020.
Bayonetta 3
Nintendo's not off the hook yet; no, not even close! The recent release of Bayonetta 1 and 2 on Switch proved that people are still hungry for the over-the-top off-beat series from Platinum Games. We know Bayonetta 3 is coming thanks to the teaser trailer Nintendo showed off at last year's Game Awards, but aside from small esoteric hints buried within that video, we're left with more questions than answers. When will it come out? Who knows! As with Metroid, Nintendo is likely staying quiet on the game because it's still a ways off.
Pokemon For Nintendo Switch
Before we give Nintendo a break, it's worth reflecting on all of the Pokemon news it announced just before E3. Pokemon: Let's Go! Pikachu and Let's Go! Eevee are two new Pokemon games coming to Switch. Their integration with the Pokemon Go mobile game sounds pretty nifty, too, as is the Poke Ball Plus controller that players can use to simulate catching Pokemon. People will no doubt eat up the Let's Go Switch games, but the series' biggest fans are only mildly satisfied by this news. Where is fresh info on the new, mainline, massive, world-shattering Switch Pokemon game that Nintendo announced last year? Why wasn't it at this year's E3? Well, that's a good question. All we learned in recent weeks is that the game is coming in the second half of 2019. There's no gameplay footage, no screenshots--heck, not even a title to rattle around our brains for now. Whether by accident or by design, Nintendo once again has our imaginations running wild.
Final Fantasy 7 Remake
With Nintendo out of the way, I've got a bone to pick with Square Enix. That's right, you: the publisher who proudly announced the remake of Final Fantasy VII years ago. You, the gatekeeper to my nerdy hopes and dreams of one day ascending the ranks of the chocobo racing league in the Golden Saucer in glorious 4K. I know you've had some difficulties working with outside partners, and I know this is a hugely ambitious undertaking overshadowed by unreasonable demands from fans like me, but give me something to work with! A lot of people are beginning to doubt this game will ever come out, and after Final Fantasy XV's ten-year development cycle, can you blame them? Prove them wrong, and give me a reason to believe this will be great!
"The Avengers Project"
At the start of 2017, Square Enix and Marvel announced a multi-game project, and thanks to the eagle-eyed user Nirolak over at NeoGAF, it seems job listings suggest the first game will be an online, third-person Avengers game. Or at least, a third-person action game with an online component. It's hard to say too much with any certainty right now, but you'd think Square Enix would have had something to say at E3, 18 months after the initial announcement, but, you'd be wrong. Studio Crystal Dynamics is definitely working on the game, and given the team's incredible work reinventing Lara Croft in recent years, we can't wait to see what they do with the Avengers to make their game stand out from the influx of Marvel Studios films.
Shenmue 3
During the same Sony press conference where Square Enix announced the Final Fantasy VII remake, we also learned that the long-awaited Shenmue 3 was on the way from Sega legend Yu Suzuki. The bits and pieces of news that have surfaced over the years have been a bit underwhelming, but the team's regular Kickstarter updates have us feeling hopeful that the game is getting the attention it deserves. Regardless, it was yet another game missing from this year's E3, much to the disappointment of forklift fans everywhere.
Psychonauts 2
Tim Schafer has had a long and illustrious career in games, with the original Psychonauts being one of his most-lauded creations. It was no surprise then when Psychonauts 2 raised $3.8 million in funding back in 2015. It was, however, a bit disappointing when it was revealed in late 2017 that the game wouldn't make its proposed 2018 release window. That's OK, games are delayed so they can be improved, right? Still, I would be lying if I said I expected Psychonauts 2 to skip out on E3 this year. I still have faith in Tim and everyone else at Double Fine Productions, but their presence was notably missed.
Biomutant & Darksiders III
The last two games on our list, Biomutant and Darksiders III, are, let's say, partners in crime. Both games are being published by THQ Nordic, and both have earned a lot of excitement from the gaming audience since their announcements last year. It seemed only natural that we'd find out more during E3. That is, unless, you are a die-hard soccer...AHEM...football fan. In that case, THQ's reasoning for skipping out on the show is completely understandable: the World Cup. In its own words:
"It is with great regret that we at THQ Nordic must report that we will be unable to miss a single moment of this great sporting event. Therefore, we will be forced to stay in our lovely Viennese beer gardens, blowing the froth off a couple, watching football and one or two cool press conferences on Twitch instead of rocking it ourselves."
You know what? Bravo THQ. Why should us players be the only ones who have fun?
Assuming everything is on the up and up for these various projects, we'll surely hear more about them in the months to come with Comic Con, Gamescom, and various PAX events on the horizon.
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