Highlighting key announcements from the conference
On June 16 to June 18, the 21st annual Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) was held in the Los Angeles Convention Centre. The event, which hosted a variety of exhibitors and vendors, provided video game fans with a number of incredible announcements that are sure to propel the video game industry forward into a new age of excitement and technological advancement.
Without a doubt, Bethesda Softworks, the video game production company behind the Fallout and Elder Scrolls series’, stole the show at E3 2015. Bethesda was one of the first presenters at the event—unsurprisingly, they did not disappoint fans in the slightest. Bethesda announced Dishonored 2, The Elder Scrolls: Legends, Doom, and Battlecry among other smaller titles. The biggest announcement from Bethesda was Fallout 4, a sequel nearly five years in the making. The crowd roared with excitement as incredible gameplay footage displayed the game’s stunning visual graphics and immersive build-engine which allows players to create shelters, manipulate environments, and customize weaponry to their liking. It is highly likely that Fallout 4 will become the must-buy game of the year once it is released in early November for PC, Xbox One and PS4.
Microsoft’s presentation was not quite as impactful as Bethesda’s. Nonetheless, Microsoft stood true to its roots by announcing Halo 5, Gears of War 4, and Dark Souls III, games from three of its flagship franchises. The biggest announcement from Microsoft, however, was not an upcoming video game. Microsoft announced, to the pleasure of many Xbox 360 owners, that the Xbox One will have backwards compatibility. Players are urgently hoping that developers will follow in the steps of Microsoft and adopt backwards compatibility for other consoles.
Sony also made an enormous splash at this years E3 conference. The long-standing electronic giant announced an incredible list of games that fans have been requesting for nearly a decade. Announcing titles such as Shenmue III, The Last Guardian, Star Wars: Battlefront, and a remarkable high-definition remake of Final Fantasy VII, there a variety of upcoming games that will have fans buzzing for a long time.
Square Enix, best known for their production of the Final Fantasy series, provided a powerful list of upcoming games, building on the success the company has seen in recent years. By announcing games such as Kingdom Hearts III, Just Cause 3, Rise of the Tomb Raider, and Hitman, it is evident that Square Enix has once again established themselves as a force to be reckoned with in the video game industry.
Nintendo once again outdid themselves. With everything from a wacky puppet show, to an emphasis on the integration of Amiibo into current games, Nintendo announce a vast array of unique games, while still holding true to its flagship franchises. Nintendo proudly announced Super Mario Maker, Fire Emblem: Fates, Hyrule Warriors Legends, Metroid Prime: Federation Force, and, with an immense roar from the crowd, Star Fox Zero. While many fans were disappointed by the Metroid Prime gameplay demonstration, Nintendo’s constant ability and commitment towards creating artistic and enjoyable video games overshadowed any feelings of resentment or disdain.
As always, E3 proves once again why it is the definitive conference for the latest announcements in video game design and innovation. At E3 2015, it is safe to say that all 52,000 attendees left with something to be happy about.