Bethesda, one of the most well-known gaming companies in 2018 has come to E3 for their fourth showcase. If E3 were a game of poker among these game developers, then Bethesda just showed their hand, and it seems like a high-end full house. Starting the night off with an opening from Andrew W.K performing Ready to Die while leading into the RAGE 2 demonstration.
Rage 2
The sequel to their 2011 release, Rage 2 seems to be offering the same formula with a few new auditions giving a large selection of ammo, weapons, and vehicle combat. There seems to be more story if the lack luster opening narration is to indicate anything other than setting the mood of the gameplay.
Elder Side Scrolling
Following Rage 2’s display, the audience found themselves swept into news about Elder Scrolls; specifically Elder Scrolls Legends. The App based card game centered around the lore of the series. Elder Scrolls Legends will be coming to the PS4, Xbox One, and Nintendo’s Switch after being available on mobile for a year. The announcement did not end with a port plug, but a complete overhaul of the graphics and content with the port as well.
The Elder Scrolls Online
Elder Scrolls Online was the next to be presented with it’s updates. More DLC coming including their new dungeon expansion and further lore building DLC with an Argonian center. Showing a bit of what has come before, then previewing the new before closing their video.
Doom has Risen
This was the first real shocker of the night. Doom already seems to have a sequel in the works. The smash hit from 2016, bring back the crucial elements of the original to an updated world of gaming and pushing it further by providing a memorable narrative with minimal dialog. Having only seen Doom VR as a following title, it was uncertain if we would see more Doom related content for a while, let alone a sequel. Yet we get just that, a strong presentation of a world gone to Hell and one solid stomp of a very commanding boot ready to resume some demon slaying duties.
Aside from the usual hyping the game up with a traditional “bigger and better” pitch, not much else can be confirmed other than there may be some part of the game that takes place on Earth and that there will be harder enemies and more ways to kill them.
The Revival
A historic title, Quake Champions is introduced by Joshua Boyle talking up the history of the franchise while showing off that Bethesda formula of keeping the good and upgrading the better. That formula is at play here, with all the changes going on with First Person Shooters this will be interesting to see if Quake’s return stands as another turning point for the genre.
Prey
Another hit, prey returns with the news of a free update happening that night, which will include Story Mode, New Game+, and Survival Mode for the hardcore of the group. Then launching into their spot for their DLC: Moon Crash. This DLC boasts the ability to provide unique runs every time for the player. To add to those announcements there is a new game mode available where it is one human player vs five mimc players in Typhon Hunter. A very exciting announcement for the series.
Wolfenstein
Two parts to this announcement from Machine Games:
- Wolfenstein II is coming to the Switch
- It’s getting a sequel
Just more good news all around, but to add to it we are seeing the addition of co-op and having the story follow BJ’s twin daughters, picking up his mantle in 1980’s Paris. The design looks great, and if they can improve on Wolfenstein II? A tall order but a welcome surprise if it is handled innovatively.
A VR game is coming out as well called Wolfenstein Cyber Pilot where you play the role of a hacker that controls robots to kill nazis. That’s the description we got almost verbatim.
Todd Howard
Quite possibly the high point for energy as far as presenters went. Starting things off with a pseudo-parody of porting Skyrim: Very Special Edition to Alexa with Keegan-Michael Key. This is actually available now.
After getting a rousing set of applause, before talking about what everyone was waiting for, Fall Out 76 click here for the trailer. We are given confirmation on some of the rumours floating around, it is set in West Virginia, there will be green trees, and it is going to require an online connection to play. Although it is promised to just be a few dozen in the area the player would be participating in.
There also seems to be a focus on building, and being able to move it wherever you want to. Through a little narrative, and then using demo clips along side of the good old Vault Tec instructional videos to present the landscape, and highlight the idea of PvP and being able to launch Nukes on the map. There will be a Break-it-Early-Test-Application later this year, and you can sign up through Bethesda’s website, with the full game having it’s release date announced for November 14, 2018. Also coming with a Power Armor edition that includes a glow in the dark map, a wearable Power Armor helmet with headlamp, voice modulator, and more.
We continue with Todd informing the crowd about Fallout Shelter coming to the PS4 and to the Switch, but also the announcement of their newest mobile contribution in Elder Scrolls Blades. Seemingly, a less mobile version of an Elder Scrolls game, and the visual presentation makes it seem like another paper-rock-scissors battle game. It is very impressive graphically for a phone, however it was very limited in precise information. This game will also have a VR version that plays with players on any device. Elder Scrolls Blades will be available later this fall, and you can pre-register to get the game when it comes out, this can be done through Bethesda’s website or through the Google Play/Apple stores.
Todd’s presentation ends with no more news for 2018 but slightly further ahead, with a very brief tease of their original science-fiction space themed I.P. that is Starfield. The presentation lulled the audience into a warm sense of wonder, just to have violent curiosity thrust at them through what seems like a tear in space and time tearing through the fantastic image before the viewer.
Then to make this presentation truly memorial, Elder Scrolls VI is confirmed to be in the works. With the crowd going wild, the presentation comes to a close for the night.
What does the presentation mean?
It means that Bethesda has been busy, most people probably only expected one or two of the titles that were mentioned, but to get a new Quake, Doom, Fallout, and Elder Scrolls updates everywhere? It would be hard to find much fault with being excited.
It is Bethesda, and generally they make some great games so there really shouldn’t be much to worry about, and yet here we are.
The Presentation was good overall. Lots to be excited about, and there was plenty of humor and nice sneak peaks. However, some portions of the presentation felt longer than they needed to be, and the focus seemed to be more on App based games than that of PC, Xbox, PlayStation, or Nintendo. When we got to see a bit of Doom, Wolfenstein, and Starfield felt so small in comparison to the attention Rage 2 or Elder Scrolls: Blades received.
Fallout 76 being the stand-out exception of possibly feeling like there was too little. We may have received too much and too little information at the same time. With the direction being presented, it is still very vague as to how Fallout 76 is going to pan out. On one hand it could be amazing, if they can balance a Fallout experience of exploration and fighting with other players forming a story could be a masterpiece. With what has been presented, it leaves worry about the game becoming Minecraft with built-in Nukes, or devolving into a post apocalyptic Battle Royale game. Despite the wants and worries of the presentation, Bethesda delivered on what was expected and gave the fans more, hopefully it’s more of what will work. And if you liked that check out @tehlunchboxpub on twitter for more E3 news.
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