Julius

Probably the only panel I'll be skipping out on this year (I have college first thing tomorrow morning and I don't own an Xbox One). My current plan is to wake up half an hour ahead of the Bethesda panel tomorrow morning to catch up on Scorpio/Xbox news, and this is actually the most excited I've been for an Xbox E3 panel in quite a while. They're exuding a confidence I don't think we've seen from them since the start of this generation of gaming hardware almost 4 years ago, so I hope that means there's a lot of great news and surprises in store for tonight!

Looks like Bethesda's The Evil Within 2 may have just been confirmed in a Reddit advert; Typical grain of salt applied; results may vary.

[TWEET]857582795748757504[/TWEET] For those unaware, Burton has previously voiced Cloud in projects such as Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children, Dissidia: Final Fantasy, World of Final Fantasy, and Kingdom Hearts, and I believe that it's likely that this tweet is in reference to VO work for Remake. Now, I don't want to say "yes, Remake is 100% coming this year", because I'm not that confident, but in regards to the first episode being released this year, I believe it's still on the cards. It's the 20th Anniversary of the original, and the 30th Anniversary of the franchise. Whilst many involved have been quoted as saying that the game will not be releasing for years to come, and that the studio is changing hands for this particular project, I find it hard to believe that the game got far along enough to warrant bringing in voice actors with the game's release not on the cards for a few more years; but then again, this raises the question as to whether or not comments were made regarding studios involved and a release period were in reference to the first episode of the game or the final, complete form of the game. It's possible that SE wanted to take future episodes further than the first episode, hence bringing it in-house as reported, and I find it hard to believe that a game like this, after 2+ years of development, is going to have its first episode - probably a 20-hour slice of the full cake that is the game - canned and started over again. It's possible that his VO presence was in reference to KH3, mind, but I just wanted to throw my two cents out there. There's no doubt we'll be getting something regarding FF this year - simply due to it being the 30th Anniversary - whether Remake is present or not. A collection, perhaps?

That looks a lot further along than they've been letting on. I guess this means no KH3 at E3 this year, so perhaps their D23 content opens up a bit more on just how far along this game is, and possibly -- possibly -- even start to narrow their sights on a year of release (taking into account what they've said/we've seen regarding a release date, I don't think they're ready to narrow it down that far this yet).

My bad. My eyes scanned straight over to Mario World and I never thought to look west of there, apparently.

Some concept art/early renderings from the presentation have made their way online; I...can't see any Zelda on this map

Dang, a number of great offers on PS+ and on physical-selling sites. Shame I spent quite a fair bit on college materials for the next academic year recently, or I'd be stockpiling a fair number of these titles for later play :/

A few days late on this update and I still haven't seen anyone else mention it, so I thought I would: Bethesda's panel has been delayed due to unspecified circumstances from 19:00 to 21:00 PT [from 03:00 to 05:00 BST] on the evening of Sunday 11th June PT [the morning of Monday 12th June BST]. EDIT [TWEET]873729100426473472[/TWEET]

I'm finding the scheduled 15 minutes of Mario play highly intriguing and reflective of a more understanding Nintendo. 15 minutes is pretty short for a game, but for one that will be much more easier to just pick up and play (when compared to a first time BOTW demo, for example) it makes total sense. Makes even more sense considering just how long the lines were last year for the BOTW stations, so this is smart on Nintendo's part: give as many people as possible the chance to play Super Mario Odyssey, not just because it's fair to fans at the event - and makes even more sense considering 15000 attendees this year will be fans and not media - but also because it shows an awareness of the social norms, and perhaps even-more-so the power of word-of-mouth advertising. Many Switch and BOTW owners have had such word-of-mouth experiences by now, and it can only help build anticipation and excitement for the console and the new game at this point. Smart move, Nintendo. Smart move. Please have some just-as-smart-if-not-smarter moves to show off during your Spotlight on Wednesday, though.

99.9% confident this shows up during Nintendo's Treehouse Livestream, and, I suppose, probably the same goes for Skyrim too. It's a good start from EA in terms of support (FIFA was always going to be a smart first game option for a console like the Switch), and I'd love to see some EA Originals, such as the just announced (and literally Switch-perfect, from a gameplay standpoint) The Way Out make the Switch.

At this rate, I think EA won't focus on the Switch unless it becomes the second largest console platform, or at least makes up substantial ground (i.e. outpacing the Scorpio/Xbox One over the next 12 months), which is a stupidly difficult thing to achieve nearly 4 years into the current iteration of PS and Xbox consoles. We literally just heard them talk about special 4K Madden assets, and how they'll have more on Anthem tomorrow, specifically citing the Scorpio in both instances. Can they seriously not just throw a bone at the Switch? EA Sports/DICE games don't really bother me too much, as graphical fidelity takes centre stage over game play in those games, but I want the option to play EA Originals on the Switch. Just the concept of on-the-couch two player games - I mean, imagine this thing being portable! - such as The Way Out - a game that if you told me was specifically made for the Switch, I would believe you - breathes the ethos of the Switch (fun; together; on the go?!).

Battlefront II and The Way Out look amazing, from visual, gameplay and technical standpoints. Can't wait to see Anthem tomorrow (guess I'll be tuning into the Xbox livestream after all...), but I feel that it will be a team-up with Xbox when it comes to marketing in a similar way to how FIFA 18 and Battlefront II have been aligned with PS4. Having Anthem be a timed exclusive for Scorpio (which I suppose would likely make it a launch title) would be terrible business for EA, but great news for Xbox. I suppose we'll have to wait until tomorrow to see just how much Xbox paid them to get whatever they have - be it timed exclusivity or marketing rights.

Woah, the same day as a Pokémon game? Nintendo's pushing hard on all fronts, it seems, this Christmas.

Now that's a great shout! Could also be a great way for EA to venture into VR...

I'm extremely excited for BF2. Could easily sell 15+ million units based on what we know so far, but if we get more in-depth customisation, etc.? Completely disagree with some analysts who have been saying it should be kept quite shallow as we already have other gaming franchises for in-depth FPS, especially seeing as the original BFII was one of the earlier games to pave the way to online multiplayer FPS, a dominant genre in the business. On another note, I'm also intrigued to see if we see a new IP from EA this evening.

A bit over two hours to go...

Something tells me this is going to be a good week... [TWEET]873222688608858112[/TWEET]

EZA BETTING SPECIAL E3 2017 Take me to Valhalla

Haha, totally. Would you like to see it remade in 3D, or given a new 2D/2.5D treatment? Personally, I feel like this game would look beautiful using the same engine and effects as Project Octopath Traveller (and could mean we'd be getting it sooner rather than in 2028)?

@Hero\-of\-Time @nekunando

Loved the FFVI Remake prediction @Hero\-of\-Time , shame if it's true we'll probably see it and then find out that they need developers two years down the line :P Predicting a 2018 game montage to round off the Spotlight (Fire Emblem Switch, Super Smash Bros. for Switch, Animal Crossing Switch, etc.) concluding with the montage and music peaking before it all goes dark and quiet, a lowering platform is heard, and then, breaking the cold darkness, is the opening of the platform/elevator with a sci-fi fwoosh and the green of Samus' helm lighting up the dark. And then of course cap this off with the Switch animation/sound effect.

Agreed. I just can't see any world where 3 actually makes it to release this year; I think a delay to summer/winter 2018 is more likely, with 1+2 HD possibly taking up 3's planned release date of December 2017. I found it odd too, but then again, it is running the same days that Nintendo Treehouse is running, so anything Coliseum could offer regarding gameplay, etc., will more than likely be shown off at Treehouse. Would love for the "surprise guests" to be a Miyamoto/Aonuma, Kojima, [insert more legendary names here] interview with Geoff, though I doubt this would happen :/

Should we really be talking about Super Mario Odyssey in a Pokémon Direct thread? :P

[TWEET]872460812434128896[/TWEET] Very happy about this. Kojima and his new team have done a great job with the trailers for Death Stranding, but many, myself included, were beginning to worry that more focus was being put on the trailers than actually getting development started; in hindsight, considering the talent - but varying degrees of a lack of expertise - throughout Kojima Productions, this could have been a great way for Kojima and Guerrilla to familiarise the team with the Decima engine. I can see this going quiet until at least E3 of next year, and so a 2019/2020 release date is now starting to seem feasible simply because of this smart move. I suppose at this point, though, the question becomes whether PlayStation wants to use it as a means of closing out the PS4 in a strong way, bolstering the launch of the PS5, or, perhaps, even, both? Could cross-platform play be on the cards? Speculation aside, though, I wish Square Enix would follow suit when it comes to working on Final Fantasy VII Remake and Kingdom Hearts 3, mind... (then again I totally want to see them this year at E3 :/) Very happy that Kojima will still be at E3 despite having nothing to show off himself. Nice reminder that all of these developers are gamers at heart There's more E3 news still, though, with Geoff Keighley posting the Coliseum schedule on Twitter (I'll share it in full below, and please let me know if it's too long so that I can spoiler tag it - though I would typically do this without asking, I think there's a fair share of speculation to be had around the schedule's content, as there is a LOT): [TWEET]872453103764652033[/TWEET] The full schedule for E3 Coliseum is as follows (All Times Pacific Time): Tuesday, June 13 • 11:00 AM — Noon: God of War: Behind the Curtain It’s been one year since game director Cory Barlog and his team at Santa Monica Studio introduced fans around the world to a bold new vision for God of War. Join us as Cory and other members of the development team share new insights and recount challenges overcome, delving further into writing, world building, combat design, and the powerful father/son relationship at the heart of Kratos’ new beginning. Moderated by Michele Morrow. • Noon — 12:30 PM: Inside Bungie For over 25 years, Bungie has pushed the video game industry in bold new directions. Join Bungie CEO Pete Parsons for a wide-ranging discussion about his career, the industry, and Bungie’s next release, Destiny 2. Moderated by WWE superstar (and devoted Destiny fan) Big Show. • 12:30 PM — 1:30 PM: World Builders Join host Chris Hardwick for a keynote discussion about building worlds across entertainment mediums, with a focus on video games. Hardwick will be joined by astrophysicist Neil Degrasse Tyson, director James Gunn, Gearbox’s Randy Pitchford, and 343 Industries’ Kiki Wolfkill. • 1:30 PM — 2:15 PM: Assassin’s Creed Ubisoft presents a look at what’s next from Assassin’s Creed. • 2:15 PM — 2:45 PM: What Game From E3 Will Make You the Next Online Gaming Superstar? In a world where online content creators can make or break the success of a new game, discover which games from this year’s E3 are going to make the biggest splash with the world’s largest online creators. Join MatPat, creator of The Game Theorists YouTube channel (more than 8 million subscribers, 2016 winner of the Streamy Award for Best Gaming Channel), to find out which games are making a mark at E3 in the eyes of top Twitch and YouTube streamers. Learn what makes some games great to play and others great to watch for millions of fans on YouTube and Twitch. • 2:45 PM — 3:15 PM: Bethesda Softworks Join Bethesda Softworks for a look at a newly announced title that will be seen for the first time at their E3 2017 Showcase. • 3:15 PM– 4:00 PM: Square Enix Don’t miss when Square Enix presents a live demonstration of a newly announced title being showcased at E3 2017. • 4:00 PM — 4:30 PM: Epic Games For over two decades, the team at Epic Games has built some of the video game industry’s most talked about titles. Join members of Epic at E3 Coliseum for a behind-the-scenes look at the developer’s next release. • 4:30 PM — 5:00 PM: Swing Behind the Scenes With the New Spider-Man for PS4 Join key members of both Insomniac Games and Marvel for a peek into the upcoming Spider-Man collaboration for the PS4. • 5:00 PM — 5:45 PM: Project Scorpio: The Most Powerful Place to Create and Play Discover how Xbox built a powerful development platform in Project Scorpio with game creators in mind. Featuring key members of the Xbox team, including Turn 10 Studios and The Coalition. Moderated by Xbox Live’s Larry Hryb (Major Nelson). • 6:00 PM — 7:00 PM: Jack Black in Conversation with Tim Schafer Over the past 30 years Tim Schafer has created some of the gaming industry’s most hilariously memorable worlds and characters. The multi-talented Jack Black (star of Brutal Legend) leads a wide-ranging conversation with Tim about his career, creative process, and yes, Psychonauts 2. Wednesday, June 14 • 10:00 AM — 10:45 AM: New Realities: VR, AR, and Gaming Video games are ushering in a whole new era of interactivity across a host of new devices that deliver virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) experiences. Join Will Smith (The Foo Show) for a discussion about the state of immersive reality and the future of gameplay and storytelling in VR and AR. Joining Smith will be film director Ivan Reitman (Ghostbusters), Curtis Hickman (Co-Founder/CCO, The Void), Tanja Watson (Co-Founder, Squanchtendo Games) David Ellison (CEO, Skydance Media), and Brandon J. Laatsch (Stress Level Zero Games). • 10:45 AM — 11:30 AM: Sea of Thieves: Community Spirit The Sea of Thieves team discusses the opportunities and challenges of transforming Rare, one of the industry’s most secretive developers, into an open studio that celebrates its community and has brought its most passionate fans right into the heart of the development process — an essential step in creating a AAA shared-world pirate adventure. • 11:30 — Noon: Gaming Evolved: New Voices, New Visions As the video game industry continues to evolve, there are opportunities for new voices and perspectives to push the medium in exciting new directions. Join us for a discussion about the many ways creators can express themselves and reach new audiences through video games. • Noon — 12:45 PM: Crash Bandicoot Reunion Twenty-one years after he first arrived on the scene, Crash Bandicoot is back! Join members of the original creative team behind the game — Connie Booth, Mark Cerny, Naughty Dog co-founders Andy Gavin and Jason Rubin, and Bob Rafei — for a once-in-a-lifetime reunion to discuss the making of the original Crash Bandicoot and its impact on the video game industry. • 12:45 PM — 1:30 PM: Mortal Kombat: Celebrating 25 Years For over 25 years, Mortal Kombat has evolved and pushed the fighting game genre in new directions, including its most recent release, MKX. Mortal Kombat co-creator Ed Boon joins the E3 Coliseum to reflect on the series and its impact on popular culture, esports, and the video game industry. • 1:30 PM — 2:00 PM: Far Cry 5: A Trip to Hope County Welcome to Hope County, Montana, a rural community taken over by a fanatical cult. Led by Joseph Seed, “The Father,” players will build a resistance with the help of citizens of Hope County. Join Dan Hay, executive producer and creative director, and Drew Holmes, lead writer, to learn more about the citizens of Hope County, including The Father, Pastor Jerome, Mary May, and Nick Rye. • 2:00 PM — 2:30 PM: Call of Duty: WWII — Sledgehammer Games’ Journey Back to the Franchise’s Roots Call of Duty: WWII returns to its franchise roots. Join Michael Condrey, Glen Schofield, and Greg Reisdorf for an inside look at the game that is taking the series back to boots on the ground. The panel will share behind-the-scenes development of the E3 content as we look at multiplayer and campaign gameplay and perhaps a hint at things to come in the months ahead. Moderated by Afrojack (Nick van de Wall). • 2:30 PM — 3:15 PM: Stories Across Screens How does today’s greatest game writing influence the world of TV and film, and vice versa? Join Better Call Saul Executive Producer Gennifer Hutchison for a conversation with leading storytellers about the opportunities and challenges of interactive and linear storytelling. Hutchison will be joined by Emil Pagliarulo (Designer Director, Bethesda Game Studios), Josh Scherr (Writer, Naughty Dog), and Dan Tractenberg (Director, 10 Cloverfield Lane, Black Mirror). • 3:15 PM — 4:15 PM: A Conversation with Hideo Kojima and Jordan Vogt-Roberts A one-on-one session looking back at the career of Hideo Kojima, led by Jordan Vogt-Roberts, director of Kong: Skull Island. These two creative forces will share the stage to discuss the fusion of gaming and cinema. Mr. Kojima will discuss his cinematic influences and how they have allowed him to make masterworks of his own. • 4:15 PM — 5:00 PM: The Indie Revolution Some of today’s most creative and inspiring games come from independent developers working outside the system. Join us to hear their stories. Robin Hunicke (Funomena) leads a discussion about the independent game scene across console, mobile, and PC, featuring guests including Brendan Greene (creator, Player Unknown’s Battlegrounds) and Eli Cymet (Alto’s Odyssey). • 5:00 PM — 5:30 PM: Middle-earth: Shadow of War — A Behind-the-Scenes Look Join Monolith Productions, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, and Troy Baker (the voice of Talion) for an inside look and live demonstration of Middle-earth: Shadow of War. • 5:30–6 PM: Square Enix Join the team at Square Enix for a developer showcase, revealing new details about a game that will be announced for the first time at E3 2017. • 6:00 PM: An exclusive surprise discussion with renowned figures.