BE3 2016 certainly didn’t disappoint!
[dropcap size=small]B[/dropcap]ethesda gave us a big tasty chunk of reveals at their BE3 showcase this year, and kicked off the E3 week ahead in style by giving us plenty to salivate over. So without further ado, let’s take a look back at what the studio served up to us.
- 1. Quake. Is. Back. Saying that alone was enough to get many excited. Bethesda sure do know how to start things off with a bang.
Back in 1996, the 3D FPS – which was fronted by none other than John Romero – was a beloved single and multiplayer title for the PC. It also featured music from Nine Inch Nails (ah, the 90’s) to compliment the dark levels players traversed.
Now it’s gotten some 21st century treatment with the announcement of Quake Champions, an arena style multiplayer shooter for the PC. Champions will have unlocked frame-rates to allow everyone to run the game and make it as glossy and smooth as they want. The game will feature a variety of warriors to choose from, with different abilities and attributes to let you choose how to fight. No release date was given, but they promised to shed more light on the title this August.
Check out the trailer below:
- 2. Prey.
Yes, Prey is back, but it’s not going to be the sequel Prey 2 which was announced three years ago at the hands of Human Head. No, instead we’re getting a brand new title from Arkane Austin, which will see players in the shoes of Morgan Yu:
“You awaken aboard the Talos 1 in the year 2032 and must uncover the secrets hiding in the depths of the space station while being hunted by the mysterious alien force that has taken over. You’ll have to rely on the tools you find on the station—along with your wits, weapons and mind-bending abilities—to combat the growing threat and, hopefully, survive.”
This intriguing and altogether dark title is set for release sometime in 2017. Check out the trailer below:
- 3. Fallout 4 Contraptions and Workshop DLC/Nuka Cola theme Park Expansion/Fallout Shelter.
After the atmospheric Far Harbor DLC, Bethesda certainly aren’t slowing down on the Fallout 4 front, with plenty of new content announced for the giant title. Tons of new builds and contraptions (as the name suggests) will soon be available, including the ability to build your very own vault, where you can run tests on your dwellers in the Workshop add-on. Both are due out July, 2016.
We’re also getting what looks like a Nuka Cola theme park Vacation DLC set for release this August. We can only hope it signals the possibility of getting a real life theme park based on the game in future. How great would that be!?
The mobile and tablet game Fallout Shelter is getting some interesting updates which add new characters and allow you to send your dwellers out on missions. It was also announced that the game will soon be coming to PC July, 2016.
- 4. Skyrim: Special Edition. Oh yes.
Perhaps one of the most exciting announcements was the Skyrim Remastered edition coming to Xbox One, Playstation 4 and PC, 28 October, 2016. Bethesda showcased the comparison between the old and new, with the next-gen version taking the already appealing vistas of the Elder Scrolls world and making them decidedly more crisp and beautiful.
- 5. Elder Scrolls Online Dark Brotherhood DLC/Elder Scrolls Legends
We also got more of a look-in at Elder Scrolls Online’s upcoming expansion featuring the seedy world of the Dark Brotherhood.
Elder Scroll Legends – a free to play strategy card game coming to PC, Mobile and Tablet (iOS and Android) sometime this year – was also discussed in more detail, during which it was revealed to be both single and multiplayer across all platforms.
- 6. Doom Unto The Evil DLC and Snapmap updates.
Doom announced a brand new DLC content pack called Unto the Evil coming this July, which will include the addition of new multiplayer maps, taunts, weapons and demons. Along with this, they announced free additional multiplayer modes such as a capture-the-flag type mode called Exodus.
The level editing modifier Snapmap is also getting some free updates for all players, with additions such as more construction modules, props, weapons and items.
Additionally, the first level of Doom will be available for players to try out for free this week from 13th June onward on PC, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.
- 7. Bethesda VR.
The studio announced a new division which will focus on the virtual reality side of gaming. Rather interestingly, Fallout 4 was revealed to be the first title set to be playable using the HTC Vive sometime in 2017. You can’t help but wonder how that will turn out. Doom is also said to be getting some VR treatment, too.
- 8. Dishonored 2.
Saving the best for last, Bethesda’s most anticipated title got centre stage to finish off one heck of a press conference – and it certainly didn’t disappoint. Delivering the goods with some game-play footage, we got more of a glimpse of the game’s impressive in-game environments, which look absolutely gorgeous.
Character abilities and the title’s setting – which takes place 15 years after Dishonored – were explored in more detail, with a whole host of interesting characters and enemies along the way. You can ‘take back what’s yours’ with Emily or Corvo on Xbox One, Playstation 4 and PC, 11 November, 2016.
Check out the trailer below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lNFtACeifcU
With lots of exciting announcements, we can only hope the rest of E3 follows suit.
If you missed it, you can watch the entire showcase here.
What are you most excited for during this year’s E3? Have your say in the comments below.
