From Elden Ring to a new 2-D Metroid and the latest entry to the Forza Horizon series, here are our favorite game reveals and trailers from E3 2021.
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E3 is considered one of the biggest moments in all of gaming. Think of it as Christmas for gamers where developers reveal and show off new details of upcoming releases or reveal new games. Every year, people wait in anticipation to see what new games get revealed during E3. Last year’s E3 was canceled due to the pandemic, but it is now back, albeit in virtual form. With most of the major press conferences being done, here are our picks of our favorite game reveals and trailers from E3 2021.
Avatar: Frontiers Of Pandora
If ever you wanted to see a AAA Avatar video game, here it is. Revealed during Ubisoft’s event, Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora is a first-person, action-adventure game developed by Massive Entertainment, the team behind The Division, and in collaboration with Lightstorm Entertainment and Disney. The game is being developed exclusively for the new generation of consoles and PC and uses the power of the next generation to bring to life the world of Pandora with all of its beauty and danger in an immersive, open-world experience.
In the standalone story, you play as a Na’vi and embark on a journey across the Western Frontier, a never-before-seen part of Pandora where you get to explore a world inhabited by unique creatures and new characters and fight back the human forces that threaten to destroy it. Avatar: Frontiers Of Pandora is coming in 2022 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, Stadia, and Luna and hopefully won’t experience the numerous delays the movie sequels have experienced.
Elden Ring Gameplay Reveal
Ever since the game was initially revealed in E3 2019, fans have been eagerly waiting to finally see gameplay for Elden Ring. It’s been so anticipated that seeing Elden Ring gameplay became a meme in the community. Well, the drought is finally over as Bandai Namco and FromSoftware finally revealed the first gameplay footage of Elden Ring. From what we have seen so far, the game is giving us shades of classic FromSoftware, but also switching it up here and there. Hidetaka Miyazaki also recently gave an interview with IGN where he talked a lot about the game like how it will feature six major areas that will serve as dungeons and confirmation of a hub area. We won’t have to wait too long to play this game as it is releasing on January 21, 2022.
Forza Horizon 5
The Forza Horizon series has always been one of the Xbox’s best franchises. The driving games have always found the right balance between how the driving feels and being in a racing-sim sandbox-style world. Think of the series as the fun cousin to Forza Motorsport. While no major news was revealed regarding the next Forza Motorsport game, we were given a surprise reveal of Forza Horizon 5. This game takes place in Mexico and looks to be the biggest and best game in the series yet. Forza Horizon 5 is coming to Xbox and PC this November 9, 2021.
Halo Infinite Multiplayer Reveal
Halo Infinite’s journey has been a rocky one. The initial trailer had fans excited about the direction of the next game. But when the first gameplay was revealed last year, it caused an outcry with how below standards the graphics look. The game got delayed and fast forward a year later and we now have new look at the game. We got to see a new look at the story and how it is set after Halo 5: Guardians with Master Chief meeting a new AI who looks like Cortona but whose mission is to delete her. We also got the first reveal of the multiplayer which has us excited since the best part of Halo 5 was multiplayer. Hopefully, 343 can put it together and deliver a game worthy of the Halo franchise. Halo Infinite is set for release in Holiday 2021.
Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope
Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle is arguably one of the more underrated Nintendo Switch games. The turn-based strategy RPG impressed players with its mechanics, story, and unique charm, and humor. Ubisoft and Nintendo must have seen the comments for a sequel since they announced Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope during Ubisoft’s E3 2021 press conference.
The game’s story takes place in space as Cursa, a mysterious and malevolent entity seeks out energy to further its nefarious plans, plunging the galaxy into chaos. Twisting the planets with its evil influence, it’s determined to consume all the energy of the Sparks, uncanny creatures formed by the fusion of Lumas & Rabbids, and destroy all who stand in its way. In order to save the galaxy and the Sparks, Mario and friends team up with Rabbids heroes on a brand new journey, and this time Rosalina is joining, or at least the Rabbid version of her. The game is set for release in 2022.
Marvel’s Guardians Of The Galaxy
Following the release of Marvel’s Avengers, Square Enix has a new Marvel video game coming out with Marvel’s Guardians Of The Galaxy. Announced during Square Enix Presents Summer Showcase as part of E3 2021, the game is being developed by Eidos Montréal and is a single-player, story-driven, action-adventure game where you get to play as Star-Lord. According to the developers, the games take place less than a year after the guardians have formed and will follow them as a small mistake they make turns into a big problem. We are going to be cautiously optimistic and hopeful that Square Enix learned their mistakes for Avengers. Marvel’s Guardians Of The Galaxy is set for release later this year on October 26, 2021.
Metroid Dread
Going into E3 2021, a lot of people were hoping that Nintendo would finally reveal gameplay or at least a trailer of Metroid Prime 4. While they did mention that they were still working on the game, they did not show a new trailer. But at least we got the next best thing when they announced Metroid Dread, the first 2D Metroid game in 19 years. This new game follows Samus Aran following the events of Metroid Fusion as she explores a strange new planet. But she isn’t alone as she will be constantly hunted by the ominous and mysterious E.M.M.I. Metroid Dread is launching this October 8, 2021.
The Outer World 2
The Outer Worlds was one of the more underrated games of 2019. Created by Obsidian Entertainment, the game impressed players with its story, dark humor, and futuristic take on product placement and capitalism. The game deserved a sequel and that was what happened when it was announced that The Outer Worlds 2 was in development during Xbox’s E3 2021 presentation. Of course, the developers had a tongue-in-cheek trailer to announce the game by making fun of how game companies like to make trailers for games that aren’t in full development yet. No release date has been announced, but Obsidian should have all the time to make the game just as good, if not better, than the first game.
The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild 2 Gameplay Reveal
Aside from Metroid Prime 4, people were also looking forward to seeing more of Breath Of The Wild 2 in Nintendo’s E3 2021 Direct. While we didn’t get any Metroid Prime 4, we did get a gameplay trailer for Breath Of The Wild 2. Based on the short trailer, we got to see Link show off new powers and abilities. We also got a glimpse of new locations, enemies, and confirmation that the game will feature locations above the skies of Hyrule. The Legend Of Zelda: The Breath Of The Wild 2 is set for release sometime in 2022.
Tiny Tina’s Wonderland
Tiny Tina’s Wonderland was one of the first big reveals of E3 2021. The game is a spin-off of the Borderlands franchise and features an all-star cast that includes Andy Samberg, Wanda Sykes, Will Arnett, and Ashly Burch as well as Borderlands series staples like Butt Stallion and Tiny Tina. The game looks to be taking inspiration from the Borderlands 2 DLC Tiny Tina’s Assault on Dragon Keep and we’re here for it considering how that is one of the best pieces of content ever made for the Borderlands franchise. Initial details have been scarce, but from what we know so far, the game looks to incorporate spells, more customization, and feature melee weapons for the first time in the franchise. Tiny Tina’s Wonderland is set for release in early 2022.
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