Bethesda has followed EA with their own E3 conference. After their first showing in 2015 where they announced Fallout 4, Bethesda has left fans with high expectations coming into 2016. With offerings of Dishonored 2 on the horizon we should be in for a thrilling show.
QUAKE CHAMPIONS
RELEASE DATE: TBA
PLATFORM: PC
This teaser trailer shows some high quality action but no gameplay to speak of. Deves have specified that they have E-sports in mind which is definitely interesting going forward. The most notable thing to take from this is the fast 120hz unlocked framerate and the fact that it will be a class based arena shooter.
Competitive tournaments will be supported by ID Software outside of QuakeCon where we should also get a confirmed release date.
THE ELDER SCROLLS LEGENDS
RELEASE DATE: TBA
PLATFORM: PC | IPAD | MAC | IPHONE | ANDROID
Teased back in 2015’s press conference and originally set for a 2015 release date, The Elders Scrolls Legends is a dual lane collectable card game set in the Elder Scrolls universe. There was previously a beta that people where invited to but now if you sign up at Bethesda.net you can get information on the next. No release date as of yet but hopefully we get more information in the future.
FALLOUT 4 WORKSHOP CONTENT: CONTRAPTIONS / VAULT TEC
RELEASE DATE: 20th June 2016 and July 2016
PLATFORM: PC | PlayStation 4 | Xbox One
With these workshop updates you will be able to build things like elevators, conveyor belts and sorting machines with the sorted junk around the world. This also gives you the opportunity to construct your very own vault, experiment on its dwellers and live out their petty little lives.
FALLOUT SHELTER UPDATE
RELEASE DATE: JULY 2016
PLATFORM: Mobile and now coming to PC
50 million people have downloaded and played Fallout Shelter and now there will be a new combat system, quests, new characters and a release on PC.
FALLOUT 4 DLC: NUKA WORLD
RELEASE DATE: August 2016
PLATFORM: PC | PlayStation 4 | Xbox One
ELDER SCROLLS V SKYRIM: SPECIAL EDITION
RELEASE DATE: 28th October 2016
PLATFORM: PC | Xbox One | PlayStation 4
Bethesda has confirmed the rumours that they are working on a Skyrim remaster which looks to mostly be a visual update to the original game. From the quick sequences in the trailer the combat looks fairly similar and the same effect could be achieved by installing a few high end mods on the PC version of the game. For console fans this should be a decent upgrade though and a worthy purchase for the possible upcoming hardware iterations.
As a bonus to people that already have the game, Bethesda will be upgrading them to the Special Edition.
Tweet from BethesdaGameStudios – “If you own #Skyrim and all its add-ons or own Legendary Edition on Steam, you’ll get a free upgrade to Skyrim Special Edition on Oct 28”
PREY
RELEASE DATE: 2017
PLATFORM: PC | Xbox One | PlayStation 4
This teaser trailer puts you in the shoes of Morgan Yu as he lives out his life groundhog day before being experimented on and fighting from all manner of beasties. Not much can be said about the trailer as it was very cinematic and without gameplay but this looks to be the replacement to Prey 2 that people have been looking for.
DOOM UPDATES
There was a plethora of updates announced in Doom’s SnapMap and multiplayer modes as well as the arrival of its first DLC called Unto the Evil. In addition to this announcement, you play the first level of Doom for free this week if you haven’t already picked it up.
“There’s a lot more DOOM for you to enjoy, and we gave you a first-look at what’s in store at this year’s #BE3 Showcase. id Software’s Marty Stratton reveals all the new free content coming to DOOM, including new SnapMap tools and Hell visual themes, plus new multiplayer modes including fan favorites like Classic Deathmatch, capture the flag, and capture & hold. He also shares news around the game’s first DLC pack, Unto the Evil, which includes three new multiplayer maps, new equipment, a new weapon, and the Harvester–and a new player-controlled demon.”
BETHESDA VR
RELEASE DATE: 2017
PLATFORM: HTC VIVE
Bethesda has sneakily announced they are working on VR capabilities for their existing and upcoming games. Experiencing a Virtual tour of hell in Doom or strolling the wasteland within Fallout 4 are just two examples of what the developers are looking to accomplish in 2017.
DISHONORED 2
RELEASE DATE: 11th November 2016
PLATFORM: PC | PlayStation 4 | Xbox One
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lNFtACeifcU
This is the big ticket item that fans were waiting for and Bethesda has delivered. With a 2016 release date and some gameplay to enjoy I think it’s time to get the hype train rolling.
The sequel has kept the balance between combat, stealth and mobility from in the original game. Now in Dishonored 2 we see an updated engine called the “Void Engine” and some amazing visuals to boot. Flythroughs of the new city of Karnaca shows rivers of blood, vivid lighting and some high quality visual effects to enjoy as you explore.
Open world environments have been a big pushing point while in development and stealth will play huge part in Dishonored 2. Instead of just taking the crowned life, 15 years later Empress Emily Kaldwin instead decides to slip out and fulfil her heroic vision with Corvo Attano. Whoever you choose to play as during the story the characters will have their own experience and feelings towards certain key moments in the game.
The developers are also pushing unscripted missions with a focus on verticality to improve the amount of options you have to take out your targets and escape. Intense weather such as dust storms will also have an effect on multiple levels and will assist with the players’ ability to sneak through undetected or to plan an ambush.
Limited Time only – If you purchase the Collector’s edition within a limited time you will get the Dishonored: Definitive Edition as a free add-on to your purchase. I’m unsure if this will be extended to physical copies bought in Australia.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Bethesda had an amazing conference back in 2015, with announcements a plenty and some new IP’s to look at. This year I feel that it might not have had the impact the first conference did. In saying that we got to see a lot of what’s to come in the near future. There wasn’t too much waffling on (Except in the ESO sections) and the team members were there to talk about the games they loved to put in front of our eyeballs.
I’m excited mostly for Dishonored 2 out of everything that was put on display. After thoroughly enjoying the first game I want to find out how the story progresses and see what Arkane studios has in store for us at the end of the year. PREY and Quake Champions also look fairly interesting but with only cinematic teaser trailers to go on we my have to wait until QuakeCon to see some actual details come out before giving it a full once over.
Noticeably missing again from this conference was the 3rd Person team-based action game BattleCry which was shoved down our throats in 2015. After Bethesda expressed concerns about the game back in October 2015 I have been unable to receive an update from the Bethesda regarding the state of this game. Without a presence at the E3 we can assume that the game may have been cancelled but nothing is confirmed at this point.
That’s it for day one! Stay tuned for more E3 2016 action tomorrow and let us know what game you want most from Bethesda. Next in line will be Microsoft’s press conference which kicks off on Tuesday at 2:30AM AEST (2:00AM ACST, 12:30AM AWST). For all the conference times, be sure to check out our E3 2016 portal.