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E3 2015: Conferences schedule and what to expect in terms of games

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With only a few weeks to go until E3 2015 the hype train has long since left the station and is now cruising at top speed. To say that we’re very excited about next month’s event would be an understatement and I’m sure many of you can relate to that feeling. Although we’re not entirely certain about what we’re going to see at this year’s expo it’s pretty much guaranteed to be a jolly good time. Having said that, we do know about a handful of titles that have been confirmed to make an appearance at E3 2015 and we also have the conference schedule courtesy of Sony, Microsoft and all the other companies that already announced their panels. The purpose of this article is to talk about the schedule itself, but even more importantly, to talk about the games that have already been confirmed and those that are expected to be on stage even if they haven’t been confirmed yet.

Bethesda: June 14 from 7 PM PDT

E3 2015 will start off with a bang on June 14 with developer Bethesda Softworks hosting their first ever conference at the Electronic Entertainment Expo. Needless to say, this conference is likely to be one of the most important at the event because it seems to suggest that Bethesda want to talk about something very big while they’re there. The company confirmed last month that DOOM will finally be revealed in all of its gory glory at E3 2015 but the big announcement might come in the form of Fallout 4. Indeed, this is the big hitter that everyone is asking for and there’s a strong possibility that it will be there. Bethesda’s E3 2015 schedule says that a next-gen RPG will be present on stage so it’s hopefully either Fallout 4 or The Elder Scrolls 6. Either way, the conference is bound to be very interesting for sure.

Microsoft: June 15 from 9 AM PDT

The second day of E3 2015 kicks off with Microsoft’s press conference where we’re likely to hear at least a couple of words about previously announced games such as Halo 5: Guardians, Rise of the Tomb Raider, Crackdown, Fable Legends, and a few others. We’re also probably going to hear some more about highly anticipated upcoming new IPs like Scalebound and Quantum Break, as well as another mystery new IP according to Xbox boss Phil Spencer himself. Microsoft plans to make this year’s edition of E3 about 1st party content and services so expect to also hear a little bit about the HoloLens. Finally, word on the street is that E3 2015 will be serve as the launching pad for Gears of War 4, although this is merely a rumor for the time being.

EA: June 15 from 1 PM PDT

Electronic Arts might not be the most beloved publisher out there but there are plenty of reasons to be excited about their conference. First off, there’s very little doubt at this point that Mass Effect 4 will be on stage at E3 2015 so we might finally get to see the highly anticipated trailer and maybe even hear about a release date if we’re lucky. Mirror’s Edge is also likely to make an appearance along with Star Wars: Battlefront (pre-order) and possibly Visceral’s own Star Wars game. In addition, rumor has it that EA is gearing up to unveil Battlefield 5 at E3 2015, as well as talk about upcoming DLC for Battlefield: Hardline.

Ubisoft: June 15 from 3PM PDT

As far as we can tell Ubisoft will not have a very big presence at next month’s event. Granted, the publisher has not unveiled its full line up of featured games but it seems like the only relatively interesting title might be Assassin’s Creed Syndicate (pre-order). Tom Clancy’s The Division and Rainbow Six Siege will also be at E3 2015, however, we’ll be seeing them for the second year in a row at the expo and that takes away from the excitement just a little bit. Interestingly enough, earlier this month Ubisoft teased a new triple A title and gave it a tentative release date of early 2016. The publisher didn’t reveal much else but it seems like this new mystery title will not be at E3 2015 for some reason.

Sony: June 15 from 6 PM PDT

Sony will have a number of games on display at E3 2015, the biggest of which will be Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End. The company will definitely not miss the chance to talk about one of their biggest franchises in front of such a large audience even though their audience might actually be disappointed that the game has been delayed until next year. Also from Sony, expect to hear more about No Man’s Sky, Until Dawn, Ratchet & Clank, Hellblade, as well as a few other previous announced titles along with some yet to be revealed ones. In addition to games, Sony will also be talking about the current state of Project Morpheus at E3 2015.

Nintendo: June 16 from 9 AM PDT

Nintendo had a very good show last year at the Electronic Entertainment Expo and we can expect this year to be no different. As per tradition, the company will have a digital event at E3 2015 with games like Mario Maker, Xenoblade Chronicles X, Shin Megami Tensei X Fire Emblem, Star Fox, Zelda for the Wii U and more. The company is also bringing back the Nintendo World Championships after 25 years of absence, which sounds both interesting and downright strange. A lot of people may not find Nintendo’s E3 2015 digital event to be particularly interesting but if you’re gaming on the Wii U you should definitely keep an eye on it because the event will be all about the games.

Square Enix: June 16 from 10 AM PDT

Not to be outdone by Bethesda and their special event, Square Enix will also be hosting their own separate conference at E3 2015. This is a pretty usual move by the company and it seems to indicate that something big will be revealed next month. The long awaited Kingdom Hearts 3 might be present at the conference along with the likes of Final Fantasy XV and Deus Ex: Mankind Divided. The latter in particular is almost certain to make an appearance given that its recent reveal sparked a new interest in the franchise. To be honest, we’re pretty much in the dark when it comes to Square Enix’s E3 2015 conference but we’re definitely excited to see what the company has in store for us.

PC Gaming Show: June 16 from 5 PM PDT

The PC gaming master race is certain to have a field at E3 2015 thanks to the PC Gaming Show. This special event has been created by AMD and PC Gamer with the goal of drawing people’s attention to the wonderful world of PC gaming. The event will be hosted by famous eSports caster Sean ‘Day[9]’ Plott and will feature developers from a great number of major companies, including Blizzard Entertainment, Paradox Interactive, Bohemia, Creative Assembly, Cloud Imperium Games, Frictional Games, ArenaNet, Tripwire, and many more. PC gaming doesn’t usually have its own dedicated event at bit shows so it will definitely be exciting to finally see something like this.

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5 Reasons You NEED To Play The Final Fantasy VIII Remaster

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Final Fantasy VIII Remastered

After many years of fans begging Square Enix to remaster Final Fantasy VII, they finally listened and did just that. There were numerous excuses as to why the game’s re-release had lagged behind the re-releases of both VII and IX, with the most common excuse being that the game’s original code was lost years ago. However, the company made it happen and the game is finally available for modern audiences to play on modern hardware today. We’re going to give you 5 reasons why you should do just that.

First time available on modern hardware

As we’ve already said, this is the first time that the game is available on modern hardware. While the game originally launched for PS1 back in 1999, it later got a PC port in 2000. That means that is has been a whopping 19 years since a new version of the game has been available for purchase, and that wait was a brutal one. However, it is finally over and you can now play this classic game on PS4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch along with PC. If the lack of modern hardware support was stopping you from checking out, that excuse just got thrown out the window.

The visuals look better than ever

Thankfully, Square Enix did not just slap this port together quickly and throw it out there to shut everyone up. They did a terrific job of putting on a shiny new coat of paint for the game, with the character models in particular looking much better. While things like environment textures didn’t get quite the same amount of attention, this is nevertheless the best that the game has ever looked. It also helps that the game is simply beautiful from a design standpoint, with the game’s world being gorgeous to behold even though we’re dealing with the hardware limitations of 1999.

Quality of life improvements

While those who played the game 20 years ago will still be getting what is essentially the same experience, Square Enix did add some quality of life improvements to put it more in line with current JRPGs. These changes include the likes of increasing battle speed by 3 times, shutting off random encounters completely and even a cheat to give you max HP and limit breaks. While these may seem minor, these will go a long way to ease some of the tedium that many feel after some particularly long gaming sessions. Max HP and Limit Breaks will also make the incredibly tough Ultima and Omega Weapon boss fights a lot easier to deal with.

Triple Triad

The Final Fantasy series is known for having its fair share of enticing side quests and mini games, but there isn’t a single one that is as addicting as Triple Triad. The game is essentially a card game that is played on a 3×3 grid, and each card has a certain number on the top, bottom, left and right sides. You need to place your cards in a manner that the numbers on your cards are higher than your opponents, and seeing as your card can be attacked from four different sides this can be tricky. You’re able to challenge many different characters to a match throughout the course of the entire game, and doing so comes with plenty of nice rewards that will make your quest easier.

The game is awesome

While our previous points focused on specific elements of the game, this one is a simple fact that has been true since 1999: the game is awesome. Unfortunately, releasing immediately after Final Fantasy VII (a watershed moment for gaming) put it under a very cruel microscope, with many knee jerk reactions simply saying it “isn’t as good as VII.” However, in the years that have passed people have revisited the game, and the consensus has definitely changed. This adventure that Square created is unlike any other in the series, being host to an ambitious and bizarre plot filled with some of the best characters the series has ever seen. If you’ve played the game before then this is the perfect time to experience this masterpiece all over again, and if you haven’t then what are you waiting for?

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10 Huge Games Still Coming In 2019

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10 Huge Games Still Coming 2019

2019 has been yet another good year for gaming so far, with several games releasing that will be big contenders for game of the year once the curtain closes. However, despite the year already being more than halfway over, there are still some huge titles on the horizon that are sure to make their own dents on the coming best-of lists. This article will list the 10 biggest games that are still coming in 2019.

Control

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A new game from Remedy Entertainment is always highly-anticipated, and Control is no different. The game is an action-adventure game in the same style as Alan Wake or Quantum Break, but with a supernatural twist. Players will control Jesse Faden, who possesses a variety of supernatural abilities like telekinesis, levitation and more. She will be using her abilities in order to defeat an enemy known only as the Hiss, which has corrupted reality. Control launches for PS4, Xbox One and PC on August 27th.

Borderlands 3

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It has been many years since the last game in the Borderlands series released, but the hiatus is finally coming to an end very soon. Those who have played previous games in the series will feel right at home with this game, as it’s once again a loot-driven FPS. The game will offer more zany characters and a charming and insane world to explore, all while dealing with new antagonists Troy and Tyreen Calypso along with their Children of the Vault cult. Borderlands 3 launches for PS4, Xbox One and PC on September 13th, with a Google Stadia port release date being TBA.

Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Breakpoint

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Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon series is returning soon with Breakpoint, which will serve as a continuation of previous game Wildlands. The game is set in an open world environment called Aurora, which is a fictional island in the Pacific Ocean. Players will control Lieutenant Colonel Anthony “Nomad” Perryman, who is a special forces operative that was sent to the island to investigate a series of disturbances in the area. Breakpoint launches for PS4, Xbox One and PC on October 4th, with a Google Stadia port coming in November.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare

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Each new installment in the Call of Duty series is always huge, but Modern Warfare’s release marks a first for the long-running franchise. It will be the first game in the series that is reimagining of a previous game in the series, taking 2004’s original game and updating its mechanics and themes to match today’s world. The game will still have some of the beats that the first game had, but will also incorporate lots of surprises to make it a fresh experience. Modern Warfare launches for PS4, Xbox One and PC on October 25th.

The Outer Worlds

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Obsidian Entertainment’s The Outer Worlds is one that will be very highly-anticipated for fans of Fallout: New Vegas, as this game serves as a sort of spiritual successor to that game. It will be an open world RPG that allows you to explore many unique areas crawling with plenty of deadly foes. Players will also be able to encounter and recruit NPCs as companions that have their own personal missions and stories to take part in. The Outer Worlds launches for PS4, Xbox One and PC on October 25th, with a Switch port also being in the works.

Luigi’s Mansion 3

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It seemed very unlikely that Luigi’s Mansion would become a recurring franchise for Nintendo following the original GameCube game, but here we are. Luigi’s Mansion 3 is coming to Switch, which also means it will be the first home console release since the original game back in 2003. This time the game is set in a haunted hotel rather than a mansion, and Luigi has some new tricks up his sleeves to take down all those ghosts. Luigi’s Mansion 3 will launch exclusively for Nintendo Switch on October 31st.

Death Stranding

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If you’re looking for the most ambitious (and weirdest) game still coming in 2019, then look no further. Hideo Kojima’s Death Stranding has perplexed gamers ever since its announcement, and each new trailer that releases just brings more and more questions to the table. It is Kojima’s first game since breaking up with Konami after the release of Metal Gear Solid V: The Phanton Pain (and the cancellation of Silent Hills), and it looks like Kojima has taken the newfound complete creative control to deliver something truly original. Death Stranding launches exclusively for PS4 on November 8th.

Pokemon Sword & Shield

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At this point we all know what to expect from a new Pokemon game, and Sword and Shield seems poised to deliver even more cute creatures for players to capture and battle very soon. What sets Sword and Shield apart from its predecessors is that it will be the first home console release for the series, which is saying something considering the series has been around for over 20 years. Pokemon Sword & Shield launches exclusively for Switch on November 15th.

Shenmue III

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If you’re a fan of Shenmue then nothing needs to be said for the inclusion of the upcoming third game on this list. Fans of the series have been waiting nearly two decades for a follow-up to the second game, and in just a couple of months that will finally be delivered to them. Brought to life thanks to an extremely successful Kickstarter campaign, the game continues the adventure of protagonist Ryo Hazuki as he hunts down his father’s killer. Shenmue III will launch for PS4 and PC on November 19th.

DOOM Eternal

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id Software’s DOOM 2016 was one of the best FPS games to come along in years, so it’s a no-brainer that the follow-up would be on this list. Eternal is set to offer yet another intense FPS campaign for players to plunge into, while also offering a multiplayer component that greatly improves upon the last game’s underwhelming multiplayer mode. There will also be twice as many demon types than there was in the last game, meaning that the chaos level just got that much higher. DOOM Eternal launches for PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Google Stadia and PC on November 22nd.

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5 Most Exciting Announcements From The Xbox E3 2019 Press Conference

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Microsoft E3 2019

Microsoft’s Xbox E3 2019 Press Conference has officially come to an end, and with it came plenty of big announcements to get excited about. Some new games were announced, whereas previously-announced games got new footage and/or release dates. In this article we’ve narrowed it all down to the 5 most exciting announcements.

New Xbox “Project Scarlett” Coming Holiday 2020

We’ve known for a while now that a new Xbox was in the works, but now we know when to expect it. Microsoft’s fourth console (which hopefully has a better official name than Xbox One did) will be a big step up from the previous console. Things like much faster load times, an AMD Processor that is four times more powerful than the Xbox One X, 8K Resolution and 120 FPS were all mentioned. A price and exact release date weren’t mentioned. It will also be launching with…

Halo Infinite Coming Holiday 2020, Launching On Both Xbox One and Project Scarlett

The wait for the next Halo game has been longer than ever before for series fans, and the announcement at E3 revealed that the wait will continue. Halo Infinite will not be launching until Holiday 2020, meaning it will have been 5 years since the previous game released with Halo 5. It will also be launching on Xbox One and Project Scarlett, meaning the new console will have a big launch title for fans to get pumped about.

Cyberpunk 2077 Coming April 2020, Stars Keanu Reeves

It’s hard to pick a game that people have been more excited about than Cyberpunk 2077, and after Microsoft’s press conference we’re even more excited. Not only is it coming in April of next year, but Keanu Reeves himself will be playing a “key” role in the game. Everything shown from the game has looked great so far, so hopefully it all pans out and we have another classic from CD Projekt RED come April 2020.

FromSoftware and George R.R. Martin Collaboration Elden Ring Announced

This one was actually leaked prior to the presentation, but Dark Souls developer FromSoftware and Game of Thrones author George R.R. Martin are collaborating on a new game. The game is called Elden Ring, and it will be a departure from the developer’s most recent games as it will be open world. Very little information on the game is known at this point, as it is still in the early stages of development.

Phantasy Star Online 2 Is Coming West

It took a very long time, but the popular MMORPG is finally coming west. The game is coming to Xbox One in a free-to-play form in Spring 2020, so the wait won’t be that much longer. “There will be no limitations on game experiences,”says Sega, because they want to “provide all players with a fair and exciting experience.”

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