Sony Announced Games
The Last Guardian: Sony opened their show with the reconfirmation of The Last Guardian’s existence, a title revealed for the PS3 in 2009 and rumored to be canceled outright. We were treated to the first ever gameplay footage on PS4, as well as a 2016 release window.
Where is it now?
The Last Guardian was given an Oct. 25 release date at E3 2016, and was later delayed to Dec. 6. Though a number of technical issues in gameplay and framerate bump the experience, it was one of the most emotionally touching adventures of the year.
Horizon: Zero Dawn: Guerrilla Games took the stage to announce an entirely new franchise, one centered around nature and robot dinosaurs. We got a lot of dramatic environment shots and some dino-fighting gameplay, but no release window.
Where is it now?
Horizon: Zero Dawn, after being delayed out of 2016, is set to release on Feb. 28, 2017. We’ve seen a little more gameplay since then, as well as a new trailer that outlines more of the main narrative.
The New Hitman: IO Interactive’s take on Agent 47 premiered at E3 2015, promising exotic locations, high priority targets, and “the most ambitious Hitman ever created.” The team also emphasized its expanding world and PlayStation exclusive content.
Where is it now?
In January 2016, it was revealed that this new Hitman would be released episodically, and its first episode launched on Mar. 11, 2016 after a delay from Dec. 8, 2015. The PS4 version included six exclusive missions, collectively titled The Sarajevo Six. Over the course of 2016, IO Interactive continued to release new missions, episodes, and special limited-time contracts, with the final Hitman episode releasing on Oct. 31, 2016. The team is now preparing for Hitman’s return in season 2.
Dreams: Media Molecule (LittleBigPlanet) had been speaking and showcasing bits of Dreams since Gamescom 2012, but the game saw its official announcement at E3 2015. It’s hoping to capture the surreal feeling of lucid dreaming, allowing players to create their own dream worlds, and explore those of others. We saw a touch of gameplay, as well as some polar bears and zombies.
Where is it now?
At Paris Games Week, the developer announced a Dreams beta to arrive in 2016. Later on, the team said they were delaying this beta due to the unexpected “enormity” of the project, promising more updates in 2017.
Destiny: The Taken King: Following a series of hefty leaks, Bungie officially unveiled the next Destiny expansion, The Taken King, on Sony’s E3 2015 conference stage. Set to release Sept. 15, 2015, it featured Oryx as the primary antagonist, new supers, and exclusive day-one content for the PS4.
Where is it now?
The Taken King released right on time, alongside a massive Year Two patch for Destiny as a whole. Activision later reported that it was “the most downloaded day-one game in PlayStation history and set a new day-one franchise benchmark for both total players and peak online concurrency.” Its PlayStation-exclusive content consisted of a quest (Show of Strength), a ship (Timeless Tereshkova), and a Crucible map (Icarus).
World of Final Fantasy: Not the Final Fantasy announcement everyone was hoping for, World of Final Fantasy made its chibi debut on Sony’s stage and was given a PS4 and Vita release window of 2016.
Where is it now?
World of Final Fantasy landed in the US on Oct. 25, 2016 to fairly positive reception.
Final Fantasy VII Remake: And then there was the Final Fantasy announcement we did want. Final Fantasy VII Remake blew the conference stage to bits, pulling a standing ovation and rocketing Square Enix’s stock to its highest level since 2008. We got a very small glimpse of the game’s world and characters, as well as the news that it was “coming first to PlayStation 4.”
Where is it now?
There’s been little word on Final Fantasy VII Remake since its announcement, particularly since Square Enix has had its hands full getting Final Fantasy XV out the door. We do know it will feature a unique, more action-based combat system, and that it will be released in three separate parts. According to a Square Enix statement, “Each entry will have its own unique story. As a gaming experience, each entry will have the volume of content equal to a full-sized game.”
Most recently, director Tetsuya Nomura said the game still has a ways to go. “We’re steadily progressing on production,” he told Famitsu this January. “While we are making them, I apologize that the wait will be be a bit longer for Kingdom Hearts III and Final Fantasy VII Remake. I am very sorry, but to that degree I will make a game that will meet your expectations.”
Shenmue III Kickstarter: Shenmue III launched its Kickstarter campaign during the show, hoping to bring a sequel to the first two games to PlayStation 4 and PC. Their target release date was revealed to be December 2017, if the project was funded.
Where is it now?
And oh boy, was it funded. The campaign reached its $2 million initial goal in under nine hours, and today sits at $6,333,295 pledged. We’ve seen a small trickle of screenshots since then, and in December 2016, the team said they were entering “the final phases of R&D.”
“Main game scenarios are nearing completion, motion capture tests are well under way, and voicing tests with the cast have begun,” one December developer update reads. “Yu-san and the production staff are happy to say they are enjoying the work as they continue to diligently make progress on the mini-games, events, and battles.”
Creator Yu Suzuki also chimed in as the year closed out: “I have been completely absorbed in development Shenmue III recently, and often stay at the studio throughout the night to make it the best game possible. My life has become Shenmue both day and night, and I’m happy.”
RIGS: Mechanized Combat League: PSVR was still Project Morpheus at the time, and on their E3 2015 stage, Sony announced RIGS for their still mysterious VR platform.
Where is it now?
RIGS released as a PSVR launch title on Oct. 13, 2016. On Jan. 12, 2017, Sony confirmed the planned shutdown of the game’s 19-year-old developer, Guerrilla Cambridge. In a statement, Sony said that “in order to deliver on our strategic objectives, it is necessary to make some changes to the European studios structure.”
Sony Showcased Games
Street Fighter V: Sony revealed two new characters, Birdie and Cammy, for their console exclusive, as well as details on a Summer beta for those who pre-ordered on PS4.
Where is it now?
The five-day beta did begin in July, but was taken down early due to heavy server issues and brought back later in August. Street Fighter V fully launched Feb. 16, 2016, but suffered from server problems and a noticeable lack of content. In July of 2016, Capcom released a free update containing a single-player story mode.
No Man’s Sky: Sean Murray gave a hands-on demo of No Man’s Sky’s universe, showing off the game’s map and gameplay mechanics like scanning and resource collecting.
Where is it now?
No Man’s Sky was later given a release date of June 21, then delayed to and released on Aug. 9 (Aug. 12 on PC). The PC version was severely handicapped by technical issues, and while the title’s scope was impressive, many players lamented its lack of features. In November 2016, Hello Games released the free Foundation Update, which added base-building to the game.
Firewatch: During the show, Sony only said Firewatch would be making its console debut on PlayStation, though Campo Santo took to the PlayStation blog during E3 to announce it as a console exclusive.
Where is it now?
Firewatch released on PlayStation 4 and PC on Feb. 9, 2016, though later came to Xbox One on Sept. 21. Campo Santo has also released a Free Roam mode, a developer commentary audio tour, and a limited physical run of the game.
Assassin’s Creed Syndicate: Ubisoft dropped by the Sony conference to showcase footage of Assassin’s Creed Syndicate, focusing on Evie and her stealthy, precise gameplay. They also revealed that the 10 side missions of The Dreadful Crimes DLC would be exclusive to PS4 on launch.
Where is it now?
The game released on PS4, Xbox One, and PC on Oct. 23, 2015, facing far fewer launch issues than its predecessor, Unity. The Dreadful Crimes later came to PC in March of 2016.
Batman: Arkham Knight: A trailer for Batman: Arkham Knight teased a cremated Joker and the death of Batman. The PlayStation 4 version would feature exclusive Scarecrow Nightmare missions, classic TV series Batman and Batmobile skins, and a Justice League 3000 Batman skin. The game was set to release a week later, on June 23, 2015.
Where is it now?
While Arkham Knight did release on June 23, sales of its PC version were suspended from June 24 to Oct. 28. The title suffered debilitating crashes, stutters, and frame rate drops on even high-end PCs, and after numerous patches, the October version still faced technical issues. Throughout the ordeal, Warner Bros. offered full refunds for PC players.
Ronin, Eitr, Mother Russia Bleeds, and Crossing Souls: Four titles from Devolver Digital would be making their console debut on PlayStation.
Where are they now?
Ronin hit PS4 back in November 2016, and we haven’t heard much from Eitr since June 2016, when it was quietly delayed to 2017. Meanwhile, Mother Russia Bleeds hit the platform in December 2016, and we’re not entirely sure as to the fate of Crossing Souls. In December 2016, the team began sending out early preview build Steam keys to their crowdfunding backers, and their Kickstarter page notes that the PC version is taking priority over PlayStation ports. The game’s Steam page currently lists a Spring 2017 release date.
Call of Duty: Black Ops III: Sony announced their new Activision partnership with single and multiplayer gameplay footage of Call of Duty: Black Ops III. PlayStation owners would be the first to gain access to the multiplayer beta in August, as well as all future map packs.
Where is it now?
The game landed a few months later on Nov. 6, 2015, and has since released all four of its map packs, all of which arrived a month early on PlayStation 4. Activision and Sony’s partnership continues with Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare, whose first DLC hits PS4 Jan. 31, 2017, and Xbox One and PC at a yet unannounced later date.
Disney Infinity 3.0: The third entry in Disney’s Infinity lineup proudly presented its first Star Wars figures. We saw the world premier trailer for the Rise Against the Empire playset, as well as the PlayStation exclusive Disney Infinity 3.0 starter pack that offered Boba Fett as well as the Twilight of the Republic and Rise Against the Empire playsets a month earlier than their release on other platforms.
Where is it now?
Disney Infinity 3.0 launched May 5, 2015 and would be the last entry in this toys to life series. A year later, on May 10, 2016, Disney announced it would be shutting down the Infinity series and its studio, Avalanche Software, citing a lack of confidence in the business’s future.
Star Wars Battlefront: Sony’s partnership with Lucasfilm struck again when DICE arrived to showcase Star Wars Battlefront and its Walker Assault battles before the game’s Nov. 17 release.
Where is it now?
Xbox One players were able to get their hands on Battlefront on Nov. 12 through EA’s Early Access program. In December of 2016, PS4 owners of Battlefront received the free Star Wars Battlefront Rogue One: X-wing VR Mission, playable using PlayStation VR.
Uncharted 4: Closing out the show was Uncharted 4, whose demo kicked off with a controller error that left Nathan Drake frozen in the streets of Madagascar. A quick restart and a little collective awkwardness put everything back on track.
Where is it now?
A couple of months after E3 2015, Uncharted 4 received a Mar. 18, 2016 release date. This was later pushed to Apr. 26, and then again to the final date of May 10. The game closed out the main Uncharted franchise and, in honor of its E3 demo, included a trophy earned by standing still for 30 seconds at the start of the same Madagascar level.
Uncharted 4’s single player DLC, The Lost Legacy, was recently revealed at PlayStation Experience 2016. Due some time in 2017, the standalone story follows Chloe and Nadine through India and a quest for the long lost Tusk of Ganesh.
Microsoft Announced Games
ReCore: We first met ReCore at Microsoft’s E3 2015 conference. The new title from Keiji Inafune was to release in the Spring of 2016.
Where it is now?
ReCore was delayed and released on Sept. 13, 2016 for both Xbox One and PC, becoming the first game of Microsoft’s Play Anywhere initiative. Microsoft launched the game with a $40 price, hoping to build a strong fanbase for the franchise, but ReCore opened to less than positive reception.
Backwards compatibility: Arguably Microsoft’s biggest announcement was the backwards compatibility program for the Xbox One, allowing users to play their older games natively (and for free) on the current-gen console.
Where is it now?
Backwards Compatibility launched in November of 2015 with 104 games. Its library continues to grow to this day, sporting over 300 titles at the start of 2017.
Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare 2: After announcing EA Access for the Xbox One, EA brought in the official announcement and world premier trailer of the second Plants vs. Zombies game (though it had been technically revealed in an earnings report a month earlier). Wacky weed warfare was due for Spring 2016.
Where is it now?
PvZ: Garden Warfare 2 landed on PS4, Xbox One, and PC on Feb. 23, 2016. In the following months, it would receive three free content updates that brought new characters, maps, and challenges.
Dark Souls III: The fourth Souls entry debuted on Microsoft’s stage, aiming for an early 2016 release.
Where is it now?
Dark Souls III launched worldwide on Apr. 12, 2016. Its first expansion, Ashes of Ariandel, explored the Painted World of Ariandel in October, and the second DLC is expected some time in 2017.
Ion: Dean Hall, creator of DayZ, took the stage to announce Ion, “a game that is not a game.” It was to be a universe built on the laws of science, “a simulation MMO that explores mankind’s expansion into space.” Hall unveiled a short, mysterious trailer that ended on a “Coming Soon,” and said the title would be hitting PC and the Xbox Game Preview (AKA early access) program.
Where is it now?
Ion went silent after 2015, with no updates available on the team’s Twitter, Facebook, or web page. The latter recommends you check out the Ion subreddit, as “those guys are on it.” So we checked the subreddit, and it’s generally a collection of abandonment at this point.
Rare Replay: In honor of the studio’s 30th Anniversary, Rare announced a collection of 30 games to release on Xbox One on Aug. 4, 2015.
Where is it now?
Following Rare Replay’s release, owners of the game had special testing period access to Battletoads character Rash in Killer Instinct Season 3.
Sea of Thieves: Rare also took their time on stage to reveal the exclusive Sea of Thieves, a shared world pirate game with no release window just yet, dubbed “the most ambitious game Rare has ever created.”
Where is it now?
Initially intended for a 2016 release, Sea of Thieves was delayed to 2017, though Rare keeps the game’s website up to date with new gameplay vlogs and developer interviews. In December of 2016, Sea of Thieves saw a small technical alpha that gave 1000 players first (and NDA-bound) access to the game.
Minecraft on Hololens: Microsoft flexed their in-development AR technology by playing Minecraft on a table.
Where is it now?
The Hololens became commercially available in 2016, though we haven’t seen much more of Minecraft for the device. Demonstrations at Minecon a month after E3 2015, however, revealed that the experience is a little more limited than what was demonstrated at Microsoft’s conference.
Gears of War: Ultimate Edition: Noting that the first Gears of War debuted on Microsoft’s stage 10 years ago, co-creator Rod Fergusson announced Gears of War: Ultimate Edition, a remastered version of the series’ first title. It would be hitting Xbox One in 1080p, and with 60 FPS multiplayer, on August 25, 2015.
Where is it now?
The remastered edition encountered a pretty severe display issue on launch, though updates later cleared this up. Gears of War: Ultimate Edition later released on PC Mar. 1, 2016.
Gears of War 4: The fun wasn’t over for Gears fans just yet, as Fergusson continued to reveal a new entry in the series, due holiday 2016.
Where is it now?
Gears of War 4 released Oct. 11, 2016, introducing to the series a new enemy faction, the Swarm, and a new squad led by Marcus Fenix’s son, JD Fenix.
Microsoft Showcased Games
Halo 5: Guardians: Microsoft kicked things off with a long look at the newest Halo entry, first announced at E3 2013. It promised to reveal Master Chief and Spartan Locke’s uncertain allegiances on Oct. 27, 2015. Franchise Development Director Frank O’Connor also promised it wouldn’t share the same launch day network issues as The Master Chief Collection.
Where is it now?
Halo 5 managed to launch on time and without any major server problems. The game has since received a number of new mods, maps, and a free PC creation tool called Halo 5: Forge, which lets players create and play custom maps.
Fallout 4: Bethesda’s highly anticipated RPG, due to release Nov. 10 of that year, hit the stage for a long demo and the announcement of free console modding on the Xbox One.
Where is it now?
Fallout 4 received six sets of downloadable content — three Workshop add-ons (Wasteland Workshop, Contraptions Workshop, and Vault-Tec Workshop) along with three more comprehensive, story-based updates (Automatron, Far Harbor, and Nuka-World).
Fallout 4 modding for the Xbox One arrived on May 31, 2016. The feature appeared on PlayStation 4 later that year, in November. Unlike modding on the Xbox One, however, PlayStation 4 mods would not be able to use any external assets, limiting creations to textures, voice lines, and models already in-game.
Forza Motorsport 6: Microsoft brought in Henry Ford III and lowered a Ford GT from the ceiling to celebrate Forza Motorsport 6, set to release Sept. 15.
Where is it now?
After the game’s launch, Microsoft and Turn 10 Studios continued their partnership (and Ford love) with a Forza 6 limited edition console and three Ford controllers.
Tom Clancy’s The Division: Ubisoft dropped by to announce an Xbox-exclusive beta for The Division in December, while PlayStation and PC players would have to wait until 2016.
Where is it now?
The beta was pushed to 2016, and Xbox players instead got exclusive access to an alpha in December. Come January, those on Microsoft’s platform had access to the closed beta a day earlier than PS4 or PC players. Xbox also had a one-day headstart on the open beta in February.
The Division got two free updates and three paid DLC expansions after its Mar. 8, 2016 release. Two of these paid expansions, Underground and Survival, were available 30 days early on Xbox One. Due to a number of heavy bugs and balance issues, Ubisoft delayed the last two expansions in order to focus on repair.
Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege: Ubisoft’s second presentation was a trailer release date for the next Rainbow Six title. It would release on Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC Oct. 13, 2015, though the Xbox version would include Rainbow Six Vegas and Vegas 2 via Xbox Backwards Compatibility.
Where is it now?
Rainbow Six Siege was delayed to Dec. 1, 2015, and received four expansion packs over the course of 2016. Ubisoft recently revealed their plan for Year 2, which will bring more maps and operators starting Feb. 2017.
Gigantic: Motiga’s free-to-play MOBA showcased a new trailer and August 2015 beta date.
Where is it now?
Its been a rough road for this PC/Xbox exclusive. Originally slated for holiday 2015, Gigantic was delayed to 2016 following closed beta feedback. The longer schedule and the team’s limited resources resulted in 16 Motiga layoffs in December. The company continued to face financial struggles, temporarily laying off a “significant” number of staff members in February 2016, and leaving the future of Gigantic uncertain. Things began looking up in May, when Motiga announced a partnership with publisher Perfect World Entertainment and renewed their goal to launch the game. The game’s beta is currently open on Xbox One and Windows 10.
“It has been a long road to this point, and we’ve been humbled by the amount of love and support that has come from the community throughout the journey,” said Motiga CEO Chris Chung. “There were friends who wanted to raise money for the studio through donations and crowdfunding. I received daily messages of encouragement in my inbox from our fans; it’s been an incredibly grateful experience.”
Tacoma: The makers of Gone Home brought Tacoma to Microsoft’s conference, a mysterious game set to release on PC and Xbox One in 2016.
Where is it now?
Tacoma was delayed into 2017 after playtest feedback pushed the team to “reexamine and rework a number of the core assumptions” they had for the title.
Ashen: This Xbox console exclusive appeared with little explanation and no release date. Ashen is set in a grim, gray world where relationships are core to survival.
Where is it now?
We’ve not really heard much from Ashen since then. The game’s website offers a little more insight into gameplay, but the title still has no launch date.
Beyond Eyes: This title looked to create a world from the point of view of a blind, young girl. Beyond Eyes was to release first on Xbox One and PC in Summer 2015.
Where is it now?
Beyond Eyes quietly released on Xbox One on Aug. 4, 2015. It later reached PC on Aug. 11 and PlayStation 4 on Sept. 8.
Cuphead: Inspired by 1930s cartoons, Cuphead was one of the more unique titles on display at Microsoft’s conference. The console exclusive was “coming 1936, (Plus eighty years)”
Where is it now?
Cuphead was delayed to 2017 to avoid reducing the scope of the studio’s vision.
Rise of the Tomb Raider: We saw world premier gameplay of Rise of the Tomb Raider during the conference. Unlike its predecessor, this Tomb Raider reboot title was introduced as an Xbox exclusive, and given a Nov. 10 release date.
Where is it now?
Rise of the Tomb Raider came to PC in January of 2016, and in October reached PlayStation 4 as a special 20 Year Celebration edition that included all DLC, a harder difficulty level, a co-op update to Endurance mode, classic Lara skins, the Blood Ties story chapter, the Lara’s Nightmare challenge, and the ability to play Blood Ties in PSVR.
Fable Legends: A portion of the show was dedicated to reminding us that Fable Legends, a free-to-play Microsoft exclusive from Lionhead Studios, was in development and coming holiday 2015.
Where is it now?
At the end of 2015, Fable Legends was delayed into 2016 to allow for extra polish. The team simultaneously announced a beta scheduled for Spring 2016, though this never arrived. In March, Microsoft announced the game’s cancellation, and Lionhead Studios shut its doors in April after 20 years of development.
Published: Jan 17, 2017 02:26 pm