Sony’s announcement that they won’t be attending E3 2019 – the first time they will be sitting out E3 since its inception – was one that shocked the entire industry. While some have suggested that a lack of new things to show or wanting to save huge announcements for the next generation are the primary reasons for them skipping the show next year, others have suggested that they might just be done with E3 altogether. According to Wedbush Securities analyst Michael Pachter, though, 2019 is a one-off occurrence, and doesn’t mean that Sony are going to be absent from E3 beyond 2019 as well.

While speaking with GamingBolt, Pachter said that Sony missing E3 2019 is a bad decision on their part, but that they will be back at E3 sooner rather than later. “I think it’s a one-off,” he said. “I think they made a bad decision. I think they somehow internally determined that the money’s not well spent- and they’re wrong. I don’t know what they spend on E3, but even if it’s $15 million, they get $15 million of publicity out of it. So I think they’re fools to bypass the show. And they’ll be back.”

Pachter was also critical of Sony’s E3 2018 conference – which was roundly criticized for its bizarre and misguided experimentation, in spite of great showings for games like Ghost of Tsushima and The Last of Us Part 2, and announcements for titles like Resident Evil 2 and Nioh 2.

“They had that stupid walk-through that nobody understood, and it just wasn’t fun. And I think they probably spent a ton on that,” he said. “And they’re very much guys who don’t acknowledge that they did anything wrong, so they just take their ball and go home, because it didn’t work well.”

When asked about why he thought Sony had skipped PlayStation Experience in 2018 as well, Pachter said that it was a combination of not having new things to show, and gearing up for the next generation. “Again- no games,” he said. “So I think it’s all related to gearing up for the next generation console. They’ll probably announce the next-gen console in Spring of 2020, and have their own event- maybe they’ll call it PSX. Maybe there’s a PSX in December of 2019, and they announce their next-gen console then.”

Given recent speculation for a PS5 reveal in 2019, and Sony also teasing announcements for the year, it’s highly likely that they will have something major to show in the second half of the year, so a PS5 reveal event close to or even at PSX 2019 seems quite likely. Then again, that’s little more than speculation.

Out full interview with Pachter will be going live soon, so stay tuned.

CD Projekt RED’s Cyberpunk 2077 is a ways off – that is, if you ignore the recent rumours about it possibly releasing in 2019 for Xbox One, PS4, and PC. Though a lot has been made about the game’s optimization, it’s certainly interesting to see the developer showcase the much-discussed hour long gameplay demo. After all, it was meant for behind-closed-doors at E3 2018 and skipped Gamescom 2018 entirely.

We’ve already been told numerous times that it probably wouldn’t be the same game at launch – studio head/game director Adam Badowski outright said as much, even when the demo had so many clarifications already. So what motivated the reveal? Could the downgrade drama that struck The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt have been a motivating factor?

Recently, we had a good, long chat about Cyberpunk 2077 with level designer Miles Tost. We asked him if there was every any apprehension in the studio about releasing the 50 minute footage to the public at large, in light of the mini-controversy that was kicked up regarding The Witcher 3’s alleged downgrades. According to Tost, that was never really much of a factor. He gave the following response: “The demo gameplay video was recorded from a work in progress version of the game and we were a bit uncertain if we should release it to the general public as we didn’t want to commit to any particular design. A lot can change between now and launch, but you can be certain that we’re not going to release a game we’re not happy with.” So from the sound of it, The Witcher 3’s controversy didn’t play any part in the reveal.

Regarding whether emergent gameplay mechanics would be seen in Cyberpunk 2077, Tost said that it’s “too early to really talk about this”.

“If it makes sense, and if we could pull it off in a way that feels organic and meets our quality standards, then maybe,” he said. “But we’re certainly not going to be artificially extending the playtime by pushing more content into the game. If it can add to our story-driven experience in a meaningful way, we’re not closed off to anything. Personally, I think our strength lies in creating handcrafted experiences.”

What are your thoughts on Cyberpunk 2077, especially at this stage of development? Let us know in the comments and stay tuned for our full interview with Miles in the future.

This has been quite a good year for Xbox so far, and Microsoft has talked about some of their plans for the future of the console and gaming, while Xbox head Phil Spencer has also spoken about the growing importance of Xbox to Microsoft. As we enter the fourth quarter of the year, Xbox’s GM of Marketing Aaron Greenberg discussed the company’s acquisitions of various studios ,which they had first announced at E3.

Greenberg talked to MCVUK about how the company was really serious in wanting to invest more into first-party studios, and this is what led to the acquisitions. He stated,”If you think about the teams we acquired, these folks are best in class, they make really high-quality games, but the games they make are very different to our existing franchises. Of course Playground is making Horizon, but they’re also going to have a second team making something entirely different. We have a centre of excellence in the UK, we have Rare, we now have Ninja Theory and Playground, and those teams can work together to share tech and infrastructure, that has a lot of benefits.”

In fact, it was a deliberate decision to focus on studios in the UK, since the government there has been “very supportive of the games industry.” Greenberg also went on to emphasize that these studios will remain creatively independent, while Microsoft is able to provide financial security and the required technology. He said, “This was first and foremost about finding the world’s greatest teams, who can bring new types of content to our first-party studios, and allow them to continue to operate independently. If you think about a game like Hellblade, how many big companies would have greenlit a game like that? But it’s brilliant and it addresses a lot of important issues. Those are the types of teams that really inspire us and it’s a privilege to be able to work with them. For them to become part of our team provides financial security, access to resources and tech capabilities, and still the creative independence to go and do what they want to do. These teams they would have never wanted to partner and work with us if that wasn’t part of the conditions. I think we have a good track record of doing that: look at Mojang, which has stayed independent and stayed focused.”

Overall, the past few months have been great for Microsoft and Xbox, and it looks like they are interested in continuing to invest more in first-party studios at some point. Greenberg stated, “It’s an exciting time, we’ve essentially doubled our creative studios overnight, and it just shows that commitment to invest more.” Let’s just hope for some good output in the not-so-distant future.

While Sony showed off some truly spectacular games during their E3 show this year – apart from Death Stranding, The Last of Us Part 2, Ghost of Tsushima, and Spider-Man, they also debuted footage of Resident Evil 2‘s long awaited remake on their stage, for example – their show was widely deemed to be suboptimal.

A lot of this had to do with their bizarre format- it was a deep dive into the four first party games mentioned above, involving two live venues, with the audience having to switch from one to the other partway into the show (and an awkward, brief interlude for everyone at home), one that added, well, nothing of note to the proceedings- especially if you were not actually attending the show in person, which most PlayStation fans around the world were not.

Speaking to The Guardian, Simon Rutter, Sony Europe’s chief operating officer explained that the intention had been to create some “drama” during the show, and to try and recapture the spirit of the games for the live audience via the elaborate sets they had constructed.

“The reception I think has been mixed,” he said. “People have really enjoyed the games themselves, and appreciated the quality of what we showed. There was also some appreciation of what we were trying to do with the construction of the event, with some criticism as to how that actually flowed, the pacing and the logistics. For the last three years, we’ve been trying to inject a bit of drama and theatrics into the proceedings, to make it more than a simple presentation. We tried to evoke the spirit of the games.”

He also talked about the criticisms thrown Sony’s way for not having anything new to show, pointing out that games take a long time to develop, and it is not always possible to have a surprise or a megaton up the sleeves to surprise fans every year.

“Some of the coverage this year has been a bit critical of the lack of new stuff, probably a consequence of people announcing things when they are early in production. Some of that is to do with the fear of leaks, of not being able to present the title in the way that the creator wants it to be presented. But the desire [for new announcements] is met with the reality of the production timescale: how long it actually takes you to release a game.”

That last part, at least, is fair- I agree games take a long time to make, and that that is definitely a reality Sony must contend with, which is why new game announcement surprises aren’t always possible. But I disagree with their new format for their E3 show entirely- I disagreed with it back at E3, and I do so even more vehemently now. I can only hope Sony goes back to the traditional stage show next year, a format they have already mastered at this point- at least they seem to be aware of the criticisms generated by their showing this year, if nothing else.

It’s easy to forget how amazing Resident Evil 2 was when it first released for the PlayStation in 1998. Capcom did a great job reminding us when the new Resident Evil 2 was showcased at E3 2018. Though dubbed a “remake” even up to the reveal, the developer has stated that it’s more of a reimagining in many ways.

Whatever the case may be, even with the new over-the-should perspective, the influence of Resident Evil 7: Biohazard can’t be discounted. Released in 2017, the first person horror title brought the series back to its survival horror roots and showcased exactly what the RE Engine was capable of. But does that mean virtual-reality support will be in Resident Evil 2, just like it was with Resident Evil 7?

Speaking to Daily Star, producer Tsuyoshi Kanda stated, “We’re not thinking about VR support currently, given that the camera perspective and the over-the-shoulder choice would mean that VR is not the best way to present the game. VR doesn’t match the vision for us.”

What about the rat’s eye view that we saw in the E3 trailer? Producer Yoshiaki Hirabayashi answered “Thinking about it, maybe giving you the rat’s eye view in the trailer might have given people the wrong idea! But if you think there is Rat VR coming… that’s not the case.”

Regardless, Resident Evil 2 should still be a compelling horror game when it releases on January 25th, 2019 for Xbox One, PS4 and PC. Along with numerous changes, it will also sport an “enhanced narrative” compared to the original, according to Capcom.

Bioware’s Anthem continues to receive a steady stream of updates courtesy of executive producer Mark Darrah on Twitter. Darrah recently answered questions about AI companions and what exactly the EA Play 2018 demo was running on.

When quizzed about whether the demo was running on a GeForce GTX 1080 and whether it was in 4K/60 FPS, Darrah responded, “It was 2 [GeForce GTX ] 1080TIs. It was running at 4K/60.” Another interesting question was whether solo players would have AI companions joining them on missions.

This doesn’t seem to be the case, sadly, so don’t expect a situation similar to Ghost Recon: Wildlands where three AI companions follow you everywhere while playing solo. Darrah did state in an earlier tweet that there would be matchmaking for everything. So if you want to partake in Strongholds or other Elder Game activities, there will be other players available.

Finally, one user asked if it was possible to avoid looting certain items since drops would automatically be sent back to the Strider/Fort Tarsis at the end of sessions. Darrah said that this is currently planned for “items above a certain rarity tier”. This could mean that Common-tier weapons and equipment get left on the battlefield. If the drops aren’t all that significant after a point, it’s not a huge loss.

Anthem will be releasing on February 22nd 2019 for Xbox One, PS4 and PC.

It was 2 1080TIs
It was running 4K 60 https://t.co/I9TU5tk98n

— Mark Darrah (@BioMarkDarrah) July 10, 2018

If you are playing alone there will not be AI players joining you https://t.co/Qw5Lh7CIdV

— Mark Darrah (@BioMarkDarrah) July 10, 2018

You can use matchmaking for everything https://t.co/dcR8eCdqXH

— Mark Darrah (@BioMarkDarrah) July 10, 2018

That is the current plan for items above a certain rarity tier https://t.co/VRmUG4RzGu

— Mark Darrah (@BioMarkDarrah) July 10, 2018

id Software’s RAGE 2 isn’t out until Spring 2019, but it’s had quite the wild ride already. The infamous Walmart Canada leak first brought the game to light, and coupled with teasers that Bethesda was running around the same time, it seemed almost planned. Almost.

Speaking to GamesIndustry.biz, id Software studio director Tim Willits discussed the leak’s timing and how it was “actually quite nice for us.” That’s because the plan was always to reveal the game before E3 2018 to avoid comparisons with the similarly post-apocalyptic Fallout 76. After the retail listing leak, plans were slightly moved up.

“It turned out so well that a number of journalists were like, ‘You guys planned that right?’ No, we didn’t plan it,” said Willits. He also called Fallout 76 “a 55,000-ton gorilla we have to compete with,” further justifying the pre-E3 reveal.

“That’s why I positioned this as the post-post-apocalyptic game,” he said. “From the story and the different biomes we’ve created, we tried to evolve the game past the 50 shades of brown we had in Rage and [Rage 2 developer] Avalanche had in Mad Max. So we really embraced the colours, the vibrancy of the personalities, the characters, the story, and of course the marketing, which has done really well for us. You have to be at the top of the scale, otherwise, you’re just at that bottom. You’re ballast.”

That being said, isn’t it somewhat concerning that Bethesda is making adjustments so that it’s own post-apocalyptic titles don’t cannibalize each other? What is the appeal of the setting and why does it remain so popular?

Willits says, “The reason we like the setting is it’s grounded in things people can understand, or easily imagine, but it’s set in the future where we can have sci-fi stuff because we’re a bunch of sci-fi nerds. So we can create these over-the-top weapons and over-the-top creatures, but we can ground it in something people know – ‘Oh yeah, this could be our new future.’

“We can have these high fantasy, sci-fi-type experiences and over-the-top action in a world that people may not be able to directly relate to, but they can relate to it easier than some super fantasy alien world. We don’t have to explain buildings and roads and all that; people understand it, and then they come on the journey with us.”

Despite wanting to avoid being compared to Fallout 76, RAGE 2 has plenty of its own unique properties. It’s more light-hearted (not unlike Gearbox’s Borderlands franchise) and experiments with a wider range of colours. Willits that it’s focusing on “fun, over-the-top violence” as opposed to the “mean violence” that other developers may go with. “There are some serious elements to Rage 2, but we’re making fun games, and they need to be fun. We don’t take ourselves too seriously.”

RAGE 2 is currently in development for Xbox One, PS4 and PC.

New details for Bioware’s Anthem have emerged courtesy of executive producer Mark Darrah and lead producer Mike Gamble. While Darrah continues to field questions from fans, Gamble sought to address the difficulty of the demo showcased at EA Play 2018.

First off, map access: Darrah confirmed that the map will be completely accessible from the very beginning. When quizzed whether level scaling is in effect or certain areas were closed off until levelling up, Darrah said, “You can go everywhere. You probably shouldn’t.”

Players will be able to join quests in progress, as you’d expect in any shared world title. However, like Monster Hunter World, there seems to be a time limit. Joining after this time has elapsed will result in limited rewards. That being said, Darrah said there will be “some reward” to encourage players to join late. So, much like Monster Hunter World, expect to receive something for helping out any Freelancers in need.

As for the EA Play demo, Gamble addressed concerns that it seemed “a little easy”. “That footage was with pro-BioWare players (our best) with high-level gear,” he said. “That was intentional so they didn’t die during their 100 live demos. You will be challenged. You will be shot in the face a lot.”

To further drive this point home, Gamble revealed that two of the demo’s players were Bioware employees – producer Scylla Costa and QA project lead Jen Cheverie. “If you think they are newbs then they challenge you to beat their scores in February,” said Gamble.

Anthem will be releasing on February 22nd for Xbox One, PS4 and PC after being delayed (but not really) from its initial Autumn 2018 release.

You can go everywhere.
You probably shouldn’t https://t.co/RjitqopblT

— Mark Darrah (@BioMarkDarrah) July 9, 2018

Yes. Though there will be some reward to encourage late joins https://t.co/3J1K0jkFRR

— Mark Darrah (@BioMarkDarrah) July 9, 2018

A few people mentioned that the gameplay demo looked a little easy. That footage was with pro BioWare players (our best) with high level gear. That was intentional so they didn’t die during their 100 live demos. You will be challenged. You will be shot in the face a lot. pic.twitter.com/i0uInfX2HQ

— Michael Gamble (@GambleMike) July 6, 2018

For those of you wondering, @scyllacosta @jencheverie were two of the players from the demo. If you think they are newbs then they challenge you to beat their scores in February.

— Michael Gamble (@GambleMike) July 6, 2018

Bioware attracted a bit of criticism for its showing of Anthem at E3 2018, most notably because the actual gameplay felt short. That’s because it was an edited down portion of a nearly 20 minute long demo. The demo is now available and showcases more of the matchmaking, Javelins working together, the various abilities of the units and the end fight. Check it out below.

Lead Producer Ben Irving shared his thoughts throughout the video and we learn that low-level players can successfully group with higher-level players. Any loot earned throughout the mission acts much like Destiny’s Engrams – they must be taken back to Fort Tarsis, the hub location, and successfully decoded.

Another interesting fact is that some Legendary weapons are being used by the Javelins here, thus making you wonder about different weapon variations. Though the end boss does feel a little bullet-spongey, the fact that there are multiple stages to the fight is intriguing. One has to wonder whether the encounter will be tuned with feedback as time goes by.

Anthem is out on February 22nd 2019 for Xbox One, PS4 and PC.

From the day it was announced Sony’s Paris Games Week conference, Sucker Punch’s Ghost of Tsushima had a strong battle to fight. Could the gameplay match the stellar production values that the reveal trailer teased? Fortunately, after its recent showing at E3 2018, Ghost of Tsushima appears to be one of the most gorgeous open world action titles to look forward to in the near future.

Of course, we already know that the E3 footage focused on a side mission involving protagonist Jin Sakai and his ally as they ultimately faced off. Aside from the main story and side quests, what else does the island of Tsushima hold for erstwhile players? “All kinds of stuff”, said co-studio head Chris Zimmerman in an interview with GamingBolt. While he didn’t provide explicit details, it does seem that there will be certain samurai activities that players can undertake.

“I think the way to think about that – because I’m not going to answer it, really – is that it’s a game about being a samurai, right? The reason that it is, is that that is such a powerful fantasy that I can tell you, ‘Okay, you’re going to be a samurai,’ and you immediately start thinking of things that you wanted to do.

“And if you can think of something that you’d want to be able to do as a samurai, I guarantee you that we’ve tried to figure out how to fit it into the game. And as time goes on we’ll be showing more of that stuff. But we’ve got to keep some secrets, right? You want to be surprised when you play the game. You don’t wanna know everything.”

Given how fathers had their daughters marry samurai to increase social standing, perhaps that will be one of Jin Sakai’s pursuits? Maybe the practice of tameshigiri, where samurai tested their blades on corpses or criminals sentenced to death? Ghost of Tsushima currently doesn’t have a release date so we’ll have to wait for more information.