THE world’s biggest gaming conference is underway, and there’s plenty to look forward to at E3 2021.
The Los Angeles-based showcase kicked off on June 12, giving gamers their first look at the biggest games coming to Xbox, PlayStation and Nintendo.
- Read the latest stories for PS5
- Keep up-to-date with all the Xbox news
- Read the latest gaming news
Halo Infinite
Let’s begin with one of the most hotly-anticipated releases of 2021, Halo: Infinite.
A new trailer for the long-awaited sci fi shooter was played by Microsoft during its E3 presentation on Sunday.
The company said Halo Infinite will be Master Chief’s biggest challenge yet.
As well as our first look at the game’s multiplayer mode, we also finally got a release date.
The blockbuster Xbox exclusive, delayed last year, which launch this holiday season.
Warning: The trailer contains strong language
Far Cry 6
Next up is another big-hitter in the form of Far Cry 6.
French game maker Ubisoft unveiled a new trailer for the first-person action adventure game on Saturday.
The clip focuses on the game’s villain, Antón Castillo, played by American actor Giancarlo Esposito.
He sure loves playing a villain, having brilliantly played the sinister antagonists in TV dramas both Breaking Bad and The Mandalorian.
Starfield
Bethesda, the team behind Skyrim and Fallout 4, gave gamers a sneak peak at its new title, Starfield.
We don’t know much about the space exploration game, though it appears you’ll pilot spacecraft and explore strange alien planets.
A cinematic trailer created using early in-game footage gave a sneak peak at what to expect.
It also revealed that the game would be out November 11, 2022.
Rainbow Six Extraction
Also announced by Ubisoft over the weekend was a spinoff of its hugelp popular game Rainbow Six Siege.
The new game Rainbow Six Extraction is a fleshed out version of Siege’s zombie mode, Outbreak.
Fun (or more accurately, grim) fact: The game’s original title, Quarantine, was swapped to Extraction as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Ubisoft showed a cinematic trailer ahead of release in September.
Rocksmith+
If you’ve ever fancied learning guitar or bass, then Rocksmith+ may be for you.
Announced by Ubisoft on Saturday, it’s a subscription service that offers interactive music learning.
Essentially, it works a bit like Guitar Hero (remember those games!?) but you’re playing a real instrument.
Rocksmith+ has a tonne of songs for you to pick from stocked in an ever-expanding library, Ubisoft said.
Players can learn to play acoustic, electric, or bass guitar using the software.
They’ve had to wait a long time for the sequel: The original Rocksmith game launched on PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and PC back in 2011/12.
Guardians of the Galaxy
Marvel’s Guardian of the Galaxy is getting its very own video game developed by “Final Fantasy” maker Square Enix.
A trailer unveiled by the Japanese gaming giant shows Star Lord and crew battling aliens across a handful of far-flung planets.
You play Star Lord – played by Chris Pratt in the hit Guardians of the Galaxy movies – in what looks to be a fun third-peron action adventure title.
Avatar: Frontiers on Pandora
Avatar is getting its very own video game 12 years after James Cameron’s CGI blockbuster hit the big screen.
“Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora” is a first person, action-adventure game in which you play as a Na’vi, the blue humanoid aliens from the film.
You’ll explore the lush, exotic moon of Pandora and attempt to protect it from invading humans hoping to exploit it for its natural resources.
Developed by Ubisoft, it’s coming in 2022 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC, Stadia and Luna.
Mario and Rabbids Sparks of Hope
Ubisoft also gave fans a sneak peak of a new crossover between the worlds of Mario and Rayman.
Mario and Rabbids Sparks of Hope will feature a tonne of Nintendo characters as well as Rabbids, the rabbit-like creatures from Rayman.
You’ll explore a cartoon world that mixes elements of both franchises.
Out next year, the game is the the sequel to 2017’s highly popular “Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle”.
What else to expect
Still to come today is Nintendo’s showcase, during which the Japanese tech titan is expected to highlight what’s ahead for the Switch over the next year.
The Electronic Entertainment Expo each year turns the Los Angeles Convention Center into a players’ paradise.
It was cancelled in 2020 because of Covid-19, and went virtual this year with a streamed event.
