While Justin brings you all the big news and impressions hot from the E3 floor over in the main MCP VS E3 article, here’s a few interesting tidbits that might have slipped under your radar:
Killer Instinct will be a “Free” Launch Title for Xbox One.
In an interview with Polygon, Microsoft’s Torin Rettig explained that the game will initially come with one character, and that additional characters and content will be available for paid download. Said Rettig “We wanted there to be basically a wide funnel. We wanted as many players to get in and enjoy the game and experience the game as possible, and to engage in it at a level that they want to engage at.” You can check out the teaser trailer below and decide just how engaged you may want to be. The new Killer Instinct is being developed by Double Helix Games, whose track record is…less than inspiring. As someone who spent a lot (I’m talking a lot) of time playing the original, I’m still worried free may end up being a wee bit on the steep side.
The Last Guardian May or May Not Possibly Be Coming at Some Point (Maybe)
Boy that Last Guardian is a tease isn’t she? The latest game from Team Ico that has been in development for what seems nigh-on decades, and its current state is so mysterious that now even Sony doesn’t seem to know what’s going on. Speaking to Gametrailers, SCEA President Jack Tretton had this to say: “The cool thing about our world wide development studios is that we got so many projects out there from so many great teams. Projects never ultimately go away. The Last Guardian is certainly not going away, but it’s on hiatus right now.” Apparent bummer.
But in a stunning turn of events, Sony’s head of worldwide studios Shuhei Yoshida seemed to directly contradict that statement, telling Kotaku “A guy like him should shut his face.” Oh wait, sorry, that was Clint Eastwood. What Yoshida actually said was that “That hiatus term—I’m not a native English-speaking person—but that’s misleading…The game is in active development. [Lead designer Fumito] Ueda-san shared updates a few months ago. Nothing has changed.” One can only presume that this was followed by three snaps and a disapproving pursing of the lips. Keep an eye out for The Last Guardian at E3 2016!
Little Girls and Otaku Rejoice! Kingdom Hearts 3 will Launch on Both XBox One and PS4
Square Enix has announced that the latest entry in the bizarre Final Fantasy/Disney mash-up series will launch simultaneously on both next-gen consoles. According to Polygon, Kingdom Hearts 3 “will feature a mature Sora on new adventures with Mickey, Donald and Goofy. He will travel to all-new Disney-themed worlds previously unseen in the Kingdom Hearts franchise.” Having not played the previous entries I have no idea what that may entail, but if there’s no Wreck-it-Ralph stage someone done messed up. The game is being developed by the team behind the portable Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep (what?) entry, and I’m sure is just going to be gosh darn whimsical as all get out. Check out the reveal trailer below:
Don’t Worry Everybody, Dead Rising 3 Will Treat Zombies with the Gravitas They Deserve
In an interview with Polygon, executive producer at Capcom Vancouver Josh Bridge said gamers can expect a more serious, grounded take on the zombie butchering action in the upcoming Dead Rising sequel. “We were at a critical mass of trying to be funny, but it was not funny. So we wanted to juxtapose a more gritty, serious tone with all of the stuff you have always been able to do in the game. You can still dress in ridiculous outfits, make ridiculous weapons. You’ll find your own comedy in it.” Heartening news, as clearly what’s lacking in mainstream entertainment these days is uber-serious zombie fiction. Thankfully all the other changes seem to point to this being the most user-friendly entry in the series, so if beating zombies to death with a sledgehammer duct-taped to an ax can’t be fun, at least it’ll be easy.
Finally, let’s bring it home with a few quick hits:
The Just Cause 2 guys are making a Mad Max game. Yeah, I’m excited too:
Folks, we have a Madden cover. With Barry Sanders tapped for current gen versions, Adrian Peterson of the Minnesota Vikings will be your next-gen poster boy. Considering I haven’t followed football since the halcyon days of the XFL, I have no idea how relevant this pick is. Get back to me when we’ve got a UFC cover, then we’ll talk.
Command & Conquer is getting a free to play reboot, if you count changing the name of C&C: Generals 2 as “rebooting.” Still, considering the original Generals was one of the better entries in what might generously be described as a storied series, here’s hoping they’ve managed to recapture some of the old (like, ancient) magic:
Finally, this one’s for you mongycore. The console version of Diablo 3 (which drops Sept. 3) will include exclusive items for the PS3/PS4 inspired by other Sony games like Uncharted and Journey. I gotta say, these +2 Boots of Killzoning do not go with my +3 Hat of Nolan Northness at all.
Credit to Kari Sullivan for the image.
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