Bethesda E3 2016 Conference Recap
The Bethesda Showcase starts with Adam Sessler and Morgan Webb as the hosts for the event. They begin by showing off the latest additions to Fallout 4 in the form of Far Harbor, the newest additions to the mobile game Fallout Shelter, the mods system that is currently on PC and Xbox One, with PS4 receiving the functionality later in the month, as well as the SnapMap mode in DOOM to demonstrate Bethesda's latest releases.
Quake Champions
Up first is a new entry into the iconic Quake series, dubbed Quake Champions. Tim Willits of id is out to declare that Quake is back after its debut 20 years ago, while also highlighting its importance to the history of multiplayer and its status as one of the first eSports title.
Quake Champions will be an Arena based first-person shooter, available exclusively on PC. The game will feature classic elements of previous titles and different characters with unique abilities, so many playstyles will be catered for. id and Bethesda also stated they will be launching several tournaments with more information to come at Quakecon in August.
Elder Scrolls: Legends
Pete Hines, VP of PR, opens the conference with a discussion around the success of the Elder Scrolls franchise over recent years, including Elder Scrolls Online, Fallout Shelter and Fallout 4.
The conversation soon moves onto Bethesda's new collectable card game, Elder Scrolls Legends, with gameplay showing how it will work. Depending on where you place your minions, the lanes feature different effects and can dictate where you place your cards. The game will feature a solo player Story mode, as well as online functionality. Different character types have different paths, with the shown Archer having at least eight paths to help shape your deck.
The opening cinematic for Legends shows the protagonist of the story mode, setting the scene about what the story will entail, with how you play the game choosing how you get cards. Bethesda also announce that they will be allowing new people into the beta soon, which will be accessible on PC with Mac, Tablet and phones coming soon.
Fallout and Skyrim
Another turn of events see’s Bethesda head cut to a live action video filmed at the studios themselves, as they reveal the next Fallout 4 expansion, Contraptions, which will feature elevators, weapon racks, conveyer belts and more. The update is due to be release next week.
In addition to this, Bethesda also revealed a brand new Vault maker, allowing fans to design their own vault and experiment on their vault dwellers, which is set for release in July. Following this, fans will also get access to new DLC in August, featuring a vacation area known as Nuka-World, based on Nuka Cola. Finally, Fallout Shelter will be coming to PC in July as well.
Moving on, they then revealed Skyrim: Special Edition, which is scheduled for release on October 28th for Xbox One, PS4 and PC, featuring Console Mods similar to Fallout 4 and redone graphics. If you own the Legendary Edition, or have Skyrim and all of its DLC, you will receive the Special Edition for free.
Prey
The creative developer behind Dishonoured is next, as they show off a reboot of Prey. The game, which seems to be a psychological thriller with horror aspects, follows the main Morgan, who is trapped on a space station while he undergoes experiments to alter his humanity. Morgan must explore the space station in order to uncover its dark secrets and information on his own past.
Prey is scheduled for release in 2017 for Xbox One, PS4 and PC, with more information at Quakecon.
DOOM
DOOM is next title to receive some updates, with new themes, several new multiplayer game modes and the first Premium DLC pack, which will add even more modes, maps, weapons and taunts, revealed for the future.
DOOM's first level is also free on all platforms for the next week to encourage people to try the game and hopefully improve the multiplayer scene.
Bethesda VR
Matt Firor, Game Director for Elder Scrolls Online is next, thanking the fans for sticking with the series and helping them shape it into the best MMO of 2015, touting its seven million player base.
Japan will be getting access to Elder Scrolls Online on June 23rd, adding to the large player base. The next expansion will be called Dark Brotherhood and features the guild of the same name, with the trailer highlighting stealth and assassinations, as well as a release date for this week.
In addition to this, Bethesda have released the One Tamriel system, which removes any and all level barriers, allowing anyone to group with anyone, while also letting players access all content from the moment they venture out of the tutorial in Autumn.
Bethesda VR is the next project to be revealed by Pete Hines. DOOM and Fallout 4 are the first two games that will be compatible for the system, with Fallout 4 being released for the HTC Vive in 2017.
Dishonored 2
Dishonored 2 is introduced by Harvey Smith of Arkane Studios, who immediately thanks the fans for supporting the game back in 2012. A gameplay trailer starts off, showing the setting, Karnaka, a new city for players to explore and kill through, giving a 1920s New York vibe.
A new custom game engine, dubbed the Void Engine, has been developed to provide the game with the feeling of a ‘painting in motion’, in order to compliment the game's artistic style. The environment has been designed to be as realistic as possible, taking into account NPC's breaks, sleeping habits and how they live, with each location remembering past events to create a living, breathing world.
Emily, the abducted child and daughter of Corvo from the first game, will be one of the main protagonists in the sequel, set fifteen years after the first game, alongside her father, the second protagonist, who aids her in the ruling of their kingdom left by her mother.
The missions will be open ended, allowing players to find their own way to continue through the game, with the idea that no two players have the exact same game experience. More gameplay is featured, showing off the spyglass that allows the player to listen to conversations and more vertical exploration than the first game. There are also random storms of wind and dust that can affect visibility. Various powers are demonstrated to allow for multiple ways to kill or render your targets out of action.
The game will be released on November 11th for PS4, Xbox One and PC with a Limited Collector's Edition with Corvo's Mask and Emily's Ring, with a free copy of Dishonored Definitive Edition if you pre-order early.
Well it looks like Bethesda are certainly behind Dishonored 2, what did you think of their offerings?
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