E3 2018 schedule: When to tune in for every major game reveal
E3 2018 is almost here. The press conferences will be your one-stop shop for all the game news you've been waiting for. This year there will press conferences from Sony, Microsoft, Nintendo, Square Enix, Bethesda, Ubisoft, and EA. Here's when each of them will be held along with what to expect.
What to expect from Bethesda’s E3 2018 press conference
Bethesda's E3 2018 press conference could be its biggest showcase yet, though what will be shown is a mystery. Besides Rage 2 and Fallout 76, nothing is officially on the slate, though DLC, ports, and possibly a major sequel could be in play. The press conference kicks off at 6:30 p.m. PT on June 10.
What to expect from Sony’s E3 2018 press conference
Sony will take a decidedly different approach to E3 this year. Its showcase will focus on extended looks of four upcoming PlayStation 4 exclusives. While that means there may not be many surprises (perhaps none), at least we know we'll learn more about a few of Sony's most anticipated games.
Assassins, heed the call: ‘Hitman 2’ launches this fall, pre-order bonus now live
Warner Bros. Games and IO Interactive revealed Hitman 2, a direct sequel to the 2016 title, will launch on Xbox One, PS4, and PC on November 13. Unlike its predecessor, Hitman 2 won't be episodic. If you pre-order now, you'll gain access to a brand-new online co-op mode right now in Hitman.
‘Forsaken’ looks to reinvent your ‘Destiny 2’ experience on September 4
Much like The Taken King, Destiny 2's Forsaken expansion looks to reinvent the game in meaningful ways. Launching on September 4, Forsaken takes players to The Tangled Shore to square off against a new species of enemy. A new raid, an interesting multiplayer mode, and welcome weapon changes are also inbound.
Microsoft’s E3 sale includes the first discount on the Xbox One X
Microsoft is temporarily slashing the price of the Xbox One X for the first time during its E3 sale. The premium console will be available for $450 -- 50 bucks off from June 7 until June 23. Xbox One S consoles will also drop 50 bucks, and more than 300 games will be on sale for up to 75 percent off.
Bungie will reveal the latest on new ‘Destiny 2’ content next week
On June 5, Bungie will announce Destiny 2's year two content plans in a Twitch stream. With E3 right around the corner, it's possible Bungie uses this time to tease the game's fall expansion, which will likely be more substantial than the first two expansions. A full expansion reveal is expected at E3.
Insomniac to unveil an open-world Oculus Rift game on June 7
It turns out Insomniac has been working on more than just Spider-Man these past few years. On June 7, the acclaimed independent studio will reveal its next VR game for Oculus Rift. This marks Insomniac's fourth game with Oculus, and judging by the hints, the upcoming game will be the most ambitious yet.
‘Battlefield V’ minimum system specs mirror those of ‘Battlefield 1’
Although the recently unveiled Battlefield V is five months away, we already know the minimum PC system requirements. While they are higher than the typical AAA PC game, if you played Battlefield 1, you're in the clear. Recommended specs haven't been revealed, but they are probably quite demanding.
The Days of Play limited-edition PlayStation 4 sure is a beauty
Sony's Days of Play promotion returns this year with discounts on hardware, accessories, and games, including price slashes on the PS4 Pro, PSVR, and numerous exclusives such as God of War. The annual promotion also features a slick royal blue limited-edition PlayStation 4 with a matching controller.
Bethesda tweets a tease for an upcoming Fallout announcement
Bethesda tweeted Fallout's signature testing screen alongside the words "Please Stand By." With E3 a couple weeks away, it seems likely the studio will reveal a Fallout project during its press conference. It's almost definitely not Fallout 5, but it could very well be a Fallout 3 remaster.
‘Madden NFL 19’ kicks off early on August 10 for PS4 and Xbox One
Madden arrives early this year. EA Sports announced Madden NFL 19 will launch August 10 on Xbox One and PS4. Hall of Fame wide receiver Terrell Owens is the cover athlete for the special edition, and changes are coming to franchise mode and Ultimate Team. No word yet on if Longshot will return.
‘Fortnite’ Playground mode will give players a space to strategize
Fortnite's next limited-time mode, Playground, will let players hone their building and combat skills without the fear of being knocked out of the match. Noting the popularity of the 50v50 mode, Epic teased that it could become a permanent fixture. There's also a welcome control update in the pipeline.
Xbox One ‘PUBG’ players can now get lost in the desert of Miramar
PUBG's second map, Miramar, has finally arrived on Xbox One. The map originally launched on PC six months ago, just prior to PUBG's Xbox Preview release. The map comes alongside a few new weapons and vehicles created for Miramar's wide open desert spaces. There's also two new limited time DLC packs.
‘H1Z1’ PS4 open beta has already brought in more than 1.5 million players
H1Z1, the battle royale game that started the craze, made its PS4 debut early this week. The open beta saw 200,000 concurrent players just hours after it went live and has brought in more than 1.5 million players in all. And the PS4 version doesn't even have Auto Royale yet. Its future appears bright.
Goodbye, old friend: Online game ‘RuneScape Classic’ to shut down after 17 years
RuneScape Classic, the original version of the popular MMORPG, will go offline in August. The development team cited the inability to patch the game and respond to nefarious behavior as reasons the game needs to be shut down. Old School RuneScape and the current version of the game will still be supported.
Nintendo starts banning Switch hackers from online services
Nintendo is starting to ban users who hack the Nintendo Switch. The ban removes the ability to enter the eShop, play multiplayer games, and use social features, though you can still receive game updates. The bans come after a major and unpatchable exploit was discovered in the Switch's hardware.
Citing morality standard, Australia’s ratings board rejects ‘We Happy Few’
The psychedelic dystopian survival game We Happy Few was apparently deemed too over the top for the Australian Classification Board. We Happy Few joins a group of games that were initially denied release by Australia's version of the ESRB, including Saints Row IV and South Park: The Stick of Truth.
So long, EA Sports: ‘The Golf Club’ developer secures PGA Tour license
HB Studios, the developer of The Golf Club series, has secured PGA Tour licensing for the third entry in the franchise, The Golf Club 2019. Along with an authentic PGA Tour career mode, the game will feature six real courses at launch, including TPC Sawgrass, the famous site of The Players Championship.
Back to World War II? ‘Battlefield V’ will be revealed on May 23
Thanks to some expert Battlefield 1 Easter egg hunters, we know the next Battlefield game will be revealed on May 23. After a year of work, players unlocked a door on a multiplayer map that led to a room with a dripping pipe. The drips were Morse code, leading to a teaser site for a game called Battlefield V.
Pirate-themed ‘Skull and Bones’ will not set sail until April 2019 at the earliest
During its earnings call, Ubisoft announced that Skull and Bones has been delayed to at least April 2019. The pirate-themed naval warfare game was originally supposed to launch this fall. Ubisoft also said The Division 2 and an unannounced series title will launch before its current fiscal year ends.
‘The Crew 2’ drives, sails, and flies into closed beta May 31
Ubisoft has announced a closed beta for The Crew 2 that will run from May 31 to June 4. The beta will give users a chance to try out the four vehicle classes, including the brand-new additions, boats and planes. The beta will give us a good idea as to whether the technical issues of the original still exist.
‘Doom’ creator John Carmack reminisces about working with Steve Jobs
In a long Facebook post, Doom creator John Carmack discussed his fraught yet productive working relationship with Steve Jobs. All of the prickly Jobs anecdotes are here, but Carmack's post reminds that Jobs could be receptive to ideas, even when they were about games, a medium he wasn't a fan of.
Retro Studios might be developing a Star Fox racing spinoff
According to leaks and reports, Retro Studios, the developer behind the Metroid Prime trilogy and two Donkey Kong platformers, is working on a Star Fox racing spinoff. The rumored game is a cross between Diddy Kong Racing and F-Zero. This sounds almost too strange to be true, but who knows.
Designer Cliff Bleszinski’s Boss Key Productions closes its doors after 4 years
Cliff Bleszinski's independent venture Boss Key Productions is shutting down, the veteran game designer announced on Twitter. Boss Key's two games, LawBreakers and Radical Heights, both failed to find audiences. Bleszinski also announced he will take an indefinite leave from the industry.