As spotted by Kotaku, Halo 2 is celebrating its 20th anniversary in? the best way possible: by finally releasing the most spectacular gamepla?y demo that we never got to play.

In the grand scheme of things, few gameplay previews created the same hype levels as Halo 2's gameplay reveal at the '03 E3. Halo: Combat Evolved looked fantastic when it came out, but Halo 2 looked almost next-gen in comparison.

Sadly, though it was indeed a gameplay presentation �not the usual CGI cutscene most studios nowadays use for game reveals �the release version featured only a severely toned down version of the original Mombasa mission. The devs explain the mission was only created for the presentation and wasn't originally intended to be part of the game. The mission ended up going nowhere as its source code was in poor shape, due to it having been hastily put together just to show something cool at E3. That's all understandable, but you can't make the coolest gameplay demo of all time and expect people to be ok with never getting to actually experience it.

Take a look ?below, and you might ge?t what I and the fans have been wanting for so long:

I know it probably doesn't look all that extr??aordinary nowadays, but that's totally due to the low image resolution �??probably. Jokes aside, sure, shooters have grown way more impressive than that during all the time Microsoft wasted in not making the demo playable, but there's still a lot to love here. The entire thing is a living and breathing set piece, from the moment Master Chief lands to see the barracks, passing by the city's bombing by an enemy of a never-before-seen size, to the highway chase. This was blockbuster FPS action like we'd never seen before.

Once again, though Microsoft is cool for allowing it to happen, the key players here were fan modders. They were the ones who picked up the code to work it into a playable state, and it must have been rough. Of the ordeal, Kenneth Peters had to say, "In many ways this is harder than Alphamoon to work on, as it was never made to be played “off script.�Oh, and the scripts. Well over 3400 lines of barely documented haloscript originally written under an insane time crunch almost two decades ago, which itself was made to work around various bugs of the engine at that time. Not a joy to decipher and translate into the modern engine, to say the least." and, "We have seen things�things a programmer wouldn’t believe�nbsp;"

But, it seems like the work is now finished. The New Mombasa level is apparently a??s playable as it deserves to be, and finally r?eady to be enjoyed by everyone.

The legendary level will finally become playable as a Steam Workshop mod on the Master Chief Collection on November 9th.

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With the warmer months looming ahead [cries in UK], there's gonna be a number of video game expos and conference to look forward to. ??Although E3 is no longer with us �for good or ill �it's at least being replaced by Summer ?Game Fest. Recently, the date for the event was confirmed.

As for what's being showcased, we don't know that just yet. You can expect the??r??e to be a decent amount of buzz surrounding the event as we get closer to June, though. For those who want to attend, public tickets will be going on sale from May 7.

When and where to watch Summer Game Fest 2024

As mentioned in a recent post from Geoff Keighley, SGF 2024 will be streaming live on Friday, June 7. Keighley describes it as a "cross-platform LIVE showcase of what's next for video games." A post on Twitter/X from the ?official Summer Game Fest account says it will be a two-hour event.

Last year's Fest was a pretty big hit, especially after the cancellation of E3 following a few years of uncertainty about the event. Summer Games 2023 saw showcases from the likes of Capcom, Xbox (Starfield in particular - remember how hyped we were about that?), and Final Fantasy XVI.

Before the summer period hits though, there are some other events and conferences, such as PAX East (March 21), the London Games Festival (April 9), and more. We've also got Day of the Devs coming up this Sunday.

Ke?ighley began Summer Game Fest in 2020 in the wake of COVID-19. The pandemic led to much of the world having to remain isolated, which resulted in in-person shows being cancelled.

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It's really h?ard not to have some degree of reverence for E3. For those who grew up with gam?es being streamed and broadcast, it was the big show. It was the place where the biggest reveals of the year happened. And now, it is dead.

That's dramatic, I know. But in all seriousness, the ESA has officially declared E3 done. After more than two decades, the show wi??ll cease to exist, following several canceled or online-only years, and a broken partnership with PAX organizer ReedPop. (Disclosure: I used to work under ReedPop, at the now-shuttered USgamer.)

Frankly, this was the death knell we all knew wo??uld toll. It's easy to point at the COVID-19 pandemic as part of the problem, and it was. But speaking as someone who attended E3 2019, the decline was already vis?ible.

For context, I only attended three E3 events: in 2015, 2016, and 2019. Each year felt drastically different in their own ways, though the gap between '16 and '19 was noticeable. A lot more was being sold on the show floor, f?or one thing, reflecting the increasingly consumer-focused le?an for an otherwise industry event.

This is normally the part where some might celebrate the collapse of what wasn't working, and laud whatever comes next. Out with the old, in with the new. But in the wake of this con?firmation, I'm left wondering what we've left behind, and what any road ahead looks like.

A flag in the ground

E3 was, for many years, that one show everyone had on their mind. It was where the biggest reveals would happen. New games, like Final Fantasy VII Remake and Halo 2, would debut. Heck, this was where the actual consoles were fully detailed and shown for the first time. I'm sure for the developers of these games, it f?elt like the culmination of a lot of hard days' work, putting these massive reveals together and finally showing them off.

There's some wild history that crops up, just through conferences alone. Sony would make waves with its price point for the first PlayStation in 1995, then again with its PlayStation 4 presentation in 2013. Maybe it's because these moments took place on a stage, with big screens, lights, ??music, and pageantry, that they feel like grander gestures than a price p??oint reveal normally should.

Of course, it's not just about the fuel for console wars and conference comparisons. It was also about taking t??hat same stage, that same place that would connotate prestige and reverence, and seeing the absolutely wildest shit happen.

The Wii Music presentation. The "bam, there it is" Kinect showcase. Really, every single waking, bonkers moment of Konami's E3 2010 press conference. At its greatest heights, E3 could feel like a magnificent show; at its lowest, like watching a bad improv show. It was beauti??ful fo?r the highs, lows, and the incredible breadth that it could span in-between.

These moments became part of the general culture, to the point that E3's impact on culture around gaming needs to be emphasized. People like Reggie Fils Aimé and Ikumi Nakamura became well-known names for the average viewer.

And that was part of the draw, right? Put the industry in front of the consumer. People at home get to watch, as a cavalcade of new and interesting things gets put in front of them. Sure, it's marketing. And at least some notable moments were later unveiled to be either smoke and mirrors, or technology that never really panned out f?or consumer use. But it's also a moment in time where?? everything came together.

The made-it moment

When I talk about E3, I have to acknowledge my own perspective too. I'd watch it on streams, even before I had aspirations of "making it" in the ind??ustry. And when I got to go my first event, it was a huge moment. It was, in many ways, validating.

To use an extremely blunt comparison, it was like the first time I worked a col??lege football game as a camera op. There's a tangible, electric energy in being around other industry peopl??e as the hive buzzes. Everyone is active and working. People from around the world are converging in one place, to do one thing. It's an espresso's worth of adrenaline.

And feeling like you're there, doing the same work, taking part in this big, grandiose event in your own way? It never got old. And ??it's not really the same rush I get working a PAX or a low-key preview tour opportunity.

But more than that, it was a convergence point for the industry. I've already discussed what that meant for the viewer at home. For those in person, though,?? it adds an element. This was where people could network and meet. Collaboration thrives in that environment. As much as E3 was a consumer-facing preview of games to come, it was also a show for the industry; business room meetings were taking place just a short walk from the conference halls. If you wanted to interview the big minds behind the newest games, those opportunities were?? available.

For new talent? coming into the industry, the?se opportunities were precious. It was a chance to do the work, be seen doing so, and meet others in the industry. I can really just speak for myself in this situation, but I know that being at shows like E3 helped me gain connections and climb up just a bit further. And it's something I'd want others to have a chance at, too.

The future

So E3 was?? validating, grandiose, hilarious. It was a spectacle, and now it is no more. The question becomes, what?? takes its place?

Fortunately, we already have a solid look at that answer. This year's combination of Summer Game Fest and The Game Awards seems like the outlets that many of the big names have moved to. A biannual trailer fest, and one has an awards show bolted onto it.

While I already voiced concerns around The Game Awards, I will say that Summer Game Fest offers something a bit more interesting. It's not quite as big or over-the-top as the E3 show floor, but frankly, it really shouldn't be. Fun as it was to see a marching jazz band jaunt around the halls for Mafia 3, I prefer a smaller-scale industry event.

But outside the Keighley-run events, it feels l?ike everything is shifting to disparate corners. More streams and showcases are the norm, propped up by Nintendo's huge success with Directs and the adaptations made during the pandemic years. Companies feel a bit more assured in announcing their news on their own terms, and their own channels, rather than holding onto it.

I'd hope that some of the access doesn't fade, amid all this. Nor the spectacle, or ridiculousness. Sometimes I think the industry, or at least facets of it, are a little too concerned with secrecy and legitimacy. There's so much value in being able to hear from developers about their games, and putting them on stages to share the news. We all love the Keanu "breathtaking" moment for Cyberpunk, but I also love when devs wear their hearts on their sleeves.

As for E3, I'll miss the spectacle but I won't miss the excess. It's sad to lose such a convergence point of culture, news, and industry, but hopefully the structures that build out of this fall can offer something new, different, maybe even better. For everything else, we'll always have Wii Music.

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E3 had been on life support over the past few years, but the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) is finally retiring the long-runnin??g expo for good.

Earlier in 2023, we saw ReedPop and the ESA end their partnership, further diminishing the prospects of ??E3's potential return. And with Geoff Keighley's Summer Game Fest and The Game Awards meeting the industry's demand for content showcase between the two of them, that comeback was pretty much a lost cause.

Well, we're now bearing witness to the final blow. As reported by The Washington Post, and further confirmed by the Entertainment Software Association, the biggest annual gaming festival in the world for over two decades is officially being retired. The company??'s CEO Stanley Pierre-Louis released a statement acknowledging the upsetting nature of this announcement but ??noted that it was the right decision for the industry.

"We know the entire industry, players and creators alike have a lot of passion for E3," he said. "We share that passion. We know it’s difficult to say?? goodbye to such a beloved event, but it’s?? the right thing to do given the new opportunities our industry has to reach fans and partners."

Those "n??ew opportunities" might be referencing more novel platforms. A host of new obstacles contributed to E3's downfall, not least of which was the realization by juggernauts like Sony that they could simply stream showcases online and reach the same user base, dramatically cutting down costs.

E3's cancellation was always inevitable

While we obviously can't disregard E3's nostalgic value and all the fun moments it created for us gamers, it was always going to come down to this. In fact, given the discernible shift ov??er the past few years in ??how new games are promoted, we're surprised by the staying power some other in-person events have maintained.

As noted by Jason Schreier, "A lot of folks will blame Covid," but the show was dying before 2020, perhaps as early as PlayStation's decision to ditch the 2019 press conference in favor of their own showcase. And these days, other companies are more than happy to follow suit.

Yes, we all knew this was coming, b?ut I guess it's one thing to expect something, and quite another to face the finality of? its occurrence.

The post E3 is officially dead, announces ESA appeared first on Destructoid.

The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) and ReedPop ??are no longer working together on the next E3. The companies have announced they've parted? ways, and PAX organizer ReedPop will not be working on any future E3 events.

Alongside this news (via GamesIndustry.biz), the ESA informed the Los Angeles Convention Center that it will not host a show there in 2024. The LACC was the usual home for E3, but recent speculation pointed towards E3 leaving the venue behind.

ReedPop, which also hosts PAX and several other conventions, was brought on in 2022 to help bring the show back. (Disclosure: Before Destructoid, I worked at a now-shuttered ReedPop outlet, USgamer.) The resulting plans resembled something like Gamescom. An in-person event with both industry and consumer days was announced, and then canceled.

In a s?tatement via GIbiz, ESA president and CEO Stanley Pierre-Louis said the association appreciated ReedPop's partnership.

"While the reach of E3 remains u??nmatched in our industry, we are continuing to explore how we can evolve it to best serve the video game industry and are evaluating every aspect of the event, from for?mat to location," said Pierre-Louis. "We are committed to our role as a convenor for the industry and look forward to sharing news about E3 in the coming months."

"We have enjoyed our time working with the ESA and appreciate their commitment to the games industry as a whole," said ReedPop games events head Kyle Marsden-Kish. "Whi?le we will not be involved with the future of E3 we look forward to seeing its evolution and where the ESA takes?? it."

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0W6bSU6iR8

An uncertain future

S?o, it seems like we're back to questioning what's next for E3. At this point, any 2024 plan seems rocky. Notably, GIbiz says the ESA is working on? a complete reinvention of E3 for 2025.

If 2024 plans fall through, we will have gone five years�020 through '24—without an in-person E3. All the while, events like Geoff Keighley's Summer Game Fest have swooped in to take the summertime slot.

I'd really wonder what a reinvented E3 can bring to t?he table to try and get everyone back on-board after multiple cancellations. Maybe a return to Vegas? Or maybe E3 evolves into something else entirely. We'll learn more as the ESA reveals its plans.

The post ReedPop and ESA end E3 partnership appeared first on Destructoid.

Hiiiigh definition Riiiidge Racer

The video game documentarians at NoClip have been steadily preserving and archiving a wealth of old industr??y footage, ranging from tech demos and presen?tations to classic commercials. Importantly, the team is also getting higher definition captures of certain events than we've ever seen before, like a 1080p HD recording of the infamous Sony E3 2006 presentation.

For those who weren't around or closely watching the industry at the time, 2006 was an important year for Sony. Notably, the console maker was soaring on the su?ccess of the PlayStation 2. Kaz Hirai, president and CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment America at the time, took the stage to lay ?out the future ahead for both the PlayStation Portable and the impending launch of the PlayStation 3.

Sony's ensuing showcase would result in many long-running memes stemming out from the showcase, including historically based crab battles and Riiiiiidge Racer. And of course, the price tag. Th??e reveal of the $600 ($599, to be exact) price point for the 60 GB PS3 was the stunni?ng conclusion to the show.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaWptXzfETo

Massive damage

Thi??s was streamed at the time, but due to restrictions of the time, was only ever available in lower resolution. With NoClip's restoration work, we can see the whole show at glorious 1080p.

Besides marking the start of a very rough generation for Sony, there's a lot of historical value in this recording. There are trailers for some eventual big PS3 games, like Metal Gear Solid 4. But there's also the canceled Eight Days, the AR game Eye of Judgment getting a live demo, and early looks at games like Final Fantasy XIII, in a now obvious ??mock-up of its eventual battle syste??m.

This was an er?a where conferences had big showcase presentations while maintaining the slide presentation and industry side forward facing. Nowadays, E3—or whatever we're calling the summer of games news now—is a very consumer-focused show. You don't really see CEOs standing in front of fiscal projections these days. Not on a big stage, at least.

So enjoy this trip down memory lane with the Sony E3 2006 press conference, and a huge thanks to the folks at NoClip doing all this preservation work. Because of th??is, the giant enemy crabs can reach their true resolution potentia??l.

The post Sony’s infamous E3 2006 press conference is now in glorious 1080p appeared first on Destructoid.

ESA says no final decision made yet

With the summer showcases winding down ??here, we've just had another summer without E3. And ac??cording to a new source, E3's potential return still seems very, very shaky.

As spotted on ResetEra, the Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board held a regular meeting discussing tourism for the city. Among the slides in this presentation was one about convention sales, with a note mentioning "E3 ??cancellations for 2024 &? 2025."

A previous report had indicated prospective dates for E3 2024 and 2025, but no actual dates or plans had been announced. In an interview with Gamesindustry.biz earlier this year, discussing the cancellation of E3 2023 and any future 2024 plans, ESA president and CEO ??Stanley Pierre-Louis said the company was committed to "providing an industry platform for marketing and convening", but did not have any news to share at the time.

An ESA spokesperson told Axios' Stephen Totilo that E3 2024 is still to be determined. The quote, via Totilo: "ESA is currently in conversation with ESA members and other stakeholders about E3 2024 (and beyond), and no final decisions about t?he even??ts have been made at this time."

The future of E3

E3 2023's cancelation was a notable one. As first reported by IGN, the Entertainment Software Association had partnered wi??th PAX organizer ReedPop to revive the show, after sev?eral years without one. E3 had closed down due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but failed to get back up and running as other in-person events returned.

In a statement at the time, ReedPop Global VP of Gaming Kyle Marsden-Kish attributed the decis??ion to companies not providing playable demos, as well as resourcing challenges. Also added was that the ESA and ReedPop planned to collaborate to work on "future E3 events."

Today's news indicates that if E3 does return, it doesn't seem like it will be in Los Angeles. Either way, it's a blow to the giant's potential return. Meanwhile, alternatives like Geoff Keighley's Summer Game Fest and the myriad of streaming showcases we just saw over the last few weeks seem to ??have established a new norm for the summertime gaming news bonanza.

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Cblogs of 6/9 to 6/17/2023

-Queen of Philosophy discusses new details we learned about Mortal Kombat 1.

-ctg867 reflects on the death and legacy of E3.

-UncannyKyle believes a Nintend?o crash is inevitable, but ??wonders about its size and form.

-Taterchimp writes a detailed analysis of the pros and cons of the TRPG Triangle Strategy.

-Virtua Kazama bids farewell to Street Fighter V in welcoming the latest Street Fighter game.

-PhilsPhindings discusses the similarities between the soundtrack of Shining Force 2 and Blues and Ragtime music.

-PhilsPhindings discusses the similarities between the soundtrack of Shining Force and Folk music.

-Inquisitive Raven r??eveals his 2023 ?Art Commission prices, take a look at his work.

-ChronoLynxx opens this week's TGIF ??community foru?m for random discussions.

Thanks for the blogs this week, folks, and thanks as always to Lord Spencer for the recap. If you wanna join in on the HOT TAKE party, then head on over to the Cblogs section right now. Spill your t??houghts on all matters gaming, and you will find yourself recapped on this here front page next week.

The post What are your early thoughts on Mortal Kombat 1? appeared first on Destructoid.

Welcome back to Keigh-3

It's that time of year again, and I couldn't be more exhausted excited for it! In just about an hour from now, Geoff Keighley will take to the stage of Hollywood Park's YouTube theater for the Summer Game Fest 2023 kick-off show �An evening of exciting ??game trailers and picking up after yourselves.

We can expect updates, previews, and reveals from some of the biggest names in the industry, as they prod and poke our hype engines with the games that they'll be expecting $70+ for the rest of 2023 and beyond. Games set to put in an appearance include Alan Wake 2 and Baldur's Gate 2, as well as the first-ever gameplay trailer for NetherRealm Studios' Mortal Kombat 1. There are whispers of a release date for Marvel's Spider-Man 2, and we're still to see anything from Activision regarding the 2023 iteration of Call of Duty. And all this is just scratching the surface.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=gY-lMH0R3AA

A pre-show will kick off about 30 minutes from now, with the presentation going live at 12:00 PT / 15:00 ET / 20:00 BST / 21:00 CEST. As always, the show will be way too long two hours in length, but we will all be on deck to bring you all of the latest news and updates, hurriedly typed and confusingly written in an all-out bid to please the Google Gods. We'd love it if you could join us for the show by following the stream above, and having your say in the comments below.

And, all jesting aside, I hope that you see at least one awesome game that get?s the hype fires stoked.

The post Join?? us for the Summer Game Fest 2023 live stream! appeared first on Destructoid.

It's over

It's 2023?, and there's next to no interest in the Electronic Entertainment Expo. E3 has been canceled. The exhilarating conferences are over. The epic moments are over. The hilarity of bloopers on stage is over. E3 is a trade show that was like Christmas for video game fans, and, sadly, it appears to be all gone.

Still, there once was a time when essentially everyone in the gaming community came together and looked forward to the exciting games ahead. It was an event I've always wanted to go to, but I ju?st missed my opportunity. It's something I'll always regret, but at least the VODs of past streamed conferences are memorable. Here are 10 of my favorite E3 moments from the event's history.

Miyamoto's Master Sword entrance

//youtu.be/uXrsK8ICp8E?t=63

One of the most iconic E3 moments comes from the creator of The Legend of Zelda Shigeru Miyamoto. This is the first true time I saw the memorable game designer. His enthusiasm and grandiose pose as Link with the Master Sword is still special to this day. It's been implanted into everyone's memory and is part of E3 history. The crowd was on their feet, exhilarated for the announcement and to see Miyamoto present. You can tell how much passion he has for the project in this video. That personal connection between the developer and the crowd is far more effective than a Nintendo Direct these days. I miss it.

Reggie’s body is ready

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Gc5cuekQto

Cheesy humor is usually a miss at E3 shows. It leaves all of us gritting our teeth. When former Nintendo of America chief operating officer and president Reggie Fils-Aimé said, "My body is ready," however, it was endearing. With no hesitation, Reggie said the line and made us enthusiastic for a plastic board; it felt so human from such a corporate presentation. It reflects Nintendo's willingness to get weird and connect with its fans. Now, it's a part of Reggie's legacy at the company and in fact, the line was cheered at E3 2012 when he referenced back to it five years later. It's one of the best E3 mo??ments just from how funny it is.

The PlayStation conference orchestra

[caption id="attachment_372255" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Screenshot via P?layStation's YouTube Channel[/caption]

As PlayStation was nearing the end of its spectacular E3 conferences, the company began to include a fantastic orchestra to coincide with its grand announcements. God of War was announced with a live orchestra led by Bear McCreary. It builds the tension of the announcement and set the stage for Kratos' new Nordic setting. As a lover of video game music, I appreciated the focus on the grand God of War theme. Music is an important element of games and can raise the stakes in action scenes or make us connect to an emotional scene. In this instance, the orchestra gave every trailer a gravitas that wasn't there before. It felt grander. It's a feeling that hasn't been replica??ted in the pre-packaged, digital State of Play streams.

Other performances like the musical introduction to The Last of Us Part 2 by Gustavo Santaolalla and the flute performance from Cornelius Boots for Ghost of Tsushima are also special moments we remember from E3.

Wii Music Catastrophe

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=DM2DCflkA6s

Sometimes, the best E3 moments are not always the most successful. There's the grand orchestra performance from PlayStation, but you can also watch the spectacular failure of Wii Music's demo on stage. It's hilarious as you see Miyamoto and other Nintendo staffers playing music awkwardly with the Wii remote and nunchuck. The drummer is also weirdly psyched. His drums alongside the made-up musician group play an offbeat version of the 1-1 theme from Super Mario Bros. It sounded pretty awful. Even I, a kid at t??he time, thought this was dreadful, and looking back,? it's become one of the funniest blunders in Nintendo's history. Even the best have their slip-ups.

Konami's embarrassing E3 presentation

//youtu.be/l1vmrMAqeWM

Unfortunately, there are no words to describe how laughably awful Konami's E3 2010 presentation is. It has to be seen to be believed. There are Mexican wrestlers who go off-script and almost choke out the presenter. There's a "so bad it's good" script that brings a smile to your face. An awkward man ?is staring deeply into the back of another prisoner's skull with intensity. And there's some abysmal dancing with a Kinect game.

It's arguably the worst E3 presentation of all time, but it's so hilarious that you can't miss it. It makes me somewhat resent the polished and clear messaging that a pre-recorded show provi??des. I loved the unpredictability of live E3 presentations, and there's a human element that is lost from the scripted affair of today's live-streamed updates. The excellent supercut by Crowbcat is the best way to watch the Konami presentation. All you'll say is WOW.

Kojima's return

[caption id="attachment_372260" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Screens??hot via PlayStation's YouTube Channel[/caption]

One of the most groundbreaking entrances in E3 history is Hideo Kojima's return. After having issues with Konami and being reportedly forbidden to appear at The Game Awards for his award for Metal Gear Solid V, Kojima's E3 2016 entrance is amazing.

The grand orchestra played "Brothers in Arms" from the Mad Max: Fury Road movie just for him. Furthermore, he walks down a simulated white staircase with his company's logo behind ?him. Kojima's the man during this entrance, just like The Rock entering a WWE match. I'm not a Kojima fan and even I was hyped as hell after the drama the developer went through.

He then followed through with the announcement of Death Stranding, a trailer that intrigued his fa??ns and left more questions than answers (which is expected from a Kojima game)??.

No, you're breathtaking

[caption id="attachment_372261" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Screenshot via Xbox's YouTube Channel[/caption]

You know it's a big E3 moment when it gets shared across social media and outside of the gaming bubble. During Xbox's E3 2019 conference, Keanu Reeves stepped out, following the reveal that he would play Johnny Silverhand in Cyberpunk 2077. There was already hype surrounding the game. Everyone in the audience was ecstatic that a charismatic actor like Reeves is in the cast. It was also a rare surprise, as big reveals can be tough to keep under wraps headed into E3.

Someone in the crowd said that Keanu Reeves was breathtaking, and Reeves replied in a cool manner, "You're breathtaking!" It was so personable and made us love Reeves even more than we did before. It's a moment that was shared millions of times throughout the world. Unfortunately, Cyberpunk 2077 didn't launch in the best state??, but his major rol??e as Johnny Silverhand is certainly one of the game's biggest strengths.

The charisma of Kevin Butler

//youtu.be/LwPWN3Ul6U8

During the PS3 era of gaming, there were few other marketing icons as charming as Kevin Butler. Jerry Lambert's character was silly, charismatic, and spoke well as the most popular wrestlers in the WWE. He was the pseudo-corporate personality that helped bring the PS3 to strength. He helped advertise the important price drop to $299 and made con??sumers understand "it only does everything."

His E3 2010 speech is a flurry of gags. For five minutes, he spoke about our love of gaming. He tells us about having a ridiculous huge TV in a tiny one-room apartment and staying up until 3 a.m. for a trophy that isn't real (but is). The crowd was so into it. It was also hilarious how he made fun of Ubisoft's elaborate Just Dance routines.

The PS4 used games video

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Ht-0Hne4EU

There is a reason why I keep relating the WWE to E3 press conferences. There's nothing more special than having a connection with your fans, and PlayStation absolutely was the face (hero) of the conflict against the heel Xbox. In 2013, there was fear in the gaming community. The Xbox One wasn't going to let you share physical games, and games?? had to be authenticated online. PlayStation gave their rival a one-two punch during that E3.

In a short 22-second tutorial video on how ?to share your games, PlayStation simply had Shuhei Yoshida pass a game to Adam Boyes with the latter saying thanks in a funny tone, looking at the camera with a smile. It is still hilarious to this day and has been viewed over 19 million times on YouTube since. It shows how PlayStation was in tune with its audience in those?? days.

The announcement of used games support also made the crowd go crazy during their press conference alongside the $100 cheaper price for the PS4. It felt like PlayStation won the generation before it even started. PlayStation was on top of the world with games people cared about (excluding Knack) and thankfully, no word of any ??cable TV integration that Xbox had a weird obsession with.

Davide Soliani tearing up over Miyamoto speaking about Mario + Rabbids

[caption id="attachment_372269" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Screensho??t via Ubisoft's YouTube Channel[/caption]

99% of the time, E3 feels so corporate. Marketing takes precedence over the event. As a result, when there's a genuine human element though, it stands out. Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle director Davide Soliani teared up as Miyamoto spoke about his game during Ubisoft's conference. ??It was such a special moment. Miyamoto shouted him out on stage, cutting to the shot above.

"I said, 'whatever you do, don't make a jump game or a Mario platformer'" said Shigeru Miyamoto. "Try to make a Mario game that has never been made before." Soliani and the team at Ubisoft did that and succeeded. Miyamoto called it great during the Ubisoft conference. And it gave us a rare an??d unscripted moment of genuine human emotion, reflecting the passion that has always been tucked away at the heart of E3.

The post Let’s take a look at 10 of my favorite E3 moments appeared first on Destructoid.

The revival is off

After several reports and confirmations of companies backing out of the show, the Entertainment Software Association (or ESA) has confir??med that E3 2023 is officially canceled.

The news first broke via a report from IGN, where two sources confirmed that the organization has ann??ounced E3's cancellation through an email sent out to members today. The email says that while E3 is a "beloved event and brand," the 2023 version "did not garner the sustained interest necessary to execute it in a way that would showcase the size, strength, and impact of our industry."

In an official press release, the ESA and show organizer ReedPop confirmed the cancellation of both the physical and digital portions of E3. Both were schedule??d for June.

"This was a difficult decision because of all the effort we and our partners put toward making this event happen, but we had to do what’s right for the industry and what’s right for E3," said Kyle Marsden-Kish, Global VP of Gaming at ReedPop. "We appreciate and understand that interested companies wouldn't have playable demos ready and that resourcing challenges made being at E3 this summer an obstacle they couldn’t overcome. For those who did commit to E3 2023, we’re sorry we can’t put on the showcase you deserve and that you’ve come to expect from ReedPop’s event experiences.�/p>

The ESA and ReedPop will continue to work together on future E3 events. "Many" of the digital showcases schedu??led around E3's dates will still go forward.

Cruel summer

The ESA reaffirmed last year that it would return to an in-person event with E3 2023, after cancellations and online-only events marked its last few years. It even partnered with PAX organizer ReedPop to make this year's show happen, pitching a concept that would include both industry and consumer days similar to Gamescom.

Despite those efforts, it looks like publishers did not want to sign on. The Big Three of Sony, Nintendo, and Microsoft were all set to skip the show, though the latter will still hold its own showcase this summer. Ubisoft backed out of its plans, opting for its own Forward showcase as well. And Sega, Tencent, and Devolver soon followed suit??. Yes, even the Devolver parking lot would have been ??absent. It's really not E3 without that.

That said, the su??????????????????????????mmer's not called off just yet. The Summer Game Fest is still on, and as mentioned, there are several publishers planning to host showcases this June. Really, it seems like it will just be another summer without E3. At this point, the question is whether an E3 revival can actually happen.

The post E3 2023 has been canceled appeared first on Destructoid.

Who's left?

Might as well start unpacking your bags; IGN is reporting that Sega and Tencent have confirmed to them that they are going to be skipping E3 2023. At this point, the list of companies not attending outsizes the ones who have confirmed they are.

While the two biggest takeaways from IGN’s article is that Sega and Tencent won’t be?? on the floor, they also received word that Devolver Digital isn’t attending in any capacity. While the publisher wou??ld often set up shop in the parking lot as an unofficial demonstration, this year, they’re not even planning that. There will be a Devolver Direct in June, however.

It’s not looking good for E3, which was already facing an uphill battle in re-establishing itself after the COVID pandemic. While video game conventions ??and shows are still widespread, E3 has long been held as a sort of v??ideo game Christmas that all gamers look forward to. Big game and hardware announcements were withheld for this time of year.

The expo’s battle for relevancy won’t end this year. IGN reached out to numerous publishers to get a response on whether they’ll be attending and got mostly radio silence. While that doesn’t mean they definitely won’t be there, in a normal year, most companies would have announc??ed their intentions already.

I have mixed feelings abou??t this, but mainly I’m rooting for E3. It’s been running since I was a kid, and I remember getting excited for it and watching video game news. It’s different now that the internet has changed the speed at which we can hear of new events, so maybe this is the unavoidable future, but I’m going to miss that hype-based burst of dopamine.

The post Sega, Tencent, and Devolver announce they w??ill not attend E3 appeared first on Destructoid.

You be changing your mind

VGC is reporting that Ubisoft has decided to back out of E3's attempted return in 2023. This comes a month after they? claimed they were finalizing their plans to attend the expo. I suppose those plans are now finalized as being "nope."

Speaking to VGC, a sp??okesperson reportedly?? said, "While we initially intended to have an official E3 presence, we’ve made the subsequent decision to move in a different direction, and will be holding a Ubisoft Forward Live event on 12th June in Los Angeles. We look forward to sharing more details with our players very soon."

This is disappointing news for anyone who was hoping ?E3 would return in full form this year after a three-year physical hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic. Sony and Nintendo have both stated they'll be passing on the expo, with Microsoft holding a separate event elsewhere in LA.

While those are hardly the only big companies in the industry today, E3 was once an event that publishers would be crazy to miss. It was the biggest event of the year, and while it's still an important time for announcements, the biggest companies in the business are progressively moving further and further away from it. It seems like the only way it would ever return to form ??????????????????????????would be if these publishers we?re lured into the convention center with the promise of cake and locked the doors behind them.

There's still something of a question mark above who's still going to be attending the Electronic Entertainment Expo, with show organizer Reedpop simply say??ing that "AAA companies, in addition to indie darlings and tech and hardware firms," will ??be in attendance.

E3 will be running this year from June 13 through 16 in Los Angeles. You can find the whole tentative schedule right over here.

The post Oh, it looks like Ubisoft won’t be attending E3 2023 after all appeared first on Destructoid.

Special Starfield presentation will follow

M??icrosoft has announced that it will be holding its next major Xbox Games Showcase on Sunday, June 11, timed with the launch of this year's E3 2023 festivities.

The date was revealed in a tweet from the publisher, promoting a special presentation for Bethesda's epic space opera Starfield. The Bethesda presentation is scheduled to take place immediately after the Xbox showcase, so it?? looks like there's a full evening of Xbox-centric news, updates, and reveals set for that particular evening.

//twitter.com/Xbox/status/163??3485273446375424?s=20

Starfield, which Bethesda is hoping will be a genuine sci-fi adventure for the ages, has been bouncing around the calendar for the past two years, before receiving a new release date of September 6 in an announcement made by the studio's own Todd Howard yesterday. The team is promising a massive-scale exploration of s??tars and planets, bols??tered by the power of Gen 9 technology.

Of course, when E3 rolls around, Destructoid will be right here bringing you all of the news from what?? is likely to be a seemingly en?dless rollout of live streams, press conferences, floor demos, and stage presentations. E3 2023 is scheduled to take place Tuesday, June 13 - Friday, June 16.

The post Microsoft’s next Xbox Games Showcase will air in June appeared first on Destructoid.

Nintendo says the show doesn't fit into its plans

Nintendo ?is ??confirming reports that it will not be attending E3 2023. Today, the company says the event doesn't fit into its plans for the year.

"We approach our involvement in any event on a case-by-case basis and are always considering various ways to engage with our fans," said Nintendo in a statement, via IGN.?? "Since this ye?ar’s E3 show didn’t fit into our plans, we have made the decision to not participate. However, we have been and continue to be a strong supporter of the ESA and E3."

IGN previously reported that Nintendo, alongside Sony and Microsoft, would not be attending this year's E3. Xbox will be hosting its own event ?in Los Angeles, but it won't be on the E3 show floor in the Los Angeles Convention Center.

The state of E3 2023

With its June date closing in, the question remains of which companies will be at E3 2023. Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot had said the publisher would be at E3 if the show happened, with th?e company later clarifying that it do??es seem set to attend.

The overall wariness is notable, though. It might just be an issue of timing; Nintendo will have launched Tears of the Kingdom already by June, leaving just Pikmin 4 left on the docket. Sony hasn't been part of E3 for years now. But that does raise the question: who will be at E3 2023?

Hopefully we find out soon, as June isn't?? ge??tting any farther away.

The post Nintendo confirms it won’t participate in E3 2023 appeared first on Destructoid.

You be there

Ubisoft is making plans to be at this year's E3. Following comments from the publi?sher during an investor's call, Ubisoft has confirmed it will be in attendance at E3 2023.

During an investor's call, Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot responded to an inquiry on whether the company would be in attendance at this year's event. "If E3 happens, we will be there and we will have a lot of things to show," said Guillemot at the time.

In a follow-up to GamesIndustry.biz, Ubisoft clarifies the wording:

"E3 is a special moment for our industry and we are excited to showcase our stron??g line-up in Los Angeles in June. We are still finalizing the details o?f our plans and look forward to sharing more soon."

It's a good clarification, at least, for those who may have thought E3 was changing things up once again following Guillemot's comment. ReedPop did reaffirm that E3 is "full speed ahead" after Guillemot's initial comment, but with this clarification, that's at least one company that looks set to show something in Los Angeles. [Disclosure: I was previously employed at USgamer, a former ReedPop website.]

The summer of games awaits

Questions of who's attending E3 2023 are still up in the air. An IGN report confirmed Sony, Nintendo, and Xbox wouldn't be on the show floor, though Microsoft is planning to host a summer showcase in Los Angeles.

The current plan has E3 2023 running from June 13 through 16 in Los Angeles, with both industry and consumer days planned.

Meanwhile, Ubisoft says it is bringing a "strong line-up" to bear for its Los Angeles showing. The publisher has been on a bit of a roller-coaster, announcing a bevy of Assassin's Creed projects while also cancelling a number of unannounced projects and delaying Skull and Bones. It'll be interesting ?to see what it shows up wit??h in June.

The post Ubisoft clarifies its E3 2023 plans appeared first on Destructoid.

The big show's return may not have the big three

E3 is set to return to an in-person show this year at the Los Angeles Convention Center?. But according to a new report, some major players may not be in attendance for E3 2023.

IGN reports that Nintendo, Sony, and Xbox will not have a ??presence on the E3 2023 show floor, nor will they be a part of E3 2023. This info comes from multiple knowledgeable sources the outlet has spoken with about the show.

While Sony has been skipping E3 for a while now and Xbox has recently held events offsite and adjacent to E3, this marks three big pote??ntial no-shows for the event ?this year.

Xbox is still planning to host a summer showcase in Los Angeles. Recently, Xbox head Phil Spencer had confirmed to IGN that its event would be placed "at a time where hopeful??ly it's convenient for ?press and even consumers that are going to the E3 event."

"We will continue to work with ESA in terms of their plans," said Spencer. "As I said, we're on the board, and we?? want to make sure that we are doing everything we can to help make the E3 successful."

The new E3

E3 is due to return in 2023 with the help of ReedPop, the organizer of PAX and other organized conventions. (Disclosure: I was formerly employed by ReedPop at USgamer.) The event will host both digital and in-person components, and will be open to consumers.

ReedPop ??responded to a?? request for comment from IGN, stating the following:

"E3 is such a signif?icant event for the game industry and being entrusted with an important cultural touchstone is not a responsibility ReedPop takes lightly. Since ReedPop took on the contract to run E3 six months ago, we've worked diligently with ESA members based on their feedbac?k to create a new type of E3 that supports their goals and needs.

This process has taken time due to the tremendous amount of stakeholders offering input, though we appreciate that we could have b??een ??more transparent to questions for which we were still finalizing the answers. We continue to work tirelessly to create a show that brings together the global gaming industry. We believe we’ve created a new format for the event that serves the needs of both the industry and its fans, and are committed to building and growing it in the coming years.

As we spent much of 2022 refining how E3 2023 would take shape, reflecting on the feedback we solicited, we did not send a single contract ??to an exhibitor until the start of this month. We have received a tre?mendous amount of interest and verbal commitments from many of the biggest companies in the industry, and when we are ready to announce the exhibitors we are confident it will be a lineup that will make the trip to Los Angeles well worth it for the industry and consumers alike."

Meanwhile, Geoff Keighley's Summer Game Fest is still planning for a showcase this June.

The post Nintendo, Sony, and Xbox reportedly won’t be a part of E3 2023 appeared first on Destructoid.

The big show's back in town

E3 is set to? return as an in-person event in 2023, and today the event locked in some dates and details. E3 2023 will be a four-day expo, running June 13 through 16 at the Los Angeles Convention Center.

Preceding the show will be partnered digital eve??nts and showcases. Those will start o??n June 11.

E3 itself will have set days fo?r business and consumer attendance. The E3 Business Days take plac?e June 13 through 15, set aside for registered industry people. June 15 and 16, meanwhile, will be E3 Gamer Days.

Alongside the split in days, E3 2023 will also have separate areas set up. The industry side will have dedicated halls for networking and meetings, as wel?l as hands-on for media with developers and publishers.

The consumer-focused area will be in a different hall. This will have hands-on for attendees, as well as ??ways to connect with developers, content c??reators, and personalities. There will also be a dedicated theater for content, offering deep dives on upcoming games.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=73kSvsQ_kkA

It's showtime

The ESA is partnering with ReedPop, the organizer of events like PAX, EGX, and New York Comic-Con. (Disclosure: I was once employed by ReedPop in my previous role at ??USgamer.)

In a blog over at GamesIndustry.biz, the business site goes over some extra details on what ReedPop and E3 are planning for the show. The show plans to support companies and games who aren't joining officially to still participate. For example, if a company is showcasing at Geoff Keighley's Summer Game Fest, E3 will still be open to it.

This is E3's first return to in-person, after canceling its 2020 and 2022 plans and hosting an online-only event in 2021. It has been thr??ee years since the last big E3, and the show looks to bounce back in 2023.

Whether this will hold up depends, as the industry has now adapted to ?three years of online sh??owcases and scattered, smaller in-person events.

The post E3 locks in 2023 d??ates, with both industry and consume??r days appeared first on Destructoid.

Two massive event hosts join forces for E3's comeback show

The Entertainment Software Association is set to host E3 again, and it's partnering with ReedPop to ma??ke it happen. Today, the two announced that E3 2023 will be organized with ReedPop's help.

ReedPop is the company behind PAX, New York Comic-Con, EGX, and the Star Wars Celebration. It's also the parent company of several gaming sites. including GamesIndustry.biz and Eurogamer. (Disclosure: I was previously employ??ed by Ree??dPop at USgamer.)

The duo plans to host E3 2023 in the Los Angeles Convention Center again?, during the second week of June 2023.

//twitter.com/E3/status/1545046476597956608

The event will host digital showcases and in-person components too, which will be open to consumers. Further details, like confirmed exhibitors, will be? shared in the ?coming months.

"It is a?? tremendous honor and privilege for ReedPop to take on the responsibility of bringing E3 back in 2023," said ReedPop president Lance Festerman. "With the support and endorsement of the ESA, we're going to build a world-class event to serve the global gaming industry in new and broader ways than ??we already do at ReedPop through our portfolio of world leading events and websites."

A new union

This partnership is wild, but also makes sense. E3 has fully called off two shows since the outbreak of COVID-19, in 2020 and 2022. And in 2021, the ESA hosted a digital-only event. PAX dealt with some called-off shows too, but has been returning?? to the convention space wit?h events like PAX East 2022 and the upcoming PAX West.

Meanwhile, Geoff Keighley has been growing Summer Game Fest more each year. This year included both a stage show and an in-person event in Los Angeles. And, as the event republicized today, Summer Game Fest will be returning in June 2023 with both digital and in-person? events. Looks like E3 will have some competition for?? its big return.

The post E3 is partnering with PAX organizer ReedPop for 2?023 event appeared first on Destructoid.

New record for The Geoff & Company Power Hour

Because time no longer exists, it has already been a whole fortnight since we all sat down to watch Geoff Keighley and an array of publishers and developers showcase their wares during the Summer Game Fest live stream �and it appears that the show has been a tremendous success, breaking its own viewership records for the third year run?ning.

According to a tweet posted by host and organizer Keighley, Summer Game Fest 2022 �which broadcast on the afternoon of June 9 �hit a peak concurrent 3.5 mill??ion viewers during the course of its 90-minute runtime. Over 6,000 accounts co-streamed the broadcast, while "Twitter Conversation" was up 100% on last year's stream, wi??th the usage of "#thegameawards" hashtag up by 69%. Nice.

//twi??tter.com/geoffkeighley/status/1539641914810572800?s=20&t=6MQpfa6v2i_FLx?nf0HoA5g

Over the course of the Sum?mer Game Fest stream, viewers were able to check out new trailers, news, reveals, and updates on a wide variety of ??titles currently in development for PC and consoles.

Among the many games featured we saw a trailer for Guile in Street Fighter 6, footage of space horror The Callisto Project, a cinematic for Marvel's Midnight Suns, a release date for TMNT: Shredder's Revenge, campaign footage from Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II, footage of Nightwing kicking ass in Gotham Knights, and the long-awaited reveal of Naughty Dog remake The Last of Us Part I, which had, unfortunately, been leaked mere minutes before the show began.

Summer Game Fest will return in June of 2023. Before then, we can expect to see Keighley do his stage show thang thing at Gamescom's Opening Night Live stream on Aug??ust 24, and, of course, ??at The Game Awards 2023, which is scheduled to take place this winter.

You can check out our full coverage of Summer Game Fest 2022 right here.

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Last Draws

Okay, ??so this last tarot prediction entry is running late, but we still have weeks of streams so we're mostly safe. My life has been in positive upheavals with minor injuries. Sprained wrists, red wine, broken pinky toe, rose incense, rugburn, neat Etsy stuff, and breaking the next toe over. That last one was this morning.

My life has been an Alanis Morissette song as I've tried to get these summer stream tarot readings done. No, not that one. It's "Hand in My Pocket."

Anyway, here's the last set of readings. A whopping nine to close this out. If you missed the previous posts, you can find Part 1 here and Part 2 here.

Punished Nietzsche asks: Will that rumored Marvel fighting game by Netherrealm studios show up?

Cards drawn: Eight of Strength, Six of Charisma, Nine of Charisma reversed.

The Eight of Strength, like a Belmont at the stairs to Dracula's throne room, suggests a group of heroes has neared the end of their quest. They've grown strong, moving from str??ength to more strength -- like Hard Drive continuing to dunk on Elon Musk.

They've done the right things, fought the?? good fight and a Six of Charisma says they've returned the grace and generosity others have shown them with much gratitude. Now the princess must be saved.

But with the goal in reach, a beautiful pirate queen pulls t??hem off-course. She's hiring, you see. She's seen them in mortal combat. She's witnessed their deeds and thinks they would be a great addition to her crew. They agree and forget about the princess since the pirat?e queen pays better.

The reversed Nine of Charisma can be about getting distracted and m??aterialism, so that tracks.

If a Marvel fighting game w??as happening, you'd think they'd fight DC heroes. Lots of licensing and copyright issues, though, which is why there's now a hero named after Gomer Pyle's catch phrase and Red Sonja doesn't hang out with Spider-Man anymore.

NetherRealm is probably sticking to Mortal Kombat.

Sam van der Meer asks: Pikmin 4?

Cards drawn: Queen of Charisma, Three of Intelligence, Ace of Intelligence reversed

The Queen of Charisma welcomes you home to a warm, hearty meal. Pies, fruit, cool ranch potato wedges,? mead, coffee... it seems she also has w??hatever snack or beverage you'd like on-hand.

But the Three of Swords is a woodland nymph at the table and she weeps because those potato wedges and grapes were once her friends. She has memories of planting them, cultivating them, going on adventures with them, and telling them stories at a campfire with her space-dwelling friends Olimar,?? Minsc, and Boo.

She looks on in horror as the drunke?n wizard -- or re??versed Ace of Intelligence -- asks for more cool ranch potato wedges and mead before passing out.

Pikmin is on the minds of and in the hearts of many, but it may also be a Diablo Immortal situation??. An enjoyabl??e, technically sound pseudo-sequel that goes mobile and then exploits what you love for more money and attention.

Lawman asks: Metroid Prime 4 and a new F-Zero.
Cygnus Rush also asks about Metroid Prime 4.

Cards drawn: Justice, Knight of Strength reversed, Eight of Wisdom

Justice has arrived on the scene. Long have we waited for news of Metroid Prime 4 and it seems that pa?tience w??ill finally be rewarded. The bounty hunter returns!

But the Knight of Wands tripped up and fell. This may be announced too soon. A delay into spring 2023 may happen and we get a Metroid Prime remaster to tide us over.

Drizzle Duder at the end here, the Eight?? of Wisdom, knows just as the sun is hard for him to look upon, the truth ?can hurt and still be beautiful in the end. This is why 5e gave dark elves and kobolds sunglasses as the old, racist light-sensitivity rules were dumb and sucked.

The overall reading says?? to be patient. Please understand.

As for F-Zero, Drizzy says hold on to hope.

Occams asks: Will my beloved Shadow Hearts ever get a chance to shine in the sun again?

Cards drawn: Seven of Intelligence, Eight of Charisma reversed, Judgement

The Seven of Intelligence is a shifty one. Full of secrets and those secr?ets have s?ecrets and also lies. And maybe some obfuscation as a treat. If he told us anything it would be to trust no one, him especially. He does look like a plausible Shadow Hearts character, though.

So we're gonna ask the reversed Eight of Charisma. She's hit the gym a lot,?? and pumped lots of iron so she can pound iron and steel better than anyone at the forge. In between her protein shakes we asked her about a new Shadow Hearts and she said if such a thing they've kept it under wraps and are waiting until it is perfect, like her secret project, the Sword of Supreme Buffness +10. Or "The Amazon's Caress," as she calls it.

Judgement seems to be the only one willing to confirm anything, but he looks like The Spectre and tells us to look within and reflect, for the answers are inside us. That's actually a very Hierophant thing to say but the Hierophant would also make you study to enrich your spirit. This guy just says he works for the ?gods but doesn't pay taxes, so I find that advice suss.

Seymour asks: Will we hear Uncle Phil (Spencer) or God Howard trot out the phrase "We know you've been waiting to hear more on Starfield..."?

Cards drawn: Ace of Charisma, The World, Queen of Intelligence

Familiar faces from our Explosion reading! And though I know this arrives late, I pu??lled these cards well before the conference.

What you're asking is definitely going to be something Todd Howard says if the Ace of Charisma is any indication. The World agrees and stands by the dwarven Ace. The Queen of Intelligence has little to add but Starfield will be on Gamepass, which seemed obvious.

She also saw me messing with Dall-E Mini and asked it what Phil Spencer and Todd Howard looked like, so here's the results.

Vesalius asks: Any word on a new Rocket Jockey or Nightmare Creatures?

Cards drawn: The Emperor, Three of Charisma, Four of Strength

Couldn't get anything from the cards on Rocket Jockey, though I looked into it. To be fair, they weren't into the Star Wars pod racing? games, either,?? so rocket-powered demolition pole-dancing was off the table.

So on to Nightmare Creatures.

A new adventure for Nadia and Ignatius? The Emperor thinks this is an ambitious choice, but the Emperor may or may not be Activision since they were the original publisher. A monkey's paw situation given they also sit on things like Tenchu. The authority of the Emp?eror isn't always?? a great thing.

But the bard on the Three of Charisma sings of an opportunity for roguish critical hits! He also is a Dark Souls fan and gushes that From Software could do Nightmare Creatures justice! But every FromSoft fan says that about anything, even Burger Time.

Four of Strength, being another teamwork card, chimes in as FromSoft fanboys, too. They are now going to consider and advocate FromSoft for Nightmare Creatures and also Burger Time.

Nightmare pickles and ketchup await.

Welshmetalhippy asks: Why is Bayonetta 3 not here already?????

Cards drawn: The Star reversed, The High Priestess, King of Strength reversed

The reversed Star r?espon??ds, "Why don't you ask your mom?" Then it blocks you on Twitter.

The High Priestess looks at you with serenity a??nd calmly tells you to ask your mother. Then she says to "flo?ck off."

T??he reversed King of Strength sits dejected in the dark in front of an astral projection of some fit drow ladies modeling bathing suits as he sips on a mug of cheap beer.

Reminds me of Dad after the divorce, actually.

You want to ask the king about Bayonetta 3 but he narrows his eyes and you kno?w you should just go ask ?your mom.

Muersault asks: How can NFTs be real if our eyes aren't real?

Cards drawn: Death reversed, Ten of Strength, Six of Charisma

An inverted Death card speaks of fear and an inability to accept things ?as they are. If sight orbs were not a thing, how would a beholder be a thing? If that demo??n wasn't real, how did you feel its fire? Eyes are real and so are NFTs, it's just eyes are not a scam.

NFTs ann??oy like imps on a dwarf's back. They exist, but we don't like NFTs.

A reverse Six of Charisma is about gr?eed, being taken advantage of, and sowing anxiety and doubt. It's about the FOMO hustlers out to trick you into buying a lethargic monkey they want nothing to do with. Unless you're Seth Green, then you will buy your stolen apathy orangutan back for $300k.

Tarot cards are ?a thought exercise or storytelling device at the very least, even if you don't buy into the divination side of it. And you get neat cards to c??ollect! Professional wrestling is scripted, but the athleticism is real as is some of the pain -- it's just the outcome is fake.

NFTs are real, but so are baseball cards. At least ?you can wipe your ass with baseball cards without righ??t-clicking. I use Curt Schilling if I'm running low on TP.

Robo Panda Z asks: Will Tactics Ogre: Reborn be a reboot, a new title, or an eldritch abomination?

Cards drawn: Eight of Intelligence, The Magician reversed, The Hermit reversed

The Eigh??t of Intelligence suggests feelings of confinement, like when you have pissed off your spider goddess and you're now doing your best impression of The Hanged Man while you're trapped in her web -- but you're still the Eight of Intelligence.

Reboots can be confining, too. Instead of finding new potential, you're sometimes stuck starting over or ??catching newcomers up. The Magician turned upside down doesn't care much for that, he aches to do something new or different.

But reversed Hermit feels it has been so, so long. He'd take anything. Long has he waited for a Tactics Ogre: Bicycle Race/Fat Bottomed Girls, Tactics Ogre: Bohemian Rhapsody, or even Tactics Ogre: Under Pressure! There hasn't been a proper entry since the Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together remake!

There just aren't many franchises that reference Queen. H??olographic Freddie Mercury needs ??his tribute!

Anyway, that's it for t??his year. Or is it? I guess we'll see what the cards have to say...

The post Dungeons, dragons, and summer gaming tarot pr?edictions #3 appeared first on Destructoid.

You can probably tell what I picked already

We've been through a State of Play, Sonic Central, Summer Games Fest, Devolver Direct, a Netflix Gaming stream, the Epic Games Store Summer Showcase, a Microsoft event, and the PC Gaming Show together. It's been a trip! "E3 2022" has been trying at times, but now is the time to share your favorite reveal of this past ??week.

For me, it was the Persona on Xbox announcement. The fact that this trio of killer games is coming to PC [beyond what we already got], Xbox One, Xbox Ser??ies X/S, and Game Pass, is pretty huge news. Although they're older releases (well, Royal technically isn't that old), it's a trifecta a??nnouncement: so I'm kin??d of cheating here.

It's just lovely to see this series live on, on as many platforms as possible. I can still recall the first time I played Persona 2 with my cousin; huddled away in my relative's house, never realizing how big this series would one day get. I watched Persona 3 claw its way onto the ?PSP after a PS2 release, and now, it's coming to Xbox consoles, potentially before PS5 and?? Switch. That's wild!

A bit of housekeeping for what's on the horizon. So to be clear, all the major showcases are done as of this afternoon. The next stream is the Capcom showcase at 6PM ET tomorrow, followed by the 10-minute FFVII celebration shindig on June 16. Oh, and if Nintendo plans a surprise Direct next week, there's that. You can find a list of confirmed streams here.

But again, as of today, what was your favorite reveal? As a reminder, here is what some of us wanted to see.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=QESuddo8afY

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Tag... Team... Back Again

We are well into the first week of the summer gaming news extravaganza, and in a few short minutes one of the industry's most dominant giants is getting set to take the digital stage and showcase its upcoming games and projects for the coming months, and perhaps even years: Microsoft Xbox and its pretty p??ricey subsidiary, Bethesda Games Studios, are about to ho?ld their annual summer live stream.

Neither Xbox nor Bethesda has shared with the public the games that will be featured in today's showcase, but we can very likely expect news, updates and reveals on new and previously announced titles such as Ninja Theory's Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2, Bethesda's delayed Redfall and Starfield, and Obsidian's Avowed, as well as updates on the company's incredibly successful streaming service, Xbox Ga?me Pass.

So, be sure to join us here on Destructoid as we all discover what Xbox has in store for its fanbase, and find out how that mighty $7.5 billion purchase is working out. The Xbox & Bethesda Games live stream kicks off 45 minutes from now, at 10:00 PT / 13:00 ET / 18:00 BST, and is scheduled to ?run somewhere in the region of 90 minutes.

So?? pour me one, pour yourself one, and let's make it a black 'n' green Sunday.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=rOYnwhKwlw8

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Stay Out of Trobble

Nacon is joining the long list of publishers dropping dates for its own summer live stream presentation. Nacon Connect 2022, which is scheduled to take place on July 7, will feature a slew of reveals, updates, and trailers pertaining to the company's catalog of upcoming games, accessories, and d?evelopment projects.

"This year, NACON Connect is reinventing itself in i??ts format and will feature even more content for gamers," said the company in a press release. "Tw?o pre-show and post-show sessions will be added and hosted by renowned influencers. The conference will be the occasion to announce several major projects, reveal new trailers and exclusive gameplay, and introduce new accessories that will delight all gamers."

While Nacon is expected to reveal the show's itinerary at a later date, we can snugly assume that we'll be seeing updates on the cyber revolution RPG Steelrising, Daedalic's action-adventure title The Lord of the Rings: Gollum, and Teyon's previously teased RoboCop: Rogue City. Nacon promises new trailers, exclusive gameplay footage, and the debut of several new access?ories from the company's hardware division.

Nacon Connect 2022 will go live on July 7 at 10:00 PT / 13:00 ET / 18:00 BST and can be watched on the official Nacon YouTube and Twitch chan??nels. I ??may not be a "renowned influencer", but I'll also do my best to bring you any pertinent news from the stream right here on Destructoid.

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Get your Keigh-3 on

It only seems like only yesterday we were steeling ourselves for a tidal wave of news?? from Summer Game Fest 2021, and now we are a m?ere 45 minutes away from yet stream of updates, trailers, reveals, and "WORLD EXCLUSIVES" from summer king Geoff Keighley and his posse of industry publishing pals.

The show, which kicks off at the top of the hour, is expected to run somewhere between 90 minutes and two hours, (I got a tenner on 2:14), and will feature an array of new and previously announced titles spotlit for your video game lovin' eyes. Mr. Keighley has already told the audience to temper their expectations �noting that the stream will be primarily focused on "already announced" titles �but did note that Street Fighter 6, Gotham Knights, Marvel's Midnight Suns, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II, The Calisto Project, and many mor?e titles will be putting in an appearance this afternoon.

There might even be some surprises! One might be all over Twitter already!

So, please join our team for two hours (and 14 minutes) of mass marketing pomp and circumstance in this year's Summer Game Fest. Here's hoping that you see something fabulous to get your hype engine in gear for the 2022-2023 gaming season. We are st??ill a long, long way from the end of 2022's summer gaming news extravaganza, but today's show is sure to kick the front door wide open.

Sit back, have fun, o??h, and remember to stay hydrated!

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFO4BJbdpPg

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A week of tasty tidbits from indie developers

Valve has announced the return of its annual summer tradition, the Steam Next Fest, which will once again offer up a huge selection of trials and demos pulled from a wide variety of ??incoming indie titles.

From Monday, June 13, Steam users will be able to download and check out "hundreds" of demos free of charge. Valve did not release a full list of the available titles, but a short trailer �which you can check out ??below �references a huge variety of spunky young developers and publishers, all of whom are no doubt hoping that you will find a few minutes to check out their wares.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gnu-nh4NI0Y

According to the above video's description, the Steam Next Fest trailer spotlights (deep breath) Arksync, BROK the InvestiGator, Cult of the Lamb, Daydream Forgotten Sorrow, Exophobia, Foretales, Gestalt Steam Cinder, Glimmer in Mirror, Harmony's Odyssey, King of the Hat, LEGO Bricktales, Misc. A Tiny Tale, Nine Sols, Eyes in the Dark, Fays Factory, and Ghost Song. Of course, these titles make up just a sliver of the demos that will be spo??tlit during the event.

Steam Next Fest will end on Monday, June 20, so you have a full seven days to check out as many dem?os as you choose. As this "non-E3" week is already a pretty busy one in regard to live streams, news, and reveals, it might be hard to find space for "hundreds" of releases, but, hopefully, all interested parties will find at least a few new games to add to your Steam wishlist.

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The not-so-Nice Guys

In a week expected to be jam-packed with rumors and leaks, the loudest whispers of the past 24 hours concern Metal Gear creat??or Hideo Kojima and his studio, Kojima Productions �according to the word around town, the studio is preparing to reveal a brand new horror title, going by the name of "Overdose."

The rumor was sparked by professional spoiler Tom Henderson, who has an uncanny knack for being very right in these matters. Writing on Try Hard Guides, Henderson claims to have already seen the first teaser trailer for Overdose, which sees a young woman �played by Margaret Qualley of Death Stranding, The Nice Guys, and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood?? �picking her way through a creepy corridor by torchlight.

While this remains a mere rumor at present, Henderson's word has been proven correct on numerous occasions. In fact, (as noted by VGC) Henderson has gone on to claim that Kojima Productions has directly requested the removal of his words, in a tweet that has itself been removed. If Kojima and pals are preparing to reveal Overdose, then one would surmise that we can see it during this season's gaming news digest �perhaps during Thursday's Summer Game Fest,? hosted by Kojima's speed-dial buddy Geoff Keighley.

Either way, it's exciting news, people have been linking Hideo Kojima to horror for many years, (lest we forget P.T.), and he has already proven he knows his way around a creepy character or two in the Metal Gear and Death Stranding titles. If Overdose exists, then it could prove to be the realization of the scary, Silent Hill-type adventure that has eluded the s?tudio thus ?far.

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Something to look forward to

E3 was already struggling before the pandemic hit, so its gradual departure over the past few years seemed to be a long time coming. While it may not have taken anyone by surprise, it was still pretty sad to see an event that had become such a staple of the gaming industry close its doors indefinitely. We've had plenty of other news streams to keep us busy, but it just hasn't quite been the same. So naturally, we're pretty excited to hear from the Entertainment Software Association (the organization that runs E3) that the event will be back fully in person in 2023 after three years, as they told The Washington Post.

As ESA president and CEO Stan Pierre-Louis told the site: "We’re e?xcited about coming back in 2023 with both a digital and an in-person event. As much as we love these digital events, and as much as they reach people and we want that global reach, we also know that there’s a really strong desire for people to convene—to be able to connect in person and see each other and talk about what makes games great."

E3 had already been in a transition period before the pandemic hit �the event had been struggling with attendance and its own identity for years. They were making big changes, like allowing fans to attend what was previously a trade-only event in 2015, but even that wasn't enough to keep them a??float with many of the large companies ??opting for their own solo press conferences.

While it can be a lot of fun to have one huge event to look forward to every year, some have considered the benefits of sunsetting E3 for good, like more games being able to s?tand out when the press is paced more evenly throughout the year, rather than being dumped on us all at once.

As an LA local, I'd love to be able to go in per?son again for E3 2023, but I know for others it's not that simple. I guess now it's just a waiting game to see if the ESA actually pulls through on this one.

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No days off for anybody

Legendary developer/publisher Capcom is getting in on the summer streaming lark, and has announced that it will be hosting its own dedicated "Capcom Showcase" live stream o??n June 13. The stream is expected to last around 35 minutes and will feature updates on previously announced Capcom titles.

While the itinerary for the show will be released at a later date, it seems likely that we can expect hot news and footage from Resident Evil Village VR/DLC, Resident Evil 4 Remake, Pragmata, Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak, and, of course, Street Fighter 6. Capcom has been on an?? undeniable roll these past three yea??rs, releasing hit after hit and watching its own stock climb high. The company will no doubt be hoping to continue its success into 2023 and beyond.

If you want to check out the action for yourself, then you can tune into the stream on Monday, June 13, at 15:00 PT / 18:00 ET / 23:00 BST. The Capcom Showcase will be hosted on the company's social media channels, including YouTube, Twitter, and TikTok. We wil??l also be hosting the event right here on D?estructoid, so join us for half an hour of thrilling updates and grumpy discourse.

//twitter.com/CapcomUSA_/status/15339645728??47222787?s=20&t=??vU40ucS2r-sAsisj3-AWRg

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Publisher to appear at 'regional events'

With Friday's Sony State of Play presentation, the summer gaming news season is officially underway. But before we have even gotten close to the season's Gamescom 2022 showcase, developer/publisher Nintendo has already announced that it wi?ll not be in attendance for the August event.

In a statement to German news outlet Games Wirtschaft, (later republished by VGC), Nintendo Europe noted that it will not be joining the other industry figureheads?? gathering in Cologne, and will inste?ad be low-key showcasing its various wares at several smaller, regional trade shows in and around Germany.

"Gamescom is a key event in Nintendo’s calendar of events," writes Nintendo. "This year, however, after careful consideration, we have decided against participating in Colo??gne. Instead, players will be able to try out the games for Nintendo Swit?ch at numerous events throughout Germany."

"Events that have been firmly scheduled so far inclu??de [...] the SWR Summer Festival and the Stuttgart Children and Youth Festival. For Japan and video game fans, we have decided to participate in the Main Matsuri Japan Festival in Frankfurt as well as the DoKomi in DĂĽsseldorf and the AnimagiC in Mannheim. Further tour stops and activities are being planned."

"We look forward to s?eeing our fans again at many regional events."

Gamescom joins an expanding list of 2022 events wherein Nintendo will not be putting in an appearance. The studio has become increasingly introverted in regard to news distribution for its ongoing projects, preferring instead to stick to its Nintendo Direct live streams and the occasional "Treehouse" demonstration. Even its flagship fighter, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, will not be featured i?n the international fighting game tournament EVO 20?22. It seems, for this year at any rate, Nintendo remains insistent on sitting at its own exclusive table.

Gamescom 2022, which returns in a semi-physical capacity for the first time in two years, will take place in Cologne, Germany between August 24-28. The event will feature news, reveals, playable demos, interviews, and the annual Opening Night Live showcase, once again hosted by organizer Geoff Keighley.

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