E3 2021 has drawn to a close, but it 'eaves behand a huge range of announcements, reveals, and game footage to pick over. And we've rounded up a suite of the biggest announcements and trailers from the biggest gaming event of the year.
We've now seen a showcases from Xbox and Bethesda, Nintendo, Ubisoft ,Gearbox, and more. And out own Future Games Show Summer Showcase had a huge range of games to see. Suffice to say this E3 has been a bumper one, and that even with a suite of games like Fable 4 and Avowed MIA, as well as Sony not having a presence to show off upcoming PS5 games.
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So here is a bountiful selection of the best E3 2021 announcements and trailers all pulled together for your viewing pleasure.
Halo Infinite
We didn't get the big Halo Infinite reveal we would have expected from Microsoft at E3. But we did get a major multiplayer trailer.
And it looks like Halo Infinite will hark back to the multiplayer days of Halo 3, with punchy action complemented by new abilities, such as using a grappling hook to pull yourself up to vantage points.
Elden Ring
Elden Ring was finally given a proper reveal, and it looks rather fantastic. It's clearly a game in the vein of Dark Souls, but with next-gen graphics, and makes no effort to hide that. But it does feature a horse, which could improve the traversal of what appears to be a ruined dark fantasy world.
With George R. R. Martin contributing to the story, Elden Ring could be layered with more twists and mystery than even the most obtuse of Dark Souls games. It' set for a release on January 21, 2022.
Battlefield 2042
Actual gameplay for Battlefield 2042 as finally revealed at the E3 2021 Xbox and Bethesda Games Showcase.
It looks a lot like an upgraded version of Battlefield 4, hence the 2042 name, but based further in the future. Action will be frenetic and mixed up by maps being hit by extreme weather.
Starfield
We didn't see any proper game footage for Starfield, but we had more detailed reveal, which teased life on board a hard sci-fi spaceship.
This looks like a big space-based magnum opus for Bethesda. And it's going to be Xbox and PC exclusive when it arrives November 11, 2022.
Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2
Okay, so we'd hoped for a gameplay showcase of Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2 at the Nintendo Direct E3 2021 showcase. But we didn't get that.
However, a solid teaser trailer showed off some game footage and it looks like a solid evolution over its predecessor, aka one of the best Nintendo Switch games ever made. And what's more Breath of the Wild 2 is confirmed to be coming in 2022, we just don't know when exactly.
Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora
Arguably the biggest reveal at Ubisoft Forward, Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora was both used to show off a game take on James's Cameron's film and the new Snowdrop engine, which look truly next-gen.
We're not sure anyone was asking for an Avatar game, but it's coming in 2022 for PS5, Xbox Series X and PC. We'll have to wait to hear more as the year moves on.
Metroid Dread
At the Nintendo Direct showcase, we got a surprise reveal of Metroid Dread; it wasn't the Metroid 4 some might have been expecting but a welcome return of Samus Aran.
It's a Nintendo Switch platformer full of Metroid moves and environments that tell a story. It's coming October 8, 2021.
Guardians of the Galaxy
At the Square Enix E3 showcase, Eidos Montreal's next game will put you in the boots of Star-Lord's boots, in an action-adventure title that promises to embrace the frenetic action of the Guardians of the Galaxy movies.
Coming October 26, Guardians of the Galaxy looks to blend a heavy dose of action with humor and banter one would expect between the rag-tag bunch of misfits.
Jurassic World Evolution 2
Jurassic World Evolution 2 is the sequel to Jurassic World Evolution. in the first game, players tried their hands at running a park full of dinosaurs brought back from extinction.
This time, it looks like player will need to take control of an island where a dino outbreak has happened. Corralling the prehistoric creatures is the aim of the game, but details are thin on the ground. It's coming at some point in 2021.
Microsoft Flight Simulator
Microsoft Flight Simulator is coming to the Xbox Series X and Series S. That's not a big surprise, but the game looks very good.
It's coming July 27, so best clear some space on your console's SSD.
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chernobyl
Game footage of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chernobyl was revealed, showcasing action in the Chernobyl exclusion zone, full of anomalies and irradiated creatures that aren't exactly friendly.
The game looks bleakly beautiful and is set to come to Xbox Series X, Series S and PC on April 28, 2022.
Life Is Strange Remastered Collection
The Life Is Strange games are getting the remastered treatment, which should appeal to fans of the cult game.
Those who've not played it can give it a go on September 30, and enjoy enhanced graphics and character animation.
Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope
Following on from Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle, Sparks of Hope sees the mix up of Mario, Lugi, Princes Peach and pals with the collection ow wacky Rabbids characters on a mission to undertake "a galactic journey to defeat a malevolent entity."
Expect an evolution in game mechanics over its predecessor, more maps, weapons and skills to try out, as well as what looks like a tighter top-down view to draw you deeper into the world of Mario + Rabbids. It's coming to Nintendo Switch in 2022.
Far Cry 6
We've already seen Far Cry 6 in action, and it looks like a typical Far Cry game with extras added to it. But E3 2021 saw Ubisoft server up a trailer that revealed more aobut dictator Antón Castillo, who's set to be the game's main antagonist.
There was also a trailer for Far Cry 6: Season Pass, which will see players fill the shoes of the antagonists from previous Far Cry games, notably Vaas Montenegro and Pagan Ming, to explore the backstories of these eclectic villains.
Evil Dead: The Game
Evil Dead: The Game will see player step into the shoes of Ash Williams, or his pals, as they find a way to close a breach between this world and an evil one. Obviously inspired by the Evil Dead movies and TV series, the game is based around multiplier third-person co-op.
As in Left 4 Dead, players can chose to be the titular "Evil" and take on Ash and his pals by possessing zombies of various sizes and guises. It's coming at some point in 2021.
Vampire: The Masquerade: Bloodhunt
Vampire: The Masquerade: Bloodhunt is a battle royale game based in the World of Darkness: the same setting as the upcoming Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodline 2.
The game will revolve around rival vampire groups, fighting to survive from an attack by a secret society called The Entity. To do this, the vampires will have a variety of supernatural power at their disposal. The free-to-play game is now accepting registrations for its closed alpha test on PC, which is set to go live on July 2.
Rainbow Six Extraction
Rainbow Six Extraction revolves around a three-player squad undertaking a rescue mission to extract people captured by a weird alien threat known as the Archean.
It's all about a players vrs. environment action rather than two teams battling it out. And it'll be set across 12 maps with procedurally generated challenges and a whole mix of enemies that become a more challenging threat the deeper players get into said maps. But new operators will come with new weapons and abilities ot take on this threat, come September 16.
Call of Duty: Warzone Season 4
Call of Duty: Warzone Season 4 got a cinematic trailer, showing off a new masked antagonist who seems pretty handy in a fight. It would appear that Season 4's conflict will be based around battling to gain control of a satellite crash zone.
Expect new maps, modes, weapons, perks, player skins and more, for both Black Ops Cold War and Warzone. This free content update goes live June 17.
Redfall
Redfall is a co-op game where you'll fill the boots of a vampire slayer to protect the quaint island town of Redfall, Massachusetts, which is under siege by a legion of vampires who have blocked out the sun and cut the island off from the outside world.
Developed by Arkane Austin, the game unsurprisingly has a whiff of Dishonored about it. So expect fantastical abilities and creative weapons. It's coming to Xbox Series X, Series S and PC in Summer 2022.
Dungeons & Dragons: Dark Alliance
We saw some game footage for Dungeons & Dragons: Dark Alliance, a co-op hack-and-slash RPG based in the Baldur's Gate universe.
So far, it looks like a frenetic swords-and-sorcery game that will see four players cut down swaths of Dungeon & Dragons monsters. It's coming June 22.
Back 4 Blood
Back 4 Blood is the spiritual successor to Left 4 Dead and we've been given a new gameplay trailer to see what all the co-op action is about.
Unsurprisingly, it the four-player zombie survival shooter looks like an evolved take on Left 4 Dead, updated for new hardware and containing action to keep the slaying of the undead feeling fresh.
Death Stranding: Director's Cut
The most bizarre trailer of the Summer Game Fest goes to Death Stranding: Director's Cut, which featured player character Sam Bridges as he figured out how to equip a cardboard box. This gave off major Metal Gear vibes.
As for the game itself, expect a longer version of the original title from Kojima Productions, upgraded for the PS5. There's no release date right now, but expect a more through reveal in the coming weeks.
Age of Empires 4
Age of Empires 4 got a gameplay trailer and it looks like the familiar action of the Age of Empires games has been updated for 2021 standards.
How fresh that will feel when we have epic battles of the Total War games has yet to be seen. We'll find out on October 28, 2021.
Forza Horizon 5
Driving game fans rejoice as Forza Horizon 5 is coming on November 9. And it looks fantastic, likely tapping into the power of the latest Xbox and PC hardware.
You can expect to take a suite of supercars across dusty Mexican roads and lush jungles.
The Outer Worlds 2
Coming with a new solar system and new crew, The Outer Worlds 2 looks to build upon the colorful and zany setting of its predecessor.
There's not a lot to go off at the moment or any release date, but at least we know The Outer Worlds 2 is in the works.
Atomic Heart
We don't know what to say about Atomic Heart other than it looks like a creepy first-person shooter and open-world adventure game with an odd plot to unravel.
The game takes place in the Soviet Union in an alternative reality sometime in 1955, where technology like the internet, holograms and robots have already been invented. Your character, a special agent called P-3, will need to despatch a fair few of those robots by the looks of it.
Xbox Mini Fridge
Microsoft revealed an Xbox Series X inspired mini fridge...
Yes, really. It's coming "Holiday 2021."
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