The first of the E3 2018 press conferences has just ended. On 10th June, the EA Play Live press conference kicked off with a view of upcoming games and services that fans can expect from the publisher. Here’s the lowdown.
Battlefield V
First up, we have Battlefield V, which releases on 19th October 2018. The game cements itself deep in World War II, inspired by the untold stories of the men and women of that time. Packed with an improved destruction system, EA hopes for this to be the best iteration of Battlefield yet.
The developers also reiterate a recently-known fact that the game will feature no loot boxes or premium passes. Aside from that, they announce that the game will get a new Battle Royale mode later after launch. This mode follows closely in the footsteps of PUBG and Fortnite, where players vie to become the last person standing.
You can check out the multiplayer trailer below:
A deeper dive into Battlefield V’s Nordlys War Story will be shown at Microsoft’s E3 2018 live press conference on June 11th, 4am GMT+8.
EA Sports
FIFA 19 continues to use the Frostbite Engine, with added polishes for its 28th September release. This includes gameplay changes through community feedback from beginners and pros alike. The company also announces that it has obtained the UEFA Champions League licence, giving FIFA 19 a near monopoly over major licenses. For the singleplayer fans out there, we will also see the end to Alex Hunter’s story with the third and final installment of Journey.
Below is the trailer for FIFA 19, which also uses music from acclaimed composer Hans Zimmer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQB3xBSFlYw
But that’s not all. In commemoration of the World Cup, EA announces an update to FIFA 18. The game now enters a free trial period, so fans who don’t own FIFA 18 can play the game for a limited time.
We also got a brief look at Madden NFL 19 and NBA Live 19. The games release on 10th August and 7th September 2018 respectively.
Check out the trailers below:
Origin Access Premier
Andrew Wilson, CEO of EA Games comes up on stage to explain a new subscription service called Origin Access Premier. For $15 a month or $100 a year, players can get access to everything in EA’s PC catalogue, including EA’s upcoming games at the press conference such as Battlefield V, FIFA 19, Anthem, and more.
Learn more about Origin Access Premier here.
Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order
Respawn Entertainment of Titanfall fame teases at its upcoming project. Called Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order, the game takes place in the dark times of the Jedi, in between Episodes III and IV. Not much is known about the project right now, but we should hear more about it as we enter next year.
Star Wars: Battlefront II
More from EA DICE are updates on Star Wars: Battlefront II. The game is about the enter its Solo season, which revolves around the pilot Han Solo and is based on the recent film. Aside from that, the company also plans to bring the Clone Wars from Episode II to the game in the future. The first major battlefield for that update begins on Geonosis. Players will also get to play as new Heroes and Villains. These characters include General Grievous, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Count Dooku, and Anakin Skywalker.
Unravel Two
A change-up from the stream of guns and sports is Unravel Two. Perhaps one of the bigger surprises from this conference is that the puzzle platformer is done and available for purchase right now. Furthermore, the game now features two-player co-op, in which Yarny and another character share the same yarn to overcome various challenges.
Check out the trailer and gameplay demo below:
Unravel Two costs $19.99 and is available on Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and Origin for PC.
Sea of Solitude
Following A Way Out’s runaway success, the next EA Original to look out for is Sea of Solitude. Developed by indie Berlin team Jo-Mei, the game is set in a world where lonely people transform into monsters. You play as a young woman who turns into such a monster and must embark on a journey to unravel this phenomenon and hopefully revert her transformation. The game aims to explore how people experience different kinds of loneliness, as well as their struggle.
Below is the reveal trailer for Sea of Solitude:
Command & Conquer: Rivals
EA brings back Command & Conquer… as a mobile game. The real-time strategy series is re-envisioned for the mobile platform to feature gameplay reminiscent to Clash Royale. At the press conference, two eSports players, InControL and NickatNyte, take to stage to show off some gameplay. The whole ordeal also comes complete with eSports shoutcasters. Probably not what Command & Conquer fans were expecting.
You can watch the trailer below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fyNXQpAFQJc
The game is currently available for early access on Android, which you can try here.
Anthem
Last but not least, we get a sneak peak at Bioware’s upcoming open-world co-op game, Anthem. The press conference starts this off with a stunning new trailer:
In a brief interview session, the team at Bioware discuss how they intend to integrate story into multiplayer. The singleplayer story largely happens at the base, Tarsis. Using this format, Bioware should be able to structure the story in such a way that makes adding new DLC story content easy for years to come.
Once players are outside, however, they can team up with other players to explore a shared world. Time of day and weather are all shared for these players, which Bioware hopes will bolster feelings of camaraderie. Players in the game are called Freelancers, who pilot exosuits called Javelins as they explore a dangerous world. There are four classes of Javelins, each offering a unique playstyle; Ranger, Colossus, Interceptor, and Storm.
Also below is a demo showcasing Anthem in action:
E3 2018 is just getting started and EA Play Live is but a small slice of it. Microsoft’s press conference happens next on 11th June, 4am GMT+8. You can watch the live stream of the Microsoft press conference on Twitch, YouTube, or Facebook. Stay tuned for more information on upcoming games and reveals.
