A look at the next Mass Effect and a new game from BioWare

EA's E3 presentation this year was a bit different. While most games were known quantities, some were given stage time even though they're barely into production and were still at the conceptual level. BioWare gave a look at what it's working on for the next Mass Effect game, in development at the BioWare Montreal studio, while the BioWare Edmonton studio gave a look at their new game not set in any previous BioWare franchise. It's a nice to see the early stages of development rarely seen, but at the same time, it's a bit disappointing for a studio like BioWare to come to press conference with nothing substantial to show. There currently is no date for the next Mass Effect game but presumably, it will come to the Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC, while BioWare's other untitled game is still sparse for platforms or timeframe.

Destruction and tactics play a role in Rainbow Six: Siege

Like they have for the past two years with Watch Dogs and The Division, Ubisoft left their last secret for last its E3 presentation this year with Rainbow Six: Siege. After the development limbo that Rainbow Six: Patriots was in, Ubisoft decided to go back to the drawing board and create something more inspired by the tactical roots of the Rainbow Six series. Siege is a multiplayer first game that relies on teamwork and communication in a Counter-Strike styled round-based shooter. Destruction plays a big part, and though the demo above runs on the Anvil Next engine, the small scale of the environment like a two-story house allows the team to create much more dynamic destruction that can give players tactical advantages in a standoff. Rainbow Six: Siege is scheduled to release in 2015 for the Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC.

The many meanings of X in Mortal Kombat X

After spending their time with Injustice, NetherRealm Studios is returning to the Mortal Kombat franchise with the 10th installment, simply called Mortal Kombat X. The announcement trailer above shows off the vision they're going for with brutal hits and interactivity within stages. GameSpot has a video of gameplay which was shown during the Sony E3 presentation. Creative director Ed Boon stated Mortal Kombat X is a continuation from Mortal Kombat in 2011 and the story goes as far 25 years into the future, introducing some new characters such as D'Vorah, Ferra/Torr, Kotal Kahn, and Cassie Cage, the daughter of Johnny Cage and Sonya Blade. Mortal Kombat X is releasing in 2015 for the Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC.

Concrete is no match for the Batmobile in Batman: Arkham Knight

Rocksteady returns to its Batman series with Arkham Knight, taking a more original approach with a new antagonist and incorporates the Batmobile. The gameplay video above highlights how the Batmobile moves, especially in combat with its ability to strafe left at right. When in driving mode, the power of the Batmobile shines through, plowing through barriers as if they were made of styrofoam. And while the Scarecrow is being positioned as the main villain of the game, the Arkham Knight looks to be taking the role of making Batman's job harder as he takes a more militaristic approach to crime in Gotham. Batman: Arkham Knight was originally slated for late 2014 but was pushed back to 2015 when it will come for the Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC.

The Division paints a gruesome picture of Christmas in New York

Ubisoft gave another look at their upcoming MMO shooter The Division at both the Microsoft E3 presentation and its own E3 presentation this year. In the gameplay video above, a team cascades down on a base of operations, taking it from opposition through teamwork, tactics, and planning. A careful eye will spot one of the players on the team of four is supporting through use of a tablet as he uses drones and turrets. Ubisoft also released a cinematic trailer, as seen below, highlighting the narrative connotations for why the players will be fighting in The Division. The use of stop-motion and the small ambient details paint a picture that lets your mind fill in the gaps of how gruesome life is after what remains. The Division, which originally was slated for a late 2014 late, is now pushed back to 2015 for the Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and, thanks to a petition, PC.

A conceptual look at the next Mirror's Edge

It's been a year since DICE showed off anything about the next Mirror's Edge game. Rather than show a normal CG trailer, they elected for a more conceptual look, talking about some of the ways they're building off the first Mirror's Edge. The main things they focus on are movement through the environment, looking at the world as a puzzle to solve through parkour. That parkour also plays into combat, using acrobatic moves and geometry to get the upper hand against enemies. The video doesn't show a gun in Faith's hands at any point, only in enemies', so hopefully it will stay that way into the final game. While DICE didn't announce a release date for the next Mirror's Edge, it is known that it will be coming to the Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC.

The dual sides of combat in Dragon Age: Inquisition

BioWare showed off more of Dragon Age: Inquisition at the Microsoft E3 presentation with a focus on the action gameplay, as seen in the new trailer above. During the EA E3 presentation, however, they went deeper into the mechanics of combat, highlighting the tactical mode, where combat can be paused and the player can issue commands as in previous Dragon Age games. GameSpot has a video showing more action-orientated combat where the camera takes an over-the-shoulder third-person view of the battle. Dragon Age: Inquisition releases for the Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC on October 7.

Monster hunting finally comes to The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

Geralt of Rivera, the White Wolf, is a Witcher, a monster hunter. But beyond narrative concessions, there hasn’t been much actual hunting of monsters in a Witcher game. That changes with The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. GameSpot has a video of the gameplay segment CD Projekt RED showed off during the Microsoft E3 presentation, where Geralt sets off tracking a griffin. Using his heightened senses, he follows the griffin through an area of the open-world called No Man’s Land, until finally coming to battle with the griffin. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is the conclusion to CD Projekt RED’s Witcher series and releases for the Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC on February 24, 2015.

Square Enix announces two new Tomb Raider sequels

Not only did Square Enix announce a sequel to 2013's Tomb Raider, Rise of the Tomb Raider, during the Microsoft E3 presentation, but during the post-show on Spike, they also announced another sequel, Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris. The announcement trailer for Rise of the Tomb Raider shows Lara with a therapist, talking over her frustrations and anxieties over what happened in the previous game. It might be an interesting framing device if that's how Rise of the Tomb Raider is structured, but it works well enough for the trailer. Supposedly, the name Rise of Tomb Raider implies there will be a lot more focus on tombs and exploring in the sequel than the first game. Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris, however, is a follow-up to Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light, which I reviewed when it came out in 2010. It's an isometric puzzle platformers with twin-stick shooter controls, and with up to four player co-op now instead of just two, I can only imagine how complex and intricate the puzzles will be. Rise of the Tomb Raider is scheduled for holiday 2015 for, presumably, the Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC, while Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris has no date announced yet, but has been confirmed for the Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC.

Assassin's Creed Unity features co-op and crowds

While Assassin's Creed is an annual franchise, it still finds way to set itself apart each year. This year's Assassin's Creed Unity does that by moving the setting to Paris during the French Revolution and introduces a new assassin, Arno Dorian. Unity has a big focus on crowds, as can be seen in the singleplayer demo above. Navigation seems to be streamlined as well, making the transition from rooftop to ground quicker and smoother. But Assassin's Creed Unity also incorporates a co-op feature, a natural evolution of the Wolfpack mode from Assassin's Creed 3, allowing you to go on missions with three others to create interesting and new assassination techniques. You can see a demo of a co-op mission below. And because Assassin's Creed games always have trailers set to succinct music, you can also watch the Assassin's Creed Unity cinematic trailer set to Lorde's cover of "Everybody Wants to Rule the World." Assassin's Creed Unity releases for the Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and (tentatively) PC on October 28.

Call of Duty jumps into the future with Advanced Warfare

Sledgehammer Games is finally getting their hand in the Call of Duty series this year with Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare. As the name implies, the setting is pushed into the future to 2054 where exoskeletons, hover bikes, drones, and jetpacks are all part of your arsenal. The gameplay trailer, titled Induction, debuted at the Microsoft E3 conference and highlights the new engine designed specifically for current-generation consoles, while High Moon Studios is working on the previous-generation versions. Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare will release for the Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC on November 4.

Alien: Isolation - The difference an S can make.

Remember how terrible Aliens: Colonial Marines turned out to be? From its retconning narrative that conflicted with the films, despite its position as the official sequel, to its stilted animations and unspectacular gameplay, it unquestionably set a low-point for the Aliens franchise in video games.

Back in October of last year, Sega copyrighted the name of the next Aliens game, Alien: Isolation. The reveal trailer for it released today and it might be the Aliens game we’ve always wanted.

Alien: Isolation takes places 15 years after the events of Alien, where you play as Amanda Ripley, the daughter of Ellen Ripley. As a Weyland-Yutani engineer, Amanda takes a mission to recover the black box of the Nostromo, the last ship her mother served on. When Amanda arrives at Sevastopol space station where the black box is located, things start to go bad.

One of the main things that makes Alien: Isolation stand out from past Aliens games is that it has more to do with Alien than Aliens. It’s a survival horror game, not a first-person shooter. You don’t have a gun or any other way to defend yourself other than hiding in lockers or other compartments similar to Amnesia: The Dark Descent. There’s no HUD with a motion tracker, though you can hold one up to see if anything is nearby similar to the flashlight in Doom 3. And there’s only one alien on the space station, stalking you the entire time similar to Nemesis in Resident Evil 3: Nemesis.

Creative Assembly looks to be finding a way to capture the vibe of great horror games and combine them into Alien: Isolation. I never would have thought the developer behind the Total War series would make something so intriguing. Take a look at PC Gamer’s preview, which covers the built-from-scratch engine Creative Assembly is using and how the alien is completely AI driven, which makes sense given their Total War background. Alien: Isolation is scheduled for the Xbox One, Xbox 360, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, and PC sometime late 2014.

Assassin's Creed 4 transitions from land to sea in E3 gameplay debut

Ubisoft finally unveiled gameplay of Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag at Sony's E3 press conference, and while there were some hiccups, it looks to bring stealth back to the series. The most intriguing part of the demo was the seamless change from land to sea as Edward Kenway, grandfather of Conner Kenway from Assassin’s Creed 3, jumps from rooftop to rooftop to the back of his ship the Jackdaw, instantly taking command of it amongst a sea battle. Along with a new cinematic trailer below, Ubisoft also showed off a new gameplay trailer, featuring the song "Half Circle" by Full Moon Run, at their press conference. Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag releases on October 29 for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii U, and PC, with Xbox One and PlayStation 4 versions coming later this year.

Dragon Age 3 simply becomes Inquisition in new trailer

BioWare finally unveiled footage for the upcoming conclusion, Dragon Age: Inquisition. Dropping the number three from the title, Inquisition runs on the Frostbite 3 engine while taking inspirations from games like The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. BioWare noted the world of Inquisition would be more open than previous games with less of a focus on linear story telling. BioWare is also looking into ways to import save data from previous games where choices will affect the narrative as well as possible feature previous protagonists, as hinted at in the trailer with Morrigan showing up. Dragon Age: Inquisition is slated to release for the Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC in fall 2014.

Your first look at the new Star Wars: Battlefront

After several attempts and restarts by multiple studios, a new Battlefront is actually happening. During EA's press conference, they snuck in the above teaser trailer, showing the frigid wasteland of Hoth as a snowspeeder crashes across the screen and an AT-AT foot stomps down. It's been eight years since the last games, Battlefront 2, and with the newly christened deal between Disney and EA, DICE is set to develop the new Battlefront on the Frostbite 3 engine. There are no other details about the game beyond that. Pre-production just barely started so don't expect Battlefront to come to current generation consoles or any time before 2015.

Need for Speed: Rivals focuses on the pursuit

Need for Speed: Rivals is sounding more and more like the perfect blend of Hot Pursuit and Most Wanted after its showing at EA's press conference. Set in an open-world build in the Frostbite 3 engine, Rivals will take a stab at blending singleplayer and multiplayer by populating the world with other players while online, meaning races and pursuits between other players could happen at almost any time. Meanwhile, Rivals also has a complete singleplayer campaign for both cops and racers. Ghost Games is putting a focus the pursuit, giving tools such as spike strips and EMPs that were absent in Most Wanted. You can see the full reveal trailer shown at the press conference below. Need for Speed: Rivals releases for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC on November 19, with Xbox One and PlayStation 4 versions coming later.

Mirror's Edge 2 is coming, but it's not actually a sequel

After years of whispers about a possible sequel, EA finally unveiled a follow up to Mirror’s Edge this year at their E3 press conference. While not exactly Mirror’s Edge 2, this new game will be a prequel to the original game, telling the origin story of Faith. The game will utilize the new Frostbite 3 engine and work as an open-world game. No dates were announced for this new Mirror’s Edge, with the trailer simply saying coming when it’s ready, but it will be released for next-generation consoles and PC.

Batman spreads his wings in this E3 Arkham Origins trailer

The newest trailer for Batman: Arkham Origins was unveiled during Sony’s E3 press conference showing a noticeably younger Batman, Bane, and Joker. Developed by Warner Bros. Montreal instead of former studio Rocksteady, Arkham Origins is set as a prequel taking place during the early years of Batman’s career. Because of this, Mark Hamill and Kevin Conroy are not returning as the voice of the Joker and Batman, instead recruiting Troy Baker, who voiced Booker DeWitt in BioShock Infinite, and Roger Craig Smith. Arkham Origins takes place on Christmas Eve in Gotham as Black Mask puts out the call for five assassins to take down Batman. Three of those five, Bane, Deadshot, and Deathstroke, have been named so far with Penguin being rumored as a fourth. Batman: Arkham Origins releases on October 25 for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii U, and PC.

Battlefield 4 brings down the building with multiplayer

DICE introduced two new gameplay demos this week, one at the Microsoft press conference and another at the EA press conference, showcasing both the singleplayer and multiplayer aspects of Battlefield 4. A total of 64 people on were live on stage playing the multiplayer demo on PCs, but next-generation consoles will also support up to 64 players. While the singleplayer trailer below has the player gauntlet through a scripted escape sequence off an aircraft carrier, the multiplayer shows the level of fidelity Battlefield 4 brings with its destruction on the new Frostbite 3 engine. Battlefield 4 releases on October 29 for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC, with Xbox One and PlayStation 4 versions coming later this year.

Titanfall drops in at this year's E3

Nearly three years after its formation by former Infinity Ward founders Jason West and Vince Zampella, Respawn Entertainment finally unveiled their game, Titanfall, as the exclamation point on Microsoft’s E3 press conference. Titanfall is first-person shooter featuring a hybrid gameplay mix of on foot pilots and mechs called Titans. Despite being multiplayer only, the game aims to blend fast-paced round-based multiplayer with the cinematic singleplayer aspect of modern shooters. Built on the Source engine, Titanfall is designed to offload physics calculations and AI to servers, making matches run smoother and faster on consoles. You can see the full reveal trailer showcasing more of the story of Titanfall below. Scheduled for release in spring 2014, Titanfall will be exclusive for the Xbox One, Xbox 360, and PC.