What to Expect if You Missed the Game Awards
For those in the gaming industry and community alike, The Game Awards is the time of year where the best of the best are shown off and awarded for their painstaking efforts. An award show on par with the Oscars, celebrities and industry favorites present award winners while industry favorites and celebrities present some of the projects they've been working on. With fans eagerly awaiting news or trailers of games currently in development, the awards is also a chance for developers to present new morsels of content for games yet to be announced. Both old and new, I have wrapped up all the news to come out The Game Awards this year.
Death Stranding
Fans have been eagerly awaiting a new Death Stranding trailer since last years Game Awards, and with Hideo Kojima and Guillermo del Toro both present we were sure to get something. The new trailer shows Norman Reedus as part of a team investigative team, and we are left with more questions than answers as the team is attacked by invisible monsters and a massive being causes an explosion. We also get shots of the fetus in what seems to be a life-preserving pod that we saw del Toro's character protecting in the last trailer. Why are they protecting it, and what does it have to do with the black liquid? Regardless, the trailer is just the latest cinematic from Kojima explaining his latest gaming masterpiece, and hopefully, we will get to see some gameplay soon. The title will release as a PS4 exclusive with no release date confirmed as of yet.
Soul Calibur VI
The last Soul Calibur game in the main series was released five years ago, and fans were plenty ready for a new one with this Soul Calibur VI trailer from Bandai Namco. The trailer takes place in the 16th century, and shows an epic clash between series regulars Mitsurugi and Sophitia. While we do not have to many details, we know that the game will revisit the events of the first Soul Calibur game, and will include a "diverse lineup of new and returning characters." Along with new characters there will be new mechanics including Reversals Edge, which "enables characters to clash against each other and follow-up with powerful counterattacks based on their opponent’s actions" says a press release from Bandai. The new title is set to release sometime in 2018 for PS4, Xbox One, and PC.
Bayonetta 3
While Bayonetta 2 was a WiiU exclusive back in 2014, Nintendo seems to be continuing this tradition as Bayonetta 3 has been confirmed as a Switch exclusive. We currently know that the series will once again be developed by Platinum Games, and shows the return of the series hero Bayonetta fighting an equally powerful force in the form a purple entity. Along with the new title Nintendo will re-release Bayonetta 1 as a digital version and Bayonetta 2 as a physical version in a bundle for the Switch on February 16. There is currently no release date for Bayonetta 3.
Smith and Smitherson Accounting+
If you've ever watched the Adult Swim series Rick and Morty, or watched any of their behind the scenes shenanigans, you can get a sense of how off-the-wall bonkers co-creator Justin Roiland is. This seemingly shows in the trailer for his and Squanchtendo new game Smith and Smitherson Accounting +, which takes you for a loop as you meet a goopy little monster who wants to know how you got there and to "Get the f**ck out of here!!" The accounting+ is definitely shown off, as you do anything but accounting as you slice open a man, play xylophone on a man's bones, and set everything on fire? Whatever the point of this game really is underneath the chaos, this VR adventure is going to take you for one hell of a ride this December 19th.
Metro: Exodus
A4 Games presented the newest title in their series, Metro: Exodus. Following the events of Metro: Last Light, players will once again play as Artyom as they continue to follow his story. The game "blends deadly combat and stealth with exploration and survival horror" according to the website, and will allow players to explore open worlds that span an entire year in-game. Beginning in Moscow and venturing out, Artyom will experience different climates in winter, spring, summer, and fall; while meeting characters from previous titles along the way. Set for 2018, the title will release for Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and PC.
Witchfire
It seems like The Vanishing of Ethan Carter developer, The Astronauts, are returning to their horror roots in this gothic-style first person shooter Witchfire. Players are transported to a supernatural hell as they shoot their way through ghouls and goblins. While there has been no release date or confirmations of platforms, this survival horror shooter looks pretty gritty.
In The Valley of the Gods
Firewatch developers Campo Santo introduced its newest title In the Valley of Gods. With Egypt making a comeback in games like Assassins Creed and possibly the new Tomb Raider game, this single-player adventure game takes you inside ancient pyramids and tombs in Egypt. While there was no dialogue in the trailer, Campo Santo's previous work implies that the adventure will explore the story and relationship between your treasure hunting partner and yourself. In the Valley of Gods is slated for a 2019 release.
Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild DLC The Champion's Ballad
With Breath of the Wild taking home three awards this year, including Game of the Year, Nintendo gave fans a gift for their support with the premiere of The Champion's Ballad DLC. A new dungeon will give you the new One-Hit Obliterato weapon, and if players have freed all the Divine Beasts, will be able to ride the the Master Cycle Zero across Hyrule!! Players can also complete new quests added to the journal that will give you new weapons and armor from nine new chests like Zant’s helmet, Phantom Ganon’s armor, Ravio’s hood, the Royal Guard Uniform, the Ancient Bridle and Saddle for your horse, and Link's Island Lobster Shirt from the Wind Waker. The Champion's Ballad DLC is now available for the WiiU and the Nintendo Switch if you have the Expansion Pass.
World War Z
"We though the army would crush them....but nothing worked!!" Indie developer Saber Interactive has taken on the challenge of turning the Max Brooks novel inspired blockbuster film World War Z into a game. This four-player co-op follows "unique survivor stories and missions around the globe" according to their press release. Players will use the environment around them in New York, Moscow, and Jerusalem to try and stave off the rush of rapid of zombies or "zekes" as they are known in the movie. Paramount Picture executive Bil Bertini says that "Saber has tons of experience working on high-quality games and they've done a great job capturing the massive, frantic hordes of 'zekes' that sets our franchise apart.." World War Z the game is slated for 2018 on PS4, Xbox One, and PC, just in time to get fans excited for World War Z 2.
GTFO
10 Chambers Collective (Payday, Payday 2) warns players to GTFO in this new 4 player co-op horror shooter. The developer warns that this game was as nerve-wracking to develop as it is to play, and that it is not for the faint of heart. Team member Simon Viklund says "Every expedition in GTFO is unique and the game lets you make informed decisions on what equipment and weapons to bring - but even then survival is not guaranteed." GTFO is not a game for lone wolves, and is highly dependent on the choices made as a team as they attempt to make their way through a maze of ever changing challenges. While consoles were not confirmed, this title is set to drop sometime in 2018 with an announcement date later this year.
Shadows Die Twice (?)
Dark Souls creators From Software was EXTREMELY vague with the trailer for what may be their newest project, Shadows Die Twice. While we are not even sure this is the real title, From Software president Hidetaka Miyazaki has previously stated that they were working on a "wierd" new game. While some are speculating that it will be a Bloodbourne sequel, others are hoping it could be a return to Demon Souls. With the Playstation Experience happening this weekend, here's to hoping that we will receive more than a rope and a bone.
Vacation Simulator
What happens when robots go in rest and relaxation mode for a while? This is what Owlchemy Labs (Jobs Simulator) is prepared to answer in Vacation Simulator. Perform relaxing tasks like playing with sea creatures, enjoying food off the grill, and playing some beach volleyball all on PSVR, HTC Vive, and Oculus this 2018 maybe? Probably.