Developer 343 Industries really wants you to know that you shouldn't expect to see Halo 6in the near future. In a post on Halo Waypoint, 343 writer Jeff Easterling reaffirmed 343's decision to not show off Halo 6at E3 and also let Halo fans know that the studio doesn't feel any immediate pressure to showcase the game in the near future. 

"While there's little to nothing that can be said on that front, it's been made clear that we won't be talking about Halo's next major title for quite some time," said Easterling. "And no, that doesn't mean Gamescom. Or PAX. Trust us, when we're ready to begin pulling back that proverbial curtain, you'll know. It won’t be soon."

Of course, it's only been two years since Halo 5 was released and the game still supports a respectably large community of players according to previous reports from Microsoft. That being the case, 343 may very well choose to wait until E3 2018 to showcase their progress on the project.

Here's everything else we know about Halo 6:

Halo 6 Release Date

Halo 6 hasn't even been officially confirmed by 343, so it might be a while before we actually get a solid release date for this sequel. The game is expected to arrive exclusively to the Xbox One.

Halo 6 Story

Kiki Wolfkill, head of 343 Industries, and longtime Halo director Frank O'Connor recently gave an interview to GameTM magazine in which the two acknowledged the disappointment some fans felt when they realized that Master Chief wasn't the focus of Halo 5.

"We very much realized that people wanted Master Chief's story of Halo 5," said O'Connor. "We definitely marketed in a way that we hoped was going to bring surprise, but for some fans and certainly fans of Master Chief, it was a huge disappointment because they wanted more Chief."

O'Conner goes on to say that he wasn't so much surprised by the reaction of fans who wanted to see more of Master Chief, but that he perhaps didn't quite fully appreciate just how much stock fans put into wanting to play as Master Chief at the outset of a new Halo adventure. He acknowledges that Chief is "slightly more important now than he has ever been, certainly to our franchise."

Understandably, O'Connor and Wolfkill are remaining coy as it pertains to any plans they may have in place to address this issue in Halo 6, but they did note that they plan on dialing back on introducing more characters to this universe in favor of "making the world a little bit more realistic and compelling."

There are few ways to interpret this information. It sounds highly unlikely that Halo 6 will echo Halo 5's format by primarily focusing on a new character who must live in the shadow of Master Chief. However, it may be a bit of a stretch to say that the next Halo game will focus solely on Master Chief. That's certainly a path that 343 can go down, but there's also the likely possibility that the developer will choose to focus on existing characters - including Chief - instead of expanding the universe's mythology even more. 

Halo 6 Details

During her speech at D.I.C.E., 343 Industries' general manager Bonnie Ross stated that the studio realizes it was a mistake to not develop split screen functionality for Halo 5.

"When we didn't put split screen in Halo 5, it was incredibly painful for the community and for us," said Ross. "I think it erodes trust with the community, as the community is a part of our world building."

Head of Xbox Phil Spencer had previously stated that the reason 343 dropped split-screen is because studies showed most gamers preferred to play cooperatively over Xbox Live. Given the size of the discrepancy, it was decided that it was no longer worth the development resources to continue to create similar modes. However, following the release of Halo 5, it soon became clear that those who still utilized the mode felt a sense of attachment to it that simple usage metrics could not quite account for. 

Recognizing how passionate fans are about split-screen Halo gaming, Ross stated that "For any FPS, we will always have split screen support going forward." In other words, it sounds like 343 won't be releasing another Halo game that doesn't include some kind of split-screen multiplayer option. 

E3 2018 is almost here. The Electronic Entertainment Expo may have started as an industry trade show, but it is has ballooned into a full-on spectacle. Gaming companies from across the world converge on Los Angeles in June for a week full of exclusive announcements, incredible updates, and celebrations regarding the gaming industry in general. There's nothing else like it in the video game world, and this year's event figures to be one of the best yet. 

This year's conferences will begin on Sunday, June 10 and run through Tuesday, June 12. The expo floor will be open from Tuesday, June 12, and will run until Thursday, June 14. As always, the event will be held at the Los Angeles Convention Center and the immediate surrounding area. Some studios, like Sony, have also elected to hold their conferences away from the show's main stage.

Between Microsoft making aggressive moves to get back into the console race, Sony loading up on exclusive titles, and Nintendo continuing to shock the world with its success and innovations, this year's major game studios will likely roll into E3 - or, in the case of Nintendo, an E3-themed Direct video - looking to steal the show. Competing with them are a host of major publishers - Bethesda, Ubisoft, and Electronics - that have recently been stealing the show from E3's biggest presenters. 

You can expect more and more information about E3 2018 to be leaked out in the days and weeks to come, but for now, here's everything we know about the biggest gaming show of the year:

E3 2018 Conference Dates and Times

*All times listed are ET

Bethesda: Sunday, June 10 - 9:30 p.m

Microsoft: Sunday, June 10 - 4:00 p.m (moved to the Microsoft Theater)

More dates and times as they are confirmed...

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E3 2018 Games

These are the games that have been confirmed for the convention. Click on the titles to read more about them:

The Last of Us Part II

Anthem

Battlefield 2018

The Division 2

Fortnite

E3 2018: How to Watch

While E3 2018 will be open to the public, it appears that tickets to the show have once again sold out rather quickly. Unless you qualify for a media pass - which you can double check here - you'll have to settle for watching the show from home. 

So far as that goes, you can expect that there will be plenty of ways to keep up with all the action. Every major conference from E3 should be streamed via Twitch and other popular streaming platforms. As for Nintendo, they will be publishing a special E3 Nintendo Direct video as they have done in recent years. 

We'll be sure to provide you with all the links you need to watch E3 2018's biggest conferences as more information about them becomes available.

Nintendo may be closing the shutters on its first ever mobile experiment, Miitomo, but that doesn't mean its plans for the smartphone arena are going to change any time soon. 

The company has announced via Twitter that another of its recognizable properties is going mobile. "The checkered flag has been raised and the finish line is near," the firm wrote. "A new mobile application is now in development: Mario Kart Tour!"

Mario Kart Tour continues Nintendo's theme of releasing some of its best-known properties on mobile - albeit in modified form. Mario emerged as the paid-for infinite runner, Super Mario Run, while Fire Emblem Heroes and Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp offer free-to-play experiences for touch-enabled devices.

It'll be fascinating to see how Nintendo can offer a satisfying racing experience on a smartphone without cannibalizing sales on one of its most successful console titles.

Here's everything we know about this upcoming mobile game:

Mario Kart Tour Release Date

Beyond the title, Nintendo hasn't given us much else - the app isn't due to launch until "the fiscal year ending in March 2019," which could mean it's over 12 months away. Nintendo is currently handling the development of the game while DeNA will manage the server, online infrastructure, and backend issues.

Mario Kart Tour Price

In a recent interview, DeNA exec Isao Moriyasu revealed that the game will be "free to start," which pretty much means that it'll be free to play like most of Nintendo's other mobile offerings thus far. 

Activision has confirmed that the next Call of Duty game will be Black Ops 4. The publisher has promised to reveal more information about the game on May 17 during a live stream event. Given that they noted that developer Treyarch will be attending said event, it seems safe to confirm they are the ones working on the fourth Black Ops title. 

Some reports suggest that Treyarch is even working on a Switch version of Black Ops 4. Whether or not that version of the game will launch alongside the other versions of Black Ops 4 has not been confirmed at this time. There are also reports that Black Ops 4 might be available via Battle.net. 

It makes sense that the next Call of Duty title would be Black Ops 4 considering the previous release schedule of recent Call of Duty games. Recently, Black Ops games have arrived on a three-year release schedule and it has been three years since the last Black Ops title. Furthermore, the Black Ops games have historically sold quite well in comparison to even the "main" games in the Call of Duty franchise.

What is somewhat surprising is the rumored notion that Black Ops 4's setting may be impacted by the negative reception to recent Call of Duty titles. Historically, the Black Ops games have kind of marched to their own beat. As such, it's admittedly odd to consider that the next installment in the franchise may adopt a more crowd-pleasing setting and tone. Of course, we have no doubt that some of the trademark weirdness of Black Ops series will live on regardless of the era this game happens to take place in. 

Here's what else we know about the game:

Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 Release Date

Call of Duty: Blacks Ops 4 will arrive on Oct. 12, 2018. It's coming to PS4, XBO, and PC.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 Trailer

You can watch the very first teaser trailer below:

When System Shock first released in 1994, it was something of a revelation for the first-person shooter genre. While many gamers and developers were still trying to wrap their heads around the innovations of Doom, developer Looking Glass delivered an atmospheric sci-fi masterpiece that was in many ways a precursor to titles like Half-Life and Deus Ex. What's arguably most impressive about the game, however, is just how well it's concept has aged all these years later. 

The fact was not lost on Nightdive Studios, the developer in charge of remaking this sci-fi horror classic for a new generation. If you've never heard of Nightdive, don't feel too bad. The developer's first major move in the game industry was recovering the rights to the System Shock franchise and using them to put the series back into digital distribution stores. In fact, despite a wealth of veteran development talent on staff, they've primarily focused on reviving classic PC experiences since their formation in 2012. 

You wouldn't know that this is a relatively unproven development studio, however, by looking at how well this remake is coming together. Even the words on the Kickstarter page convey their deep love and understanding of what makes this game so special. This is clearly a company that understands why System Shock has remained so popular over the years and wish to upgrade the game just enough for a new generation of gamers to be able to easily enjoy it. 

Fortunately, you don't just have to take their word on the matter of restoring System Shock to glory as Nightdive has also seen fit to release a short demo of the upcoming remake available on Steam, GOG and the Humble Store. It is, in a word, incredible. Although System Shock has been the beneficiary of a great number of mods over the years designed to improve its mechanics and visuals, even a full suite of the best mods couldn't possibly match what Nightdive has done in terms of modernizing this title without sacrificing the core gameplay. 

Here's everything else we know about the System Shock remake:

System Shock Remake Release Date

System Shock was originally set to come out in 2017, but a series of delays has pushed it back all the way to 2020. The game is coming to XBO, PS4, and PC.

System Shock Remake Trailer

This video goes over some of the areas in the game as well as the dismemberment mechanics in the remake. The game is still very much a work in progress, so none of the footage below is finalized:

Here's a first look at the Pre-Alpha version of the game running on PS4:

Here's the first promo for the game:

The Shenmue III announcement was one of the big surprises of E3 2015, leading to an initial clamor of support which saw its Kickstarter campaign well over $2m within hours of launch.

Shenmue III's $6.3m total eclipsed the previous record holder, Blood Stained: Ritual of the Night, which raised $5.5m. It's undoubtedly good news for fans of the earlier Shenmue games, and a sign of how much demand there is for a sequel among the sandbox series' cult following. But it's also some distance from the (perhaps over-ambitious) target Suzuki once set. He recently said he needed to raise $10m to make Shenmue III "a much larger, completely open world" video game.

You may recall that the first Shenmue, first released in Japan in 1999, cost a reported $70m - a staggering sum for the time, and still a significant budget for a piece of entertainment even in 2015. Shenmue III will, barring some hefty private investment added at a later date, have less than 10 percent of that budget to play with - though its designers at Ys Net will at least be able to save money by using an off-the-peg engine (Unreal Engine 4) and recycled assets from earlier entries in the series.

At any rate, the success of the Kickstarter campaign means that the once-dormant Shenmue franchise has a new lease on life. We'll just have to wait and see how Suzuki can reintroduce the series to a new generation of consoles and potential fans.

Here's everything else we know about the game:

Shenmue III Release Date

Shenmue III has been delayed to the second half of 2018.

Said the game's director, Yu Suzuki, about the delay: "By utilizing new technologies, we have been able to discover new possibilities and expressions. In many ways, the game has become bigger and more beautiful than I initially expected. We do, however, need more time to deliver the game to you." 

The game is coming to PS4 and PC.

Shenmue III Trailer

The Shenmue III team have released a teaser trailer for this highly-anticipated project, and it is...oh boy, it's rough. It's probably important to keep in mind that the game is still in the very early stages of development and, as such, this trailer is perhaps best thought of as a glorified piece of concept art for the final project. 

With that in mind, here's the first full-length teaser for Shenmue III:

Yu Suzuki's team at Ys Net shared a brief yet atmospheric taste of what it could look like:

Here's the reveal trailer that was shown at E3 2015:

Shenmue III Screenshots

Check out the screenshots released so far:

One of the most beloved entries in the Final Fantasy series is being remade from the ground up for a new generation of consoles and fans. Final Fantasy VII boasts all new visuals while delivering the same memorable story. 

Here's everything we know about this highly anticipated remake:

Final Fantasy VII Remake Release Date

Final Fantasy VII Remake doesn't have a release date as of yet. It is coming to the PlayStation 4.

Final Fantasy VII Remake Trailer

Final Fantasy VII Remake is perhaps the most highly-anticipated video game remake of all-time, built from the ground up for the PlayStation 4. This JRPG classic gets new life with all-new graphics. Basically, it's the same game you love, but it looks better than it ever has before. 

Here's a new trailer:

We'd even stopped begging at this point. The fact that we even had to keep asking Square Enix to release an HD remake in this day and age is pretty ridiculous. But all our prayers were answered at E3 2015 when Final Fantasy VII Remake was officially confirmed.

Here's the announcement trailer:

Final Fantasy VII Remake Screenshots

Final Fantasy VII Remake's director, Tetsuya Nomura, revealed two new screenshots from the long-gestating project at Magic Monaco 2017. The screenshots are from an early boss fight and show the game's hud. It's also a new glimpse at Cloud and Barret in the remake. Check the pictures out below:

Final Fantasy VII Remake Details

Square Enix has decided to transfer development of the Final Fantasy VII remake from developer CyberConnect2 to an in-house development team. 

This report comes from a Square Enix livestream (translated here by Kotaku) during which Square Enix project leader Naoki Hamaguchi referred to the decision as a "sensitive subject."

However, Hamaguchi did confirm that he has taken over development of the Final Fantasy VII remake in order to keep "production and quality in mind."

"This company decision was made wanting to control quality as well as keeping the schedule stable," said Hamaguchi.

At this time, it's not clear if this decision represents some kind of falling out with developer CyberConnect2 or if Square Enix simply decided to take the reigns on this major project in order to ensure it meets all production expectations. 

An issue Famitsu Weekly (as reported here by Gematsu) featured some quotes from Tetsuya Nomura who elaborated on how Final Fantasy VII Remake's combat system will work.

“Battles are not command-based, they’re action-based," said Nomura. "Regarding cover actions, there are places where they can be done on the map, but they are not required. Because it’s seamless, I showed that there can be actions in response to various scenes."

Nomura goes on to specifically cite the Guard Scorpion battle as a boss encounter that has been noticeably altered from its original version. He says that particular fight will have "map destruction and a great number of attacks that weren’t in the original" which will result in a "significantly flashy battle."

While it will be nice to see the combat system in action, this latest update does seem to place the remake's battle system closer to Final Fantasy XV's than Final Fantasy VII's.

Hideo Kojima, the famed creator of the Metal Gear series, returns after a brief hiatus after his highly publicized exit from Konami with his strangest concept yet: Death Stranding, a game that's all about connections, according to the developer. Kojima's goal is to create a game where players interact with each other beyond just trying to kill each other. 

The game stars Norman Reedus and Mads Mikkelsen. It also features some collaboration with beloved director Guillermo del Toro, who previously worked with Kojima on the ill-fated Silent Hills project.

Here's everything else we know:

Death Stranding Release Date

Death Stranding doesn't have a release date at the moment. The game will arrive exclusively to PS4.

“It will be out before the Olympics,” said Kojima at TGS 2016, referring to the Tokyo 2020 Games. He then went on, “To go a little further, there is a movie called Akira, and it will be out before the year in which Akira is set.” (Akira was set in 2019.)

Death Stranding Trailer

A new Death Stranding trailer premiered at The Game Awards 2017 and it's our best look at this haunting game yet! Check out the trailer below:

The second trailer for Hideo Kojima's next game was revealed at the 2016 Game Awards. The big story here is the appearance of everyone's (at least second) favorite Hannibal Lecter, Mads Mikkelsen. Check it out:

Here's the very first trailer for the game:

Death Stranding Cast

Norman Reedus will star in the game and he will be joined by Mads Mikkelsen, who appears to play one of the antagonists. Guillermo del Toro will also appear in the game as revealed by the game's second trailer. 

Emily O'Brien posted a picture on her Instagram account that confirmed that she and Troy Baker have joined the Death Stranding cast.

Death Stranding Gameplay

Hideo Kojima continues to leak out Death Stranding information a trickle at a time. The game auteur took the stage at a Tokyo game conference today and provided the briefest of glimpses regarding Death Stranding's design intent.

Death Stranding will be an action game with open world elements, but, according to Kojima, it will be a different kind of action game that emphasizes player interactions beyond just trying to kill each other. While players will fight both computer and human-controlled enemies via the game's single-player and online modes, Kojima is also working on ways in which they can experience the game together that emphasizes non-action based cooperation. 

Kojima didn't go into further details regarding how, exactly, this will work, but there were trace elements of the Dark Souls' school of multiplayer design in his speech. 

Speaking at the Develop: Brighton conference, Hideo Kojima expressed his belief that Death Stranding represents his greatest work. 

"I'm very confident that we're working towards something completely new and that no-one has seen so far,” said Kojima. “This will be my best work so far, I'm very confident about that." 

At this same event, Kojima also spoke of how excited he is about the ability of virtual reality to convey a new range of human emotions in video games. At this time, however, there is no word on whether or not Death Stranding will have VR features. Kojima also noted that he could never stop making video games because, as technology progresses, he comes closer to being able to make the type of games he dreams of. 

In a YouTube upload by Hideo Kojima, the legendary developer also shared some information regarding the secrecy that surrounded Death Stranding's unveiling. According to Kojima, only about five people knew that the game was going to be revealed at E3 2016. In order to avoid any potential leaks, Kojima himself also avoided social media, refrained from taking photos and even stayed at an out of the way hotel during E3 just to avoid being spotted. 

Death Stranding Story

Mads Mikkelsen recently caught up with Birth.Movies.Death. to talk about Hideo Kojima's Death Stranding and what exactly the actor is doing in the game's second trailer. It seems that Mikkelsen, who plays the game's villain, is as confused as the rest of us are, even though he's sat down to talk about the enigmatic game with the auteur. 

While he can't talk about the plot of Death Stranding, Mikkelsen did say that "it's very intricate. I mean, you know [Kojima]. He's a very brilliant man. I mean, the stuff he told me? I only understood some of it. There was a lot of, 'What?' I have to see it before I understand. Because with Death Stranding, he's creating something completely new." 

As Kojima described to Red Bull, Death Stranding's story "is all about connections, that are called 'strands' in psychology." That's not much to go on at all, but then again, Kojima likes to keep story details very close to the chest. Kojima continued, "It's too early to talk about the broader details of the story or to reveal the female lead, but we have a core structure already."

With the likes of director Guillermo del Toro and actors Mikkelsen and Norman Reedus joining Kojima on this project, we're sure to be in for something very special - if only slightly confusing as well.

Death Stranding Details

In a new interview with Glixel, video game auteur Hideo Kojima confirmed that his latest helping of interactive weird, Death Stranding, "is not a horror game." Despite the dark tone of the first two trailers and his recent work on P.T., Death Stranding will not be the creator's first full foray into horror after all. 

"I don’t have a dark mindset in particular," Kojima told Glixel. "Death Stranding is not a horror game. I just wanted to make something that looks very unique, something you haven’t seen before, something with a more artistic slant to it. I’m not pursuing a dark aspect to the game."

It definitely looks unique, especially in the "using creepy babies to promote your game" department. Kojima also reassured fans that the game will still have a sense of humor - a staple of his past games, which have included running gags and breaking the fourth wall.

"Humor is a very important aspect for games. You play a game for a very long time – Death Stranding is a big game, too – and you put stress on the player and you lead them through peaks and valleys. Humor is an important aspect to make sure the player can enjoy playing across these peaks and valleys. So we’ll have humor in this game too, but to a degree that it doesn't ruin the world setting. It will be at an appropriate level."

Kojima also caught up with the BBC to talk about Death Stranding and how it's unlike anything he's created before. 

"We want this game to be something that people can get into easily but after an hour or two they'll start to notice something a little different," Kojima said. "It's not like anything they've played before."

Kojima, who's never been shy about introducing very weird new elements to his games, says he's not too worried about how the risks he's taking with Death Stranding might drive some players away.

"Bands that everyone remembers take risks," he said. "They constantly change their music from previous albums, adapting and evolving through the ages. ... They might lose some fans along the way, but they bring in new ones. That's the kind of approach I want to take with my new game."

Kojima fans are undoubtedly expecting something new and strange from Death Stranding. So far, the trailers indicate that Kojima will indeed deliver the goods.

In other news, director Guillermo del Toro, who appeared in the second trailer for the game, has confirmed that he's not involved with Death Stranding in a creative role. He's simply an actor in the game, according to an interview with IGN.

"I’m involved as a character. Kojima-san called me and said, 'I want you to be a character in the game,' and I said, 'Gladly.' He’s discussed his ideas so I could understand the character, but other than that I’m not involved, creatively, at all."

Del Toro continued, "This is entirely Kojima-san’s game. I think it’s gonna be a fantastic game, 100%. But this is him and his ideas. I’m just a puppet in his hands. My contribution is limited to being a cheerleader for his ideas and being scanned for long hours at a time. That’s about it."

Death Stranding Poster

Kojima tweeted this promotional image for Death Stranding around the time of E3 2017. The image's use of the word Bridges is particularly interesting because, as IGN points out, that word was also seen in the game's second trailer.

Quake Champions is the latest installment in the classic FPS series. This title appears to be a follow-up to the infamous Quake III: Arena as it attempts to revive the arena shooter genre that classic game helped to popularize. Bethesda is promising a pure Arena-style shooter experience with a special emphasis on interesting characters and creating an equal playing field for all levels of fraggers. 

From the trailers released thus far, it is clear that this new Quake is focused on providing the same brand of lightning-fueled rapid chaos that made Arena one of the most popular games of its generation. While Bethesda's presentation suggests that the team will be taking cues from the open, character-driven style of Overwatch, gameplay footage showcases an arena battleground that is unmistakably worthy of the Quake name. 

Here's everything else we know:

Quake Champions Release Date

Quake Champions doesn't have a release date as of yet.

Speaking with GameSpot, studio director Tim Willits revealed that id hasn't ruled out a console release for Quake Champions, which is currently only slated for PC. Said Willits, "It's a PC game. No excuses. No limitations. We're going to focus on one platform," but he added that he "love[s] [his] console fans. "We're not totally shutting the door on consoles." 

Willits teased the game won't officially launch until after it's gone through a long beta period. Willits clarified, "It's going to come out after a really, really long closed beta. I'm telling people now, it's going to be a long beta."

Quake Champions Trailer

Bethesda revealed at E3 2017 that Wolfenstein protagonist B.J. Blazkowicz will join the Quake Champions' roster. The studio also announced that they plan to host a $1 million Quake World Championship tournament at QuakeCon starting on August 26th. 

You can check out all the new footage from Quake Champions - including previews of some of the game's new maps - via the game's latest trailer:

Just in case you weren't convinced that Quake Champions will provide the same essential Quake multiplayer experience you know and love, Bethesda has released what they call a raw gameplay trailer which simply shows player footage from a match in progress. The speed is intoxicating.

Here's the first gameplay trailer:

Bethesda uploaded a video to their YouTube page in which Studio Director Tim Willits breaks down the design process of Quake Champions and explains how the game is both a classic Quake shooter and an attempt to modernize some of the title's trademark elements by incorporating some recent advancements in the genre. Of particular note are the heroes and skills he reveals that give us a better idea of how Quake Champions' characters will differ from one another. 

Take a look: 

Check out the game's first trailer below:

Quake Champions Details

Quake Champions will be a free-to-play game. 

Well...kind of.

"At its core, it’s a free-to-play game,” says Willits, "with the option to buy the Champion Pack and just get in and play with all the Champions. There are a number of Quake players that just want to play their Quake, right? And they are familiar with the business model of our previous games, and they are totally fine. ‘I want to buy the game. I want to start playing. I want to have access to all the Champions.’"

What that means is that players who purchase the game will gain access to all of Quake Champions' characters while those free-to-play players will be able to use in-game currency to gain access to new Champions for a limited period of time. It's not clear how long you will be able to access purchased Champions via the latter method, but Willits did say that he doesn't want to use the word "rent" in regards to the nature of the transaction.

Players on both sides will have the chance to use in-game currency on other unlockables such as rune challenges and skins. Additionally, free-to-play and paid players will compete in the same brackets on the same maps using the same weapons. At this time, it appears the only potentially meaningful gameplay concept that requires currency are the characters themselves. 

Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night is famed Castlevania director Koji Igarashi's return to the Metroidvania genre after his departure from Konami. The game was first announced through a Kickstarter campaign in 2015 that met its $500,000 goal within four hours and raised over $1 million in its first day.

“I have been gone for too long, and it’s time for a resurrection!” Igarashi said in the video introducing the Kickstarter. “Publishers of the world told me that gamers no longer care for this style of game, but I know they’re wrong!”

By the end of the campaign, Bloodstained had raised over $5.5 million, proving that fans were still hungry for this type of experience. Two years later, Bloodstained is still in development, but is inching closer to a 2018 release.

The game tells the story of Miriam, an orphan who has been cursed by an alchemist and is slowly turning into crystal. The young woman must fight her way through a castle full of demons and other creatures of the night to find a cure. The plot and setting are as Gothic as it gets, and the presentation and gameplay—the side-scrolling combat, creepy monsters, and role-playing elements—all harken back to the golden age of Metroidvania.

Here's everything else we know about the game:

Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night Release Date

Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night will arrive in 2018. It was originally set for a 2017 release before it was delayed. The game is currently scheduled to appear on Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Switch, Vita, and PC. A Wii U version of the game was recently canceled.

Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night Trailer

This gameplay trailer emphasizes the game's art style and combat techniques by showing off large portions of a cathedral stage and even offering us a glimpse of one of the game's boss fights:

Here's gameplay footage from the E3 2016 demo:

In the pitch video below - which is quite quaint, with its low-fi special effects - Igarashi talks enthusiastically about his project. On the Kickstarter page, you'll find more of the project's plans, including its addition of crafting to the platforming mix, and the now-confirmed presence of David Hayter as one of the main voice actors.

That Bloodstained has already enjoyed a storming amount of support pretty much guarantees that we'll be hearing more about it soon.

Nintendo's legendary game developer Shigeru Miyamoto confirmed that Pikmin 4 was in development back in 2015, but we've not yet seen much of the game or know when it's coming out.

"I've been told not to share anything about this from PR," Miyamoto told Eurogamer at E3 2017 regarding the status of Pikmin 4, "but I can tell you it is progressing."

Miyamoto appeased the PR gods by limiting the specifics of the game's development to his assurance that the game is "actually very close to completion" and that "Pikmin teams are always working on the next one." 

Nintendo confirmed Miyamoto's assertions in a separate statement by claiming that "Pikmin 4 is in development but that is all we can confirm at present." 

It's been a few years since Pikmin 3 released for Wii U in 2013. The game received overwhelmingly positive reviews for its innovative use of the Wii U tablet and general advancement of the Pikmin mechanics. By all accounts, Pikmin 3 also sold extremely well with some reports suggesting that it sold over 200,000 units before the end of 2013. 

The lack of a Pikmin sequel in all that time seems to speak more to Nintendo's unique release strategy than it does their faith in the franchise as a whole. Now that the Nintendo Switch is selling extremely well, it seems that Nintendo is a touch more eager to bring back some of their most popular series as well as re-introduce some of the Wii U's best games to the switch audience.  

Here's everything else we know:

Pikmin 4 Release Date

Pikmin 4 doesn't have a release date as of yet. The game is coming to the Nintendo Switch.

Pikmin 4 Details

Some suspected that Shigeru Miyamoto had finally lost his mind when he announced that he was working on a strategy game based on his gardening experiences, but it wasn't long before the quirky little title known as Pikmin became a beloved Nintendo franchise. As popular as the franchise is, though, it has remained suspiciously off the radar since Pikmin 3 released to wide acclaim in 2013. Aside from Miyamoto mentioning that Pikmin 4was nearing completion in 2015, fans have been left to speculate when, exactly, they will be able to get their hands on this anticipated sequel. 

Sadly, Miyamoto's latest update doesn't offer much hope that they can expect that day to come anytime soon. In an interview with Game Rant, Miyamoto had this to say on the subject of Pikmin 4:

"We're working on (Pikmin 4). So, you know, when we’re in development we have to create a list of priorities and it has been hard to kind of fit that into that list, but we’re hopefully starting to see that on the list now.”

While Miyamoto does not explicitly say so during the course of the interview, given that he had previously suggested that the game was nearing completion around this time last year, it certainly does sound like Pikmin 4 has been delayed. Though this may be due to the usual complications that can arise during the development process, the popular theory at the moment is that Pikmin 4 has been shuffled to the side while Nintendo focuses on the release of the Switch as well as their ever-expanding list of new ventures. 

Given that Breath of the Wild is shaping up to be the last major Wii U release, it certainly does appear that Pikmin 4 may end up becoming a Switch title. It would be a bit of a shame if that came to pass considering how well the Pikmin games translate to the Wii U controller, but it's looking like Pikmin fans may be waiting until 2017 to experience more of this franchise's bizarre adventures.

System Shock 3 is officially a go as OtherSide Entertainment has revealed that development has begun on this highly-anticipated sequel.

Even better, OtherSide Entertainment confirmed that Warren Spector (producer of the original System Shock, creator of Deus Ex, and all-around gaming genius) will be leading System Shock 3's development team. That team also includes tech director Jason Hughes (Wing Commander and Epic Mickey), design director Sheldon Pacotti (lead writer of the first two Deus Ex games), art director Arturo Pulecio (Dark Age of Camelot, Epic Mickey, Dungeons and Dragons Online), and a host of developers who worked on the original System Shock that include Creative Director Paul Neurathm and Lead Designer Tim Stellmach.  

To put it another way, OtherSide Entertainment has assembled a bonafide all-star team of gaming experts and series veterans to go to work on a sequel that is, roughly, 17 years in the making. 

Sadly, we know painfully little about this game, which would seem to indicate that it has a long development cycle ahead of it. Warren Spector recently noted that his first goal in the development of System Shock 3 was to make sure that he assembled the right team that could get the job done, and now that he has most certainly done that, it appears that the coding, designing, and all that other video game development stuff is about to get underway. 

Really, the only in-game detail anyone knows with certainty is that evil A.I. Shodan is going to return to the game, as will her voice actress Terri Brosius. 

Now that BioShock is well and truly dead, System Shock 3 is primed to reclaim the first-person action adventure RPG genre that it helped create so many years ago. Also, don't forget that Nightdive Studios is also working on a very promising remake of the original System Shock, which has successfully completed its crowd-funding campaign and should be finished soon.

Here's everything else we know about the game:

System Shock 3 Release Date

No release date has been set forSystem Shock 3. It is currently confirmed for PC while PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions of the game are suspected to be in development. 

System Shock 3 Images

Here's a bunch of System Shock 3 concept art:

Call of Cthulhuis a new detective game that takes place in the grotesque world of H.P. Lovecraft, the master of cosmic horror. Strange creatures from beyond our plane of existence, gruesome murders, and an evil cult make up the meat of this yarn, which might very well be the best game based on the Lovecraftian mythos.

This journey into madness comes to us courtesy of developer Cyanide Studio, who you may know from their work on the Blood Bowl series. Though the studio has never developed a pure horror game before, you would never know it based on Call of Cthulhu's trailers, which show private investigator Edward Pierce navigating the terrifying island known as Darkwater in order to investigate a mysterious string of deaths. 

Here's everything we know about the game:

Call of Cthulhu Release Date

There is currently no set release date for Call of Cthulhu, but it is expected to release in 2018 for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Windows.

Call of Cthulhu Trailer

Call of Cthulhu is bringing H.P. Lovecraft's famous mythos to consoles and Cyanide Studio's released a new trailer at E3 2017. Check it out below:

Here's another preview - titled Depths of Madness - gives us a brief glimpse at protagonist Edward Blake's descent into Lovecraftian madness. 

Though the dark cosmic entity known as Cthulhu has made quite a few appearances in video games over the years, few titles have attempted to really capture the Lovecraftian horror atmosphere that typically accompanies the tentacled wonder's exploits. In fact, the last game that was able to really successfully convey the horrific elements of this character's world was 2005's Call of Cthulhu: Dark Corners of the Earth.

The upcoming Call of Cthulhu game may not share a direct lineage with Dark Corners of the Earth but, if its first trailer is any indication, this project most certainly shares that title's love for a good gothic atmosphere.

Call of Cthulhu Story

Here's the official synopsis:

Plunge into the troubled mind of private investigator Edward Pierce, as his perception of reality becomes more and more skewed the closer he gets to the Great Dreamer’s sphere of influence. Clutch to your withering sanity to discover the conspiracies, the cultists and otherworldly terrors that inhabit the twisted universe imagined by Lovecraft… it is said that madness is the only way that can bring you to the truth.

Sent to Darkwater Island to uncover the truth behind a mysterious death of a family, your original assignment spirals out of control against a backdrop of suspicious locals, mutilated whales, and disappearing bodies. Pierce’s mind will suffer - balancing a razor-thin line between sanity and madness, your senses will be disrupted until you question the reality of everything around you. Trust no one. Creeping shadows hide lurking figures… and all the while, the Great Dreamer prepares for his awakening.

Call of Cthulhu Screenshots

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Ubisoft has elaborated on its plans for Beyond Good and Evil 2, and they sound...ambitious. Basically, the developers are imagining a large-scale adventure that will allow players to create their own character and explore the game's universe.

"There is a simulation of the universe, where everything is rotating in the classical way, so if you change the time you see the rotation," said series creator Michel Ancel. "If you know what a sunset is, a sunset is modification of the colour of the sun depending on the angle in the atmosphere. So it's really logical, in fact, that you can see different colours."

Ancel goes on to state that the entire universe will be alive and your actions will have serious repercussions throughout the entire in-game world. That being said, Ancel also claims that the core quests in the game will resemble those in the original Beyond Good and Evil. 

Some are comparing the game's ambition to notable failure No Man's Sky, but Ancel's full statements suggest that he's drawing more from Breath of the Wild. He claims that the theme of the game is travel and discovery. 

As for the story itself, it seems that Beyond Good and Evil 2 will expand on the universe of the original title by exploring a future where human/animal hybrids were created as a form of slave labor. These hybrids later explored space and established their own colonies.  

Here's everything else we know about the game:

Beyond Good and Evil 2 Release Date

There is no release date available for Beyond Good and Evil 2 at this time. 

Beyond Good and Evil 2 Trailers

Cue up your favorite "It's happening!" meme because Beyond Good and Evil 2 finally looks like it's officially in development.

Here the E3 2017 trailer for Beyond Good and Evil 2:

Creator Michael Ancel was in tears as he unveiled the latest build for a game that he has been designing on and off for at least the last few years. Despite being numbered as a sequel, Beyond Good and Evil 2 will actually take place sometime before the original game. Ancel didn't go into details regarding this title's gameplay, but we assume it will retain the original's Zelda-esque traits and investigative aspects. Ancel also hinted that this title might feature a seamless online world, but it's not clear how that will impact the core experience this time around. 

We're incredibly excited about the universe that the reveal trailer for the game showcased and the potential for this title to live up to the considerable legacy of its predecessor. We'll bring you more about this game as additional information becomes available. 

Beyond Good and Evil 2 Promo Art

Since the game's 2008 teaser trailer, it's been all quiet on the Beyond Good and Evil 2 front. In fact, some fans have started to speculate that the title may be stuck in such a deep layer of development hell that it will never see release. 

Hope for a follow-up to the 2003 cult classic was renewed recently when Beyond Good and Evil creator Michel Ancel posted the following picture on his Instagram account:

That picture comes with a caption that simply reads "Somewhere in system 4 ...- Thanks #ubisoft for making this possible!" The popular theory at the moment is that this photo is a piece of concept art for Beyond Good and Evil 2. That's interesting considering that both Ubisoft and Ancel have been going back and forth in recent years as it relates to the ongoing development of a Beyond Good and Evil game. Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot had previously mentioned that the project Ancel is working on for the publisher is indeed a Beyond Good and Evil game, while Ancel himself has recently refrained from confirming the ongoing development of that specific title.

It's also worth noting that this picture was tweeted out by Ubisoft's French Twitter account with a message that reads: "Michel Ancel has an Instagram account, and we advise you to follow closely." 

Some have already noticed that this concept art may very well portray a young version of Pey'j (the popular pig mechanic from the first game) which has triggered a discussion regarding whether or not the next Beyond Good and Evil game will be a sequel or a prequel. A similar level of discussion still surrounds the rumor that emerged earlier this year regarding the possibility of the next Beyond Good and Evil game being a Nintendo exclusive title, but there is still no concrete information to support that theory at this time. 

Whether it be a sequel, prequel, exclusive, or something else entirely, fans everywhere are probably just happy to see anything Beyond Good and Evil related given the franchise's rocky recent history.

Quantic Dream's new game is Detroit: Become Human. The developer behind Indigo Prophecy and Heavy Rain returns with a tale about artificial intelligence, as three androids living very different lives struggle to survive in a world that doesn't really want them. 

Here's everything we know about the game:

Detroit: Become Human Release Date

Detroit: Become Human will be released on May 25, 2018. It is currently a PlayStation 4 exclusive. 

Detroit: Become Human Trailer

A trailer for Detroit: Become Human premiered at the Paris Game Show 2017. Check it out below:

The E3 2017 trailer was an extended cinematic preview of the game's story that bordered on a short film. Despite the massive influx of footage it contained, we still really don't know what the gameplay will be like. What we do know is that the game's story will focus on a Blade Runner-type universe where androids are used for servitude and a few decide to rebel against the system. The concept certainly looks interesting, but we're eager to see more of how these concepts will actually be tied together by gameplay. 

The game's E3 2016 trailer showcased a cinematic experience loaded with the type of decision-based narrative moments that Quantic Dreams is famous for:

Detroit is based on a 2012 tech demo called "Kara," which is a personal favorite of ours. It's the story of an android who wants to live as a human. 

Here's the original tech demo: 

Right?

Well, Detroitis the continuation of this story. What happens when Kara leaves the factory and enters the real world? You'll soon find out. Interestingly enough, Detroit is described as an "Android City" in the first trailer for the game. Check it out:

The game will tackle themes of artificial intelligence, including the rights of machines and whether they should be treated as servants to mankind. I think someone has been reading Isaac Asimov's Three Laws of Robotics again...

Crackdown 3 is one of the Xbox One's big upcoming flagship titles. It's a game many fans of the original didn't think would happen after the tepid response and sales of Crackdown 2. But Microsoft Studios surprised everyone at E3 2014 by announcing that a third game was in development. 

It's been a long time since that announcement. Several delays later, we're still waiting to hear about a solid release date for this action-adventure game that boasts fully destructible environments and tons of explosions. 

Here's everything else we know:

Crackdown 3 Release Date

Crackdown 3 has been delayed and will arrive sometime in 2018. 

The game is coming to XBO and PC, and will be part of the Play Anywhere program, which allows players to buy one copy of the game for both Xbox One and Windows 10 play. 

Crackdown 3 Trailer

Here's the E3 2017 trailer for Crackdown 3:

At Gamescom 2015, Microsoft unveiled the first gameplay footage of the game, showing us that the franchise hasn't changed too much. The same arcade-y feel of the original is still very much a part of this installment. 

Of note is the destructible environments. Crackdown 3 is boasting more chaos and destruction than we've ever seen in a game. Perhaps only Battlefield can't top the explosions we just saw on the Gamescom stage. 

Check out the trailer:

IGN also posted 17 minutes of gameplay onto their YouTube channel. The footage has some commentary from Crackdown creator Dave Jones. Here it is:

Crackdown 3 was first unveiled at E3 2014. It was just known as Crackdown then. Here's the reveal trailer:

Sniper Elite development team Rebellion has revealed the latest supernatural addition to the series. Strange Brigade will take players to the "remote corners of the British Empire" where they will the need to combat various supernatural forces with the help of firearms, explosives, and good ole' melee attacks. 

Much like the Nazi Zombie Army series, Strange Brigade is a 1-4 player shooter experience that emphasizes co-op gameplay. Basically, you should be thinking of Left 4 Deadwhen imagining the kind of chaotic gameplay this title will surely offer. 

Unlike Nazi Zombie Army which treads some pretty well-known ground with the its "Hitler was into the occult" and "Zombies" aspects, Strange Brigade distinguishes itself from the co-op shooter pack with its serial adventure inspired universe that seems to take more cues from the Universal monster movies than George Romero.

The brief reveal trailer for the game reveals what appears to be ancient Egyptian mythological monsters, cave dwelling creatures, and other guardians of legend who look a tad bit more formidable than the average member of the walking dead.

Most likely, you can still expect Strange Brigade to feature specialty enemies, hordes of foes, and all the other aspects we've come to associate with this particular genre of gaming. However, we'd be lying if we told you that the game's incredible sense of style doesn't make our trigger fingers itch at the thought of fighting off a horde of supernatural enemies with our friends once more. 

Here's everything else you need to know:

Strange Brigade Release Date

Strange Brigade will launch for PC, PS4, and Xbox One. No release date has been set. 

Strange Brigade Trailer

Here is the first trailer for Strange Brigade:

And here are 14 minutes of gameplay:

It was widely rumored that indie hit Ori and the Blind Forest's sequel would be revealed at E3 2017. Well, this is one rumor that we're happy to report was absolutely true. 

Ori's debut kicked off when the game's composer took the stage and played a beautiful track that is seemingly from the sequel's soundtrack. The trailer itself was an atmospheric and wordless affair that showcased the game's beautiful art style.

As for gameplay details, we're still waiting to hear what Will of the Wisps will actually offer. However, unless developer Moon Studios is making a huge departure from the original title, you can likely expect this game to carry on the original's Metroidvania style. That means large levels that you'll have to explore multiple times while taking advantage of newfound abilities that allow you to access previously blocked areas. 

One thing that did seem clear in the trailer is that the story will once again play off of the power of relationships. We see a lonely owl who is presumably one of the game's protagonists mourning next to a statue of two older birds while Ori comforts him. That, combined with the wild storm going on in the background, certainly invokes memories of the way the original title toyed with gamer's emotions via the exploration of friendship in a dying world. 

We can't wait to share more about this game with you as more information becomes available. Here's everything else know:

Ori and the Will of the Wisps Trailer

Here is the first trailer for Ori and the Will of the Wisps:

Ori and the Will of the Wisps Release Date

At the moment, however, Ori and the Will of the Wisps does not have a release date.

Now that the Dark Souls series is officially done, Bandai Namco has a hole in their lineup that was previously occupied by a hardcore RPG series with a moody atmosphere and strong action elements. 

While it's going to be hard for any game to ever completely fill that void, we must say that Bandai Namco's upcoming action RPG Code Vein looks like it has a chance to fulfill the desires of Dark Souls fans everywhere. 

Here's everything we know about Code Vein:

Code Vein Release Date

Code Vein is set to release in 2018. The game is coming to PS4, XBO, and PC. 

Code Vein Trailer

Code Vein's third trailer finally gives us a little better look at the game's world and the characters who call it home. What it really does, though, is double-down on the game's anime style. Vampires battling each other with blood-based superpowers while rock music blares in the background? Yeah, we're kind of ready to play this one. 

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This next teaser does a nice job of emphasizing the game's anime inspirations and generally cool vibe. It certainly offers more than enough reasons to keep your eyes on this game in the future. 

Code Vein's E3 2017 trailer showcases that blend of familiar Dark Souls gameplay and anime visuals that previous previews had hinted at. We look forward to seeing more from this promising adventure title. 

While the teaser for Code Vein suggested that it might be a hand-drawn, Dark Souls-esque action RPG starring vampires, the official reveal trailer for Code Veinshows off a slightly different experience. Code Vein still borrows aspects of Dark Souls' combat system and RPG elements, but the game's art style borrows more from the God Hand series with its anime flourishes. 

Code Vein Story

Here's the official synopsis for the game:

"In the not too distant future, a mysterious disaster has brought collapse to the world as we know it. Towering skyscrapers, once symbols of prosperity, are now lifeless graves of humanity’s past pierced by the Thorns of Judgment. At the center of the destruction lies a hidden society of Revenants called Vein. This final stronghold is where the remaining few fight to survive, blessed with Gifts of power in exchange for their memories and a thirst for blood. Give into the bloodlust fully and risk becoming one of the Lost, fiendish ghouls devoid of any remaining humanity."

Code Vein follows the adventures of vampiric entities collectively referred to as The Revenant who have formed an underground post-apocalyptic society. These creatures rely on blood in order to avoid becoming absolute monsters.  

Code Vein Details

According to an interview in the Japanese magazine Famitsu (translated here by Gematsu), Code Vein is being developed by the same team behind the cult classic God Eater series. Despite the game's pedigree, producer Keita Iizuka claims that Code Vein is not related to the God Eater series in any direct fashion. 

Instead, Code Vein is described as a "dramatic exploration action RPG." What that means is that it's a dungeon crawler action RPG that will emphasize the exploration of connected environments. 

If that sounds like Dark Souls to you, then you'll be happy to know you're not being paranoid. The game's trailer even playfully uses "Prepare to Dine" as a tagline and seemingly respectful nod to that legendary franchise. 

However, Code Vein does distinguish itself in several interesting ways. Namely, Code Veinwill emphasize a "Buddy" system that allows you to take a companion into new areas and develop them alongside your main hero. It also sounds like the game will primarily focus on melee combat, though we will be surprised if there isn't some magic and ranged combat to be found.

There's still much we don't know about Code Vein- including whether it will resemble the style shown in that teaser trailer and which systems it will be released on - but everything revealed thus far suggests it could Bandai Namco's next great hardcore RPG.

Square Enix is working on a new mech shooter called Left Alive, which shares certain elements with the Front Mission universe. In an interview with Weekly Famitsu, producer Shinji Hashimoto stated that "We wanted to make a Front Mission with a new lineup. We started this new title to see Front Mission in a slightly different perspective."

In that same article, Square Enix members noted that Left Alive takes place in the year 2127. That means it occurs sometime between the events of Front Mission 5 and Front Mission Evolved. Additionally, the studio said that Left Alive will feature three playable characters that players will bounce between at certain points in the game's story and that the mechs from Front Mission - called Wanzers - will be featured throughout the game.

Still, it doesn't sound like Left Alive is going to be a classic Front Mission experience. The developers noted that it's more of a third-person shooter that allows individual players to dictate a style of gameplay - as well as the direction of the story - through tactical choices. If anything, the game seems takes more gameplay cues from recent survival titles than it does from the original Front Mission games. 

However, the biggest news regarding Left Alive is the team that Square Enix has assembled to work on the project. Metal Gear Solid series artist Yoji Shinkawa has signed on as Left Alive's character designer and has already contributed some comfortably familiar characters as part of the game's promotional materials. Meanwhile, Toshifumi Nabeshima (Armored Core, Chromehounds) has been brought on to direct. It's also been noted that some members of the Front Mission development team have been brought in to work on this new project.

For those keeping count at home, that means that Square Enix has brought in ringers from studios like Konami and From Software to work on this already compelling title.

Here's everything else we know about the game:

Left Alive Release Date

Left Alive is expected to be released sometime in 2018 for Windows PC and PlayStation 4.

Left Alive Trailer

This latest trailer for Left Alive is largely a cinematic preview, but the ending shots contain just the briefest hint of what the gameplay might look like. 

Left Aliveis billed as a survival action shooter that seems to feature some kind of mech-based combat based on a previous teaser Square released a few months back.

Here's the debut trailer:

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Left Alive Screenshots