E3 2015: the A-Z breakdown

• The PS4 version will receive exclusive DLC
• Release is set for 23rd October
• Featured cockney accents may be slightly less abysmal than expected (not in any way guaranteed)

• Jensen has some neat augmentations up his sleeve including a mounted arm gun and a obsidian defence screen called the Titan Shield
• Events take place two years after Human Revolution and all is not well with augmented citizens. They’re being ghettoised, subjegated, and sometimes killed outright
• The terrific Icarus Drop ability makes a return along with Icarus Dash, allowing Jensen to cover short distances with great speed
• Jensen still wears sunglasses at night because in the future that’s all the rage

• You’ll be able to choose between Corvo, the first game’s protagonist, and Emily Kaldwin, the first game’s damsel in distress, as the player character.
• Emily is all grown up and has some terrifying-looking powers of her own to rival that of her former bodyguard (including stretchy obsidian hands of death).
• The location has changed, Dishonored 2 takes place in the coastal city of Karnaca where evil machinations once again threaten the crown.

Final Fantasy VII Remake (PS4) – Updated

Oh tears of joy, how easily you flow! Our favourite and the most iconic of the Final Fantasy games is coming back with a brand spanking new remake for latest gen consoles. We knew that the last 18 years of praying would finally bear fruit.

Rather than bringing you information, as is our job as journalist types, all we can provide are more questions.

What is meant by ‘remake’? Will the plot remain intact or will there be narrative adjustments? Will [REDACTED] still die horribly at the hands of [REDACTED]? Is Tifa still going to strut around in an unsuitably chilly vest? Is the combat staying old school or will FFVII join the FFXV mechanics revolution? Bah, we give up.

Firewatch (PS4 / PC / Mac / Linux)

We’ve had our collective eye on Firewatch for some time. Mystery and murder in the foreboding forest? Yes please.

The E3 trailer showed more of the same vivid visuals and atmosphere that piqued our interest all those months ago. New information is limited, though we can tell you that Firewatch will premiere on the PS4.

Feast yourself on the perfunctory one-minute trailer above and hope and pray that a release schedule isn’t far off.

• The Gigantic closed beta will commence in August
• No lanes, no items, just 10 players and some giant monsters
• It’s being headed up by the former lead designer of StarCraft and Guild Wars
• It looks B-E-A-Uuutiful

• Master Chief is back. Phew. But so is The Covenant. Argh
• Swanky Limited and Collector’s editions are on the way with a whole load of swag
• New game mode, "warzone", will allow 24 players to explore maps up to four times the size of those in previous instalments
• Four-player co-op campaign mode available
• It’s been built from the ground up in a new engine specifically made for the Xbox One

Horizon: Zero Dawn (PS4) – Updated

The makers of Killzone have launched a totally unexpected (but delightful) sneak attack with the surprise announcement of a new IP, Horizon: Zero Dawn. Its post-apocalyptic ARPG antics give off a Mad Max meets Skyrim vibe, and that’s absolutely A-OK with us.

Why not read the preview penned by our very own Tom Parsons, who managed to get behind-the-scenes demo of Horizon‘s mechanical monster-slaying.

• It all takes place in a galaxy far away and definitely won’t feature Shepard and crew
• It’s being created using the internally-developed Frostbite engine
• A Mako-like vehicle will make an appearance (see trailer)
• Release is set for Christmas 2016, but we want it now

• Open world shenanigans ahoy: you’ll be free to explore wherever you wish in your souped-up motor
• Customisation is high on the priority list, with plenty of options to add golden hubcaps and go faster stripes and other such jiggerypokery
• Release is set for November 3 this year
• The game may, or may not, induce a need for speed

• Super Mario Maker is arriving in September and allows players to create their own maniacally hard levels. The editor saw a (severely dragged out) demo but the product itself looks fun.
• Yoshi’s Woolly World, a platformer cousin of Kirby’s Epic Yarn looks utterly adorable. Yoshi poops wool; enough said.
• Star Fox Zero is a reboot of the venerable space shooter franchise. Another dragged out demo took us back to the days of the N64 in all the right ways.
• Metroid Prime Federation Force is a multiplayer shooter for the 3DS that doesn’t star Samus Aran. It was unexpected and somewhat unwanted; everyone was expecting another flagship Wii U game starring the universe’s armored heroine.
• Mario Tennis Ultra Smash is, rather unsurprisingly, a tennis game starring Mario and co. Creativity wins the day once again.

• Release is set for 10th November, just in time for some Christmas raiding
• Crystal Dynamics is keen to stress that Lara can progress non-lethally in this outing if desired
• Animals are back with a vengeance: Lara’s going to be tussling with the likes of bears in-between puzzle solving
• RoTTR (an acronym we’ll definitely be using from now on) is, for the moment, an Xbox exclusive, but will likely be wending its way to PS4 and PC at some point

South Park: The Fractured But Whole (PC / PS4 / Xbox One) – Updated

Yep, Ubisoft is bringing Trey Parker and Matt Stone’s satirical masterpiece back to the gaming world with a sequel to last year’s sublime The Stick of Truth.

If you’re finding the new game’s title a little cryptic, we suggest you try reading it out loud quickly.

Star Citizen (PC)

Ambition is a valuable asset, but too much ambition can see you crash and burn. And no game currently in development has the same deluxe-sized scoops of aspiration as Chris “the guy who created Wing Commander” Roberts’ spacefaring project Star Citizen.

Part space-sim, part shooter, part trading game, part anything you can think of, the scope is so broad it’s being constructed in a series of modules which add functionality bit by bit.

This year at E3 Chris Roberts attended by video link and demonstrated some of the motion capture techniques being used for in-game avatars. Not exactly what we were all hoping, but even a small glimpse into this gargantuan project is welcome.

Starcraft II: Legacy Of The Void (PC)

The best things come in threes, and Starcraft II is no exception. The first two installments of this three-part RTS epic have already steamrolled the strategy game competition in addition to cementing the franchise’s position as an insanely watchable competitive sport.

The third and final piece of the puzzle, Legacy Of The Void, will feature a Protoss campaign and will round off the saga’s long-running narrative.

There are unit changes galore, our personal favourite being the disruptor, a protoss energy ball that makes bio units go splat en masse. Though be prepared for this all to change in the coming months as Blizzard chop and change units to refine the balance.

UPDATE – Blizzard has brought SC players a gem at E3: a three part prologue to Legacy of the Void, Whispers of Oblivion, will be made available to StarCraft players soon. Trailer above.

• The protaginst is made of wool and his name is Yarny. He may be the cutest man-made creation in the world
• Yarny can use his wool to abseil down drops, create trampolines and hook in objects
• The game will follow Yarny’s quest to put the threads of someone’s life back together. We’re sensing an extended metaphor that may bring us to tears

The Walking Dead: Michonne (Console / PC / Mobile) – Updated

Earlier in the year Telltale teased us with news that it was developing its own IP in a TV show / game hybrid fomat.

Although the adventure game developer has failed to expand on those plans, it’s definitely given fans another piece of hot gaming property to look forward to. Introducing The Walking Dead: Michonne.

Michonne is, without a doubt, our favourite character in The Walking Dead universe. She’s got a katana, she’s got attitude, but she also possesses an emotional depth that make her loveable. Telltale will be releasing a three-part gaming miniseries featuring its titular hero in the autumn.

Telltale’s own blog explains why they chose big M for the leading role: “In many ways, Michonne herself is a reflection of the world of The Walking Dead. She is brutal and cold on the outside, but deep beneath what is broken, she remains hopeful, trying to claw her way out of the darkness that surrounds her.”