E3 2021 Recap: Ubisoft Unveils New Avatar Game While Microsoft Announces New Sci-fi epic, Starfield

The video game industry’s annual trade show kicked off in the digital space this year. It’s an entirely new format for publishers to showcase their upcoming titles, and among these big publishers were Microsoft, Square Enix, Ubisoft, and Nintendo.

E3 has recently been losing its shine. Their long-time host Geoff Keighley dipped after 25 years of presenting, and Japanese publisher Sony pulled out, opting to still not take the stage this year. However, major video game companies still like to build up hype for their new releases on this platform, and fans were nonetheless excited about plenty of the games.

From Elden Ring to the long-awaited sequel of S.T.A.L.K.E.R., here are E3 2021’s highlights:

Elden Ring

Although Geoff Keighley is no longer the host for the gaming expo, he won’t stop broadcasting video games just yet. At the end of his Summer Game Fest, he revealed a trailer for Elden Ring, a much-anticipated game made in collaboration with George R.R. Martin, the author of Game of Thrones. Elden Ring comes out on Jan. 21, 2021[TPF1] , and will be published by Bandai Namco.

Ubisoft Unveils Avatar Game

This game is not based on the animated series, but on director James Cameron’s 2009 sci-fi blockbuster. Ubisoft already made an Avatar game in the past, but they’re coming out with a new one — Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, slated for release in 2022.

Ubisoft also announced the new installment of the Far Cry series, Far Cry 6. Starring Breaking Bad actor Giancarlo Esposito, the game will come out on Oct. 7. The French publisher also revealed Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six: Extraction. The game was originally named Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six: Quarantine, but it was renamed due to controversy amidst the pandemic. The game will make its debut on Sept. 16.

Together with Nintendo, Ubisoft revealed another mashup of the Mario + Raving Rabbids game called Sparks of Hope, which comes out on Nintendo Switch in 2022.

Microsoft Announces Starfield

Microsoft’s Bethesda, the studios that gave us The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim and Fallout 4, finally gives us a closer look into their upcoming original space-based RPG, Starfield. They announced in a joint press conference that Starfield will be exclusive for Xbox Series X, S, and PC, and will launch on Nov. 11, 2022.

Microsoft also showcased a few more titles:

Redfall:

From the developers of Prey and Dishonored, this new multiplayer shooter is set to launch in summer 2021.

Halo Infinite:

We finally get to see inside the online multiplayer of the Halo series’ newest installment, after it was delayed due to criticism surrounding its graphics. And did we mention IT’S COMPLETELY FREE?!

Atomic Heart:

This open-world action RPG has no release date just yet.

Psychonauts 2:

A new trailer and release date for the platform game was revealed. It’s set to drop on Aug. 21.

Age of Empires IV:

This real-life strategy video game by Relic Entertainment will come out on October 28.

The Outer Worlds 2:

The sequel to the beloved game is still in its early development phase, but fans saw its lighthearted teaser trailer.

Forza Horizon 5:

Fans were given the official trailer and a release date of Nov. 9.

Among Us & Hades: This game arrives in Xbox Game Pass.

Back 4 Blood:

This new zombie survival shooter from the creators of Left 4 Dead releases on October 12.

Sea of Thieves:

This expansion pack for A Pirate’s Life, which features Jack Sparrow from the Pirates of the Caribbean film franchise will be out as a free update on June 22.

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2:

Heart of Chernobyl: After 10 years, fans were finally given a first look into the sequel of the game inspired by the 1979 sci-fi film Stalker. S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 will be available on PC, Xbox Series X, and S on April 28, 2022.

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 [TPF1]This date has already passed. Do you mean it came out on that date? Or was it supposed to be 2022.