Bethesda released SO MUCH CONTENT.

Buckle your seatbelts! We have a LOT to cover.

THIS IS WHAT YOU DON’T WANT.

Here … we … go !

Bethesda started their night, letting you into their personal space and their private family, with a video montage and voiceover about the people who make up the software company.  Speaking about people of didn’t genders, races, cultures and how everyone was important, including the kitchen staff all the way to the producers.  The few minute video talked about how everyone’s interests have something to bring to the table.  You got to enjoy seeing families, and real Bethesda Software employees, living their natural lives.  The video also shows everything from illustrators, foley artists, a large wall of trophies and awards, people in motion capture suits and more.

Global Senior Vice President of Bethesda Software, Pete Hines walks on stage.

One of Tango Gameworks’ Environmental Designers; Part of Bethesda. (Not Pete Hines.)

“Our theme this year … is create.”

– Pete Hines

Pete Hines goes in depth about how important everyone in the company is; at all ten of their studios places around the world, to the players and community, shaping the way they develop their game to better suit what we’re looking for. But he also wasted little time announcing that MetaCritic as named Bethesda Game Studios as The Worlds #1 Game Producer. Impressive, guys !

Let’s get into the real news!

“We’ll start with a game …

… with help from our friends at Walmart, Canda.”

They’re definitely not salty about that, haha.

RAGE 2 opened with a bang as Andrew WK, a band featured in the recently announced RAGE 2 soundtrack, played onstage. While there was audio balance issues, it was a good way to set the mood to look over the new game.

ID Software and Avalanche Games (owned by Bethesda) Tim Willits (Studio Director for IDS) and Magnus Nedfors (Game Director for AG) enter the stage and you can tell the energy is mile apart — similarly to the height difference!

We learn that it’s going to be a brand-new open-world shooter, where you play as Walker.  You see the protagonist’s gameplay show several new types of gameplay; including what seems like some sort of ‘powers.’ Some sort of bezerker with an endless gun clip and impressive speed, you see a ground smash-type move … and shortly you are exposed (via choice) to an ‘ability’ called Shatter.  For the second time in the gameplay, we see some sort of gravity projectile/ frag, as well as a ‘force-push’ ability.  We have a launch date of Spring 2019.

Did you know Bethesda’s “Skyrim” had a CARD GAME?

I didn’t.  But it seems to have a strong following as Christian Van Hoose, Community Manager of “Elder Scrolls, Legends” announced some new stuff about the game.  He goes on to tell us all new cards, modes or ways to play, and drops a HUGE firework. The game will be relaunching as of TONIGHT. And that’s not all. Van Hoose announces that it has had a complete overhaul for it’s visuals. THEN, he announces that later this year, “Elder Scrolls, Legends” will be coming to Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, and PS4.

Any game play starting tonight will also transfer over to your console, via your Bethesda.net account. 

Werewolves and Black Marsh, Oh My!

Matt Frior, Game Director for The Elder Scrolls: Online followed in the Skyrim footsteps and announced new downloadable content for the online MMO.

The first DLC is ‘Wollfhunter,’ which, as the header of this section explains, is based on werewolves! And a second DLC named ‘Murkmire’ that will be story based.  Not only will it’ll be more plot based, but, it takes place in the homeland of our favourite Lusty Argonian Maid; Black Marsh !

Matt closed up his speech about ES:O with a release review of Summerset; with many of the unforgettable story points that the players in ES:O have had to encounter.

Back in my day, DOOM was pixelated pseudo-3D FPS …

On May 13th, 2016, DOOM was officially rebooted, nearly 23 years after it’s original launch.  And since then, the fanbase have been craving for more.  With this E3 Press Conference from Bethesda, DOOM ETERNAL was announced, opening up the floor with an AMAZING teaser trailer.  Hugo Martin, Creative Director of DE and Marty Stratton, Exec. Producer and Game Director enter stage to talk about this incredible new ‘DOOM 2 we’ve all be waiting for.’

Hugo Martin mentions that there are twice as many demons, and the DOOM Slayer will be even more powerful than before. Marty then momentarily teases us more, letting us know that there even more features yet to be unveiled.   Our thirst would not be satisfied, as he then revealed that the DOOM team will be unveiling the project at QuakeCon in August, in Dallas, TX.

That’s not all that we’re hearing about Quake, however.  Joshua Boyle, Community Manager of Quake Champions heads onstage, complete in Quake hat and t-shirt.  You know something big is about to go down.  Josh reminisces and reminds us that Quake was there from the very beginning; hosting competitions over 20 years ago, at QuakeCon.  As one of the ‘original ESports,’ their tradition will continue this year, they will “expand with intense grass-roots competitions, to major tournaments both at QuakeCon, and Dream Hack Winter.

Boyle tells you he wants you to “get good” will all your friends, using the new features, which are playable, RIGHT NOW! With the trial of the free-to-Play version, for this week only. Plus, if you get in and download Quake Champions this week, you can continue to play; even after the trial closes.  How cool !

[ This game is rated M for 18yrs + for drug references, blood and gore, language and violence. Please watch at your own discretion.]

PREY comes in for a sweep of new, FREE updates.

Production Director, Susan Kath and Lead Designer Ricardo Bare (both for Arcane Studios) comes in heavy with a massive free update for the year-old series.  As of the night of the press release, three new game modes will be available. All-new story mode, highly fan-requested New Game +, and a survival mode; a completely new challenge for the most hardcore PREY fans.  Bethesda’s Arcane Studio also mentions that they been working on an INCREDIBLE new DLC called Mooncrash.

A mimic, from Forgotten Realms.

Kath explains to us that it is an infinitely re-playable, variable simulation of trying to escape the Moon. The hazards, including enemy type and difficulty, as well as loot type and frequency will randomize each time you play.  No two play-throughs will ever be the same.

Gotta say, the original Dead or Alive‘s “You Spin Me Right Round” was an awesome touch to this teaser trailer.  Mooncrash will also be available tonight.

They weren’t done?! Susan and Ricardo take front and center of the conference to release another shocker; a second DLC to be released at the end of the summer, titled ‘Typhon Hunter.” In the words of the lovely Susan Kath, “…it’s a lethal [online] game of hide-and-seek.” It will include one ‘searcher’ and five ‘mimics.’  However, these mimics can be any item in the environment.  Sound familiar, Gary’s Mod fans? “Typhon Hunter” claims to be different, with a suggested tolerance to jump-scares.

Here comes your favourite part,

Wolfenstein Logo, owned by Machine Studios.

(We promise !)

The screens in the press conference go dark, as Bethesda switches gears to introduce the newest Wolfenstein.  Executive Producer, Jerk Gustafsson and Jens Matthies, the Creative Director from Machine Games introduce themselves and immediately take to thanking everyone for their revolution with Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus. Jens drops the first f-bomb when he congratulates us on destroying the Nazis.  The crowd goes wild.  Jerk then reminds the crowd the WII:NC won best action game at the VGAs in December of 2017.

Machine games plans to release WII:NC to the Nintendo Switch on June 29th of this year, “…so you can fight the Nazis on the go.”

After the crowd calms down from this news, Jens introduces the concept of the newest Wolfenstein member; where we leap forward into the future and play in the shoes of previous-game’s protagonist, BJ’s twin daughters.  The game, Wolfenstein YOUNG BLOOD is set in 1980s Paris, France. And with two main protagonists, you know they followed through with having this new piece being (optionally) co-op.  The trailer features two young ladies with a strong-as-heck Southern Accent, which just puts power being their voice while they hold guns in their hands.

Unfortunately, it wont be releasing until 2019.

PREY ‘Typhon Hunter’ and exclusive, Wolfenstein ‘CyberPilot’ will both be released in VR.

In Cyberpilot, you will be able to hack Nazi robots, and turn them against their terrible attackers.

[WARNING; THE FOLLOWING MAY NOT BE SUITABLE FOR CHILDREN UNDER 18. STRONG LANGUAGE INSIDE!]

But what you’ve braved the first 47 minutes for, gets so much better.

SKYRIM ELDER SCROLLS; Coming soon to ALEXA, Etch-A-Sketch, Motorola Pagers and Samsung Smart Refrigerator.

But in all seriousness.

FALLOUT 76 INFO BELOW!

FALLOUT 76 TRICENTENIAL COVER, All Rights to Bethesda.

As I have mentioned in my previous Fallout 76 article, Bethesda has set this game before all of the others in a vast, West Virginia, open-world landscape.  Todd Howard, Game Director at Bethesda Game Studios, then boasts that F76 will be the biggest yet; at more than four TIMES the size of Fallout 4’s landscape.  As the player, you are one of the first vaults to open, 25 years after the nuclear hellfire rained down about the nation.

One of the first things you’ll notice about this new piece to the series is all new rendering, lighting, and landscaping technology.  This new tech will give sixteen times the amount of detail to the environment that we’ve had in previous games. Todd boassts that we’ll be able to see distant storm systems in the distance.

The game will be centered around six distinct locations, will all of the West Virginia love tied right into the story.  In the extended trailer with gameplay, we’ve now seen enemies such as a MASSIVE toad or bullfrog (native to WV) that has been heavily mutated by the radioactive wasteland. Bethesda also tied in some of the local folklore of the region; the Beast of Grafton, Mothman, the Flatwood Monster and much more have been hinted at.

Howard also confirmed that it will be an MMO survival.  In his words, a ‘softcore survival’ game.  It was also confirmed that it will be entirely online; you will be able to play solo, but as there are ZERO NPCs, you will still see your online compatriots running around, even if you’ve chosen to not play multiplayer.  The good news is, because we can all expected to get destroyed in a wasteland where some will be friend, and some will be foe, death will not mean loss of progression or character. Progression in the game will travel with the character save; no matter where your character goes, or when you log in.

Did anyone see the GIANT. SLOTH.

Giant sloth in Fallout 76 pic.twitter.com/bdNnZAH2m8

— Tom Orry (@VGTomO) June 11, 2018

But that’s not all Todd H. decided to let us know about our new vast wasteland.

Bethesda has included Nuclear Launch Sites. Free for player control. Of course, you’ll need to obtain a complete launch code.  So it may benefit you to find friends who have parts of the code you need.  Select where you want your nuke to land and send it flying.  Nuking certain areas may benefit, or, ruin your chances of survival against other aggressive players.  In the teaser for the nuke sites, it also seems that if you head into a recent nuclear blast zone, a sort of raid with extra hard enemies and rare loot may be found in the ruins of your doing.

Introducing the Power Armor Edition
… that sold out in under 12 hours.

Hope you weren’t too excited, as the Power Armor Collectors Edition for Fallout 76 sold out internet wide in a matter of hours.  Bethesda.net, Best Buy, Gamestop, Walmart, Amazon and more no longer have this incredibly bundle available for the $200 pre-order.  But Todd is pretty excited; check out what it comes with!

Try not to feel too bad, there is another deluxe edition, which includes the following for a retail MSRP of $80 USD:

• Tricentennial Power Armor Customization for the T-51, T-45, T-60, and X-01 Power Armors.
• Tricentennial Weapon Customization for the 10MM Pistol, Hatchet, and Laser Rifle.
• Spectacularly Handsome Vault Boy Mascot Head.
• Patriotic Uncle Sam Outfit.
• Celebratory Vault Boy Saluting Emote.
• First-Class Tricentennial Workshop Posters.
• Tricentennial Commemorative Photo Frame.

Todd Howard is definitely a fanboy, heard here;

[WARNING; THE FOLLOWING MAY NOT BE SUITABLE FOR CHILDREN UNDER 18. STRONG LANGUAGE INSIDE!]

NEXT GEN? WHAAAAA–

It’s been twenty-five years since Bethesda’s last original storyline was developed, but look no further.

STARFIELD.

Is that not enough? Okay.  What about ELDER SCROLLS VI? 

Here at GameTraders USA; we have so much more we can cover.  This is the most in-depth coverage of Bethesda Software and Game Studio’s E3 2018 Press Conference. Stay tuned for more from Ubisoft and much more as we dive into our favourite franchises releasing new and amazing content over the next few days.

Signing off,

//Bees. ~