E3 returned in 2021 with big announcements from Xbox, Bethesda, Nintendo, Ubisoft, Square Enix, and several indie devs. It's been a jam-packed show that's provided long-awaited updates on the biggest games of 2021 and beyond, including Elden Ring, Starfield, Breath of the Wild 2, and Halo Infinite.
With the showcases over, we've rounded up the biggest of the big announcements from E3 2021, including new game reveals, long-awaited release date announcements, and much more. Continue scrolling or click through the gallery below for our full list.
(If you're only looking for new game reveals, you can check out our list of the biggest E3 2021 games announced)
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The highly anticipated Elden Ring got its first gameplay trailer during Summer Game Fest, alongside a release date: January 21, 2022. The Hidetaka Miyazaki-George R.R. Martin collaboration will feature FromSoftware's largest, most free-form map to date. You can read IGN's big Miyazaki interview for much more on Elden Ring.
Microsoft kicked off its Xbox-Bethesda E3 showcase with a first look at Starfield. In addition to debuting the new trailer, Microsoft confirmed the next RPG from Todd Howard and Bethesda Game Studios will be exclusive to Xbox and PC. Starfield, which Bethesda execs have described as both "Skyrim in space" and a "Han Solo simulator," is targeting November 11, 2022.
Nintendo closed out its E3 Direct with a new gameplay trailer for The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2 that revealed a 2022 release window. The trailer shows Link navigating the skies Hyrule, which will be explorable in the sequel, according to Nintendo.
The rumored Guardians of the Galaxy game was finally revealed during the Square Enix E3 showcase with an October 26 release date. The single-player action-adventure features all of the Guardians from the MCU — Gamora, Rocket Raccoon, Groot, and Drax — though you'll play exclusively as Star-Lord. Like the movies, the Guardians game will feature classic music from the '80s, including songs by Iron Maiden, Rick Astley, Kiss, and Wham.
The Ubisoft E3 showcase ended with our first look at Massive Entertainment's Avatar game. Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora is a first-person, open-world action-adventure game set in a never-before-seen part of Pandora. It's scheudled for a 2022 release on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
Tekken's Kazuya was revealed as the penultimate DLC character for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. More info on the fighter will be revealed on June 28, according to game director Masahiro Sakurai.
Halo Infinite's Holiday 2021 release window was confirmed during E3 with a fresh look at the shooter's single-player campaign and free-to-play multiplayer. Microsoft and 343 followed up with a Halo Infinite multiplayer deep dive, revealing details on its battle pass system, customization, the Training Academy, and more.
Nintendo and Ubisoft are collaborating once again on Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope, a sequel to 2017's Battle Kingdom. Compared to the original, Sparks of Hope will feature more open locations and more fluid combat. The sequel comes to Switch in 2022.
Arkane Studios (Dishonored, Prey) showed off its open-world vampire shooter Redfall. Featuring support for up to four-player co-op, Redfall pits you (and your friends) against powerful, ever-evolving vampires. It'll be exclusive to Xbox Series X|S and PC, and it's due out in Summer 2022.
Tiny Tina's Wonderlands is a Borderlands spinoff set in "an unpredictable fantasy world." Set after the Borderlands 2 DLC Assault on Dragon Keep, Wonderlands is a four-player co-op game with a world that constantly changes to fit the Bunkers & Badasses (i.e., Dungeons & Dragons) narrative spun by Tina. Ashly Burch returns to voice the fan-favorite Tina alongside an all-star supporting cast that includes Will Arnett, Andy Samberg, and Wanda Sykes.
Microsoft's excellent arcade racer returns with its fifth iteration on November 9. Forza Horizon 5 takes the series to Mexico, which will be home to “the largest, most diverse Horizon ever." For more, check out these Forza Horizon 5 details we learned from developer Playground Games' follow-up livestream.
A sequel to Obsidian's The Outer Worlds is officially in development, though the cheeky reveal trailer made it clear The Outer Worlds 2 is still a ways out. The RPG will be exclusive to Xbox Series X|S and PC.
Ubisoft gave us a deep dive into and release date for Rainbow Six Extraction (f.k.a. Rainbow Six Quarantine) during its E3 showcase. The objective-based PvE game will be released on September 16. Check out our Rainbow Six Extraction hands-on preview for much more.
One of the most fun surprises from the Xbox showcase was the reveal of Sea of Thieves: A Pirate's Life, an all-new original story featuring Jack Sparrow from Pirates of the Caribbean. Davy Jones will also appear in this free update, which will be released on June 22.
Just Cause developer Avalanche Studios revealed Contraband, a co-op, open-world game coming exclusively to Xbox and PC. Contraband is a Day One Game Pass title that's described as a "co-op smuggler’s paradise set in the fictional world of 1970s Bayan."
After its 2020 PC release, Microsoft Flight Simulator is coming to Xbox Series X|S on July 27. The console version will launch on Xbox Game Pass and will be followed by a Top Gun expansion later this year.
Hades, IGN's Game of the Year 2020, is coming to PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, and Xbox One on August 13. The Xbox versions will be available on Xbox Game Pass at launch.
In addition to Hades, Microsoft revealed a number of big third-party games and indies that will hit Xbox Game Pass at launch, including Atomic Heart, the Left 4 Dead spiritual successor Back 4 Blood, Somerville, A Plague Tale: Requiem, and the promising time-loop game 12 Minutes. Those looking for something to play right now can dive into Yakuza: Like a Dragon, which was added to Game Pass during the show.
Ubisoft's Far Cry 6 DLC plans include three episodes that each allow you to play as one of the series' infamous villains. The episodes will "delve into the minds" of Far Cry 3's Vaas, Far Cry 4's Pagan, and Far Cry 5's Joseph Seed. The gameplay is "inspired by the roguelite genre," according to Ubisoft.
PlatinumGames' Babylon's Fall resurfanced at E3 2021 after two years of relative silence. Square showed off new gameplay from the live-service action game and revealed it will be coming to PS5 in addition to PS4 and PC.
Diablo 2 Resurrected, a remastered version of Blizzard's classic action-RPG, will be released on September 23. Resurrected includes the base game and Diablo 2's acclaimed Lord of Destruction expansion. It'll be released on PC as well as all current- and next-gen consoles (including Switch).
Ubisoft's open-world extreme sports game Riders Republic will be released on September 2. The deep dive trailer showed off a variety of ways to play, from team-based snowboarding to solo mountain biking.
Rocksmith+ is a new subscription service for Ubisoft's guitar-learning games. The subscription, which will first be available as a closed beta on PC, includes access to a "huge" library of songs that can set to different speeds to allow you to learn at your own pace.
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For more on this year's show, you can check out our full E3 recap, as well as our list of every confirmed E3 game available to preorder.
Continue reading...
With the showcases over, we've rounded up the biggest of the big announcements from E3 2021, including new game reveals, long-awaited release date announcements, and much more. Continue scrolling or click through the gallery below for our full list.
(If you're only looking for new game reveals, you can check out our list of the biggest E3 2021 games announced)
[widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="slug=biggest-announcements-of-e3-2021&captions=true"]
Elden Ring Release Date, Gameplay Revealed
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2021/06/10/elden-ring-first-gameplay-reveal-trailer"]The highly anticipated Elden Ring got its first gameplay trailer during Summer Game Fest, alongside a release date: January 21, 2022. The Hidetaka Miyazaki-George R.R. Martin collaboration will feature FromSoftware's largest, most free-form map to date. You can read IGN's big Miyazaki interview for much more on Elden Ring.
Starfield Xbox-PC Exclusivity Confirmed, Release Date Announced
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2021/06/13/starfield-release-date-trailer"]Microsoft kicked off its Xbox-Bethesda E3 showcase with a first look at Starfield. In addition to debuting the new trailer, Microsoft confirmed the next RPG from Todd Howard and Bethesda Game Studios will be exclusive to Xbox and PC. Starfield, which Bethesda execs have described as both "Skyrim in space" and a "Han Solo simulator," is targeting November 11, 2022.
Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2 Release Window and New Trailer
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2021/06/15/the-legend-of-zelda-breath-of-the-wild-2-gameplay-trailer"]Nintendo closed out its E3 Direct with a new gameplay trailer for The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2 that revealed a 2022 release window. The trailer shows Link navigating the skies Hyrule, which will be explorable in the sequel, according to Nintendo.
Square’s Guardians of the Galaxy Officially Revealed
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2021/06/13/marvels-guardians-of-the-galaxy-world-premiere-trailer"]The rumored Guardians of the Galaxy game was finally revealed during the Square Enix E3 showcase with an October 26 release date. The single-player action-adventure features all of the Guardians from the MCU — Gamora, Rocket Raccoon, Groot, and Drax — though you'll play exclusively as Star-Lord. Like the movies, the Guardians game will feature classic music from the '80s, including songs by Iron Maiden, Rick Astley, Kiss, and Wham.
First Look at Ubisoft’s Avatar Game
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2021/06/12/avatar-frontiers-of-pandora-announcement-trailer"]The Ubisoft E3 showcase ended with our first look at Massive Entertainment's Avatar game. Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora is a first-person, open-world action-adventure game set in a never-before-seen part of Pandora. It's scheudled for a 2022 release on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
Next Smash Bros. DLC Character Revealed
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2021/06/15/smash-bros-ultimate-kazuya-dlc-character-reveal-trailer"]Tekken's Kazuya was revealed as the penultimate DLC character for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. More info on the fighter will be revealed on June 28, according to game director Masahiro Sakurai.
Halo Infinite Multiplayer Deep Dive
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2021/06/14/halo-infinite-multiplayer-developer-walkthrough"]Halo Infinite's Holiday 2021 release window was confirmed during E3 with a fresh look at the shooter's single-player campaign and free-to-play multiplayer. Microsoft and 343 followed up with a Halo Infinite multiplayer deep dive, revealing details on its battle pass system, customization, the Training Academy, and more.
Mario + Rabbids Sequel Announced
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2021/06/12/mario-rabbids-sparks-of-hope-reveal-trailer"]Nintendo and Ubisoft are collaborating once again on Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope, a sequel to 2017's Battle Kingdom. Compared to the original, Sparks of Hope will feature more open locations and more fluid combat. The sequel comes to Switch in 2022.
Dishonored Devs’ Vampire Shooter Redfall Revealed as Xbox-PC Exclusive
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2021/06/13/redfall-reveal-trailer"]Arkane Studios (Dishonored, Prey) showed off its open-world vampire shooter Redfall. Featuring support for up to four-player co-op, Redfall pits you (and your friends) against powerful, ever-evolving vampires. It'll be exclusive to Xbox Series X|S and PC, and it's due out in Summer 2022.
Borderlands Spinoff Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands Announced
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2021/06/10/tiny-tinas-wonderlands-announcement-trailer"]Tiny Tina's Wonderlands is a Borderlands spinoff set in "an unpredictable fantasy world." Set after the Borderlands 2 DLC Assault on Dragon Keep, Wonderlands is a four-player co-op game with a world that constantly changes to fit the Bunkers & Badasses (i.e., Dungeons & Dragons) narrative spun by Tina. Ashly Burch returns to voice the fan-favorite Tina alongside an all-star supporting cast that includes Will Arnett, Andy Samberg, and Wanda Sykes.
Forza Horizon 5 Announced and Dated
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2021/06/13/forza-horizon-5-release-date-trailer"]Microsoft's excellent arcade racer returns with its fifth iteration on November 9. Forza Horizon 5 takes the series to Mexico, which will be home to “the largest, most diverse Horizon ever." For more, check out these Forza Horizon 5 details we learned from developer Playground Games' follow-up livestream.
The Outer Worlds 2 Announced as Xbox-PC Exclusive
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2021/06/13/the-outer-worlds-2-reveal-trailer"]A sequel to Obsidian's The Outer Worlds is officially in development, though the cheeky reveal trailer made it clear The Outer Worlds 2 is still a ways out. The RPG will be exclusive to Xbox Series X|S and PC.
Rainbow Six Extraction Official Title, Gameplay Revealed
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2021/06/12/rainbow-six-extraction-official-premiere-trailer"]Ubisoft gave us a deep dive into and release date for Rainbow Six Extraction (f.k.a. Rainbow Six Quarantine) during its E3 showcase. The objective-based PvE game will be released on September 16. Check out our Rainbow Six Extraction hands-on preview for much more.
Sea of Thieves Is Getting a Pirates of the Caribbean Crossover
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2021/06/13/sea-of-thieves-a-pirates-life-reveal-trailer"]One of the most fun surprises from the Xbox showcase was the reveal of Sea of Thieves: A Pirate's Life, an all-new original story featuring Jack Sparrow from Pirates of the Caribbean. Davy Jones will also appear in this free update, which will be released on June 22.
Contraband: Just Cause Devs Reveal Xbox-Exclusive Open World Game
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2021/06/13/contraband-announcement-trailer"]Just Cause developer Avalanche Studios revealed Contraband, a co-op, open-world game coming exclusively to Xbox and PC. Contraband is a Day One Game Pass title that's described as a "co-op smuggler’s paradise set in the fictional world of 1970s Bayan."
Flight Sim Console Release Date and Top Gun Expansion Announced
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2021/06/13/flight-simulator-xbox-version-announcement-trailer"]After its 2020 PC release, Microsoft Flight Simulator is coming to Xbox Series X|S on July 27. The console version will launch on Xbox Game Pass and will be followed by a Top Gun expansion later this year.
2020's Game of the Year Hades Is Coming to Xbox, PlayStation
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2021/06/13/hades-xbox-release-date-trailer"]Hades, IGN's Game of the Year 2020, is coming to PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, and Xbox One on August 13. The Xbox versions will be available on Xbox Game Pass at launch.
Xbox Game Pass Gets Even Better
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2021/06/13/atomic-heart-series-xs-gameplay-trailer"]In addition to Hades, Microsoft revealed a number of big third-party games and indies that will hit Xbox Game Pass at launch, including Atomic Heart, the Left 4 Dead spiritual successor Back 4 Blood, Somerville, A Plague Tale: Requiem, and the promising time-loop game 12 Minutes. Those looking for something to play right now can dive into Yakuza: Like a Dragon, which was added to Game Pass during the show.
Far Cry 6 DLC Lets You Plan as Series’ Infamous Villains
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2021/06/12/far-cry-6-season-pass-trailer-become-the-villain"]Ubisoft's Far Cry 6 DLC plans include three episodes that each allow you to play as one of the series' infamous villains. The episodes will "delve into the minds" of Far Cry 3's Vaas, Far Cry 4's Pagan, and Far Cry 5's Joseph Seed. The gameplay is "inspired by the roguelite genre," according to Ubisoft.
Babylon’s Fall PS5 Version Announced, New Gameplay Shown Off
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2021/06/13/babylons-fall-story-trailer"]PlatinumGames' Babylon's Fall resurfanced at E3 2021 after two years of relative silence. Square showed off new gameplay from the live-service action game and revealed it will be coming to PS5 in addition to PS4 and PC.
Diablo 2 Resurrected Release Date Announced
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2021/06/13/diablo-2-resurrected-xbox-sereis-sx-optimization-showcase-trailer"]Diablo 2 Resurrected, a remastered version of Blizzard's classic action-RPG, will be released on September 23. Resurrected includes the base game and Diablo 2's acclaimed Lord of Destruction expansion. It'll be released on PC as well as all current- and next-gen consoles (including Switch).
Riders Republic Release Date Announced
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2021/06/12/riders-republic-cinematic-gameplay-trailer"]Ubisoft's open-world extreme sports game Riders Republic will be released on September 2. The deep dive trailer showed off a variety of ways to play, from team-based snowboarding to solo mountain biking.
Ubisoft Announces Rocksmith Plus Subscription Service
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2021/06/12/rocksmith-announcement-trailer"]Rocksmith+ is a new subscription service for Ubisoft's guitar-learning games. The subscription, which will first be available as a closed beta on PC, includes access to a "huge" library of songs that can set to different speeds to allow you to learn at your own pace.
[poilib element="accentDivider"]
For more on this year's show, you can check out our full E3 recap, as well as our list of every confirmed E3 game available to preorder.
Continue reading...