The biggest PC gaming news from E3 2021
The games APC is most excited about.
Virtual again this year, we didn’t get to gather in sweaty, heaving crowds for E3 2021, but it was a big one nonetheless. Across the Summer Game Fest, the Guerrilla Collective, Microsoft’s XboxBethesda Showcase, the PC Gaming Show, and other online events, we saw an astonishing – nearly overwhelming – assortment of new game announcements, release dates, and other news.
What is it? A post-apocalyptic horror FPS, and sequel to the first game that came out over 12 years ago.
When’s it out? April 28, 2022. What did we see at E3? A new trailer with both cinematic sequences and gameplay. There’s not a lot to go on, but there’s plenty of banter between fellow fireside campers which shows the game’s humorous streak, lots of industrial shootouts, and a look at a bloodsucker, and an interesting piece of new hardware. A bit too much shooting for Stalker honestly.
What is it? The return of an RTS
classic to warm our hearts. When’s it out? October 28.
What did we see at E3? A cinematic with Joan of Arc, and some gameplay reminiscent of the fondly remembered Age of Empires 2. There were war elephants, French knights, trebuchets, camel-mounted archers, a naval battle, and walls that will hopefully have those gates you could open and close by clicking on them.
What is it? The Soviet sci-fi FPS we’re all waiting for.
When’s it out? TBA.
What did we see at E3? A glorious minute of madness. Sinister robots, one with a head full of fruit. Frozen explosions. Cybernetic implants.
We all hope and pray that is as incredible as the legendary original. The new chapter in the series is a visual spectacular.
Veteran gamers are united in their excitement for a truly new
game, including most of the team! Keep the dream alive!
Lightning powers. Levitation. A babushka with a soup ladle. It looks incredible.
What is it? A near-future Battlefield that increases match size to 128 players and introduces specialists with gadgets (kind of like Rainbow Six Siege operators, but they can carry any gun). When’s it out? October 22.
What did we see at E3? The reveal preempted E3: You can watch the first trailer on YouTube, and we’ll have more Battlefield 2042 details soon. There’s no singleplayer and no battle royale mode in this one, but there are a couple mystery modes we’ll learn about in the future. We’ll see the first gameplay trailer during E3 proper on Sunday, June 13, and then we’ll see more in July at EA Play Live.
What is it? Blizzard’s classic action-RPG in modern resolutions, running at 60 fps.
When’s it out? Sep 23, 2021. What did we see at E3? Our first look at the newly recreated cinematics, which sure are shiny.
Otherwise, in spite of the graphical improvements, it’s still good old Diablo 2 as we remember it. We also found out multiplayer beta will take place in August.
What is it? What else could an official Evil Dead game be, but a cooperative zombie slayer reminiscent of Left 4 Dead?
When’s it out? It’s coming in 2021 – exactly when is yet to be confirmed.
What did we see at E3? The reveal trailer above was shown during the Summer Game Fest. In addition to revealing all the key facts and a very life-like Bruce Campbell, it shows off some grim horror environments fairly reminiscent of Friday the 13th: The Game. Morgan has the full rundown on the four-player melee co-op game here: he liked the look of it.
What is it? Giancarlo Esposito is an evil dad and you need to go shoot lots of his henchmen in lush, outdoor environments.
When’s it out? October 7.
What did we see at E3? One of those villain speeches where the bad guy is charismatically menacing at a group of people.
What is it? A very pretty game about driving cars fast. This time the series is heading to Mexico. When’s it out? November 9, 2021. What did we see at E3? Lots of shiny cars going real fast in picturesque environments. The trailer for Forza Horizon 5 is one of the prettiest yet with some huge dust storms, lush vegetation, and volcanic scenes. Combined with the new raytracing lighting tech and super detailed photogrammetry textures, Forza is looking good and is potentially the most impressive and exciting game of the show.
Most PC gamers will have fond memories of prepare for more!
The big impact
made on E3 was it’s ridiculously funny trailer. Prepare for more lush environs, OTT violence and cult skulduggery in
What is it? Singleplayer superhero shenanigans in which you are Star-Lord.
When’s it out? October 26.
What did we see at E3? A debut trailer and a deep dive confirming that this is not a live-service game and won’t have microtransactions or DLC. Instead, it’s a narrative action game where you get to jet-boot around as Star-Lord, calling on the other Guardians when you need their special abilities. It’s drawing from the movies and the comics, and no, you don’t get to look like Chris Pratt.
What is it? The sequel to Obsidian’s corporate-satire sci-fi RPG.
When’s it out? No clue.
What did we see at E3? A parody of videogame trailers that’s funnier than most of the jokes in the first Outer Worlds were. But it didn’t leave us with much to go on. The description did hold a few clues: “New solar system, new crew, same Outer Worlds,” it reads.
What is it? The long-awaited follow-up to one of the quirkiest and most beloved platformers in PC gaming history.
When’s it out? August 25, 2021. What did we see at E3? Raz exploring more of the weird and wacky worlds that exist inside of his friends’ subconscious minds. It’s pretty silly, which is what we want from Psychonauts. The release date is the big news of course.
What is it? The next big RPG from Bethesda, in spaaaace.
When’s it out? Nov 11, 2022. What did we see at E3? An honest-to-goodness release date. The trailer didn’t tell us much, but Todd Howard’s been talking and that’s how we know Starfield will have various factions to join: “It’s kind of like Skyrim in terms of the structure of the game, where you’re going to be who you want to be, and then there’s different factions that you can join, and really carve your own path.”
What is it? Turn-based tactics, a successor of sorts to 1998’s Warhammer 40,000: Chaos Gate When’s it out?
What did we see at E3? A teaser showing that we’ll be playing the Grey Knights, the psychic warriors of Chapter 666 who battle Chaos on behalf of the Inquisition. If the buzzing flies weren’t enough of a clue, the shambling poxwalkers at the end suggest that those enemies will be the daemons of Nurgle, Warhammer’s grotesque plague god. We’ll find out more when the cinematic trailer comes in August.