While most of the attention during the opening days of E3 falls on the big press events from Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo, many game publishers also take the opportunity to showcase their biggest and best offerings at individual press conferences. From the next Mass Effect to brand new franchises, read on as Gizmag picks out the biggest announcements from Bethesda, EA, Ubisoft and Square Enix.
Bethesda brings Doom and Fallout
Bethesda kicked things off Sunday evening with a solid showing that included a big section on its highly-anticipated post-apocalyptic open world game, Fallout 4. Lots of new details were revealed about the Xbox One, PS4 and PC title, including the confirmation that there will be pre-nuclear war gameplay, as well as the ability to play as either male or female characters. There's also an extensive crafting system for weapons, armour and settlements. Perhaps the biggest news for fans? The game will hit shelves later this year, on November 10.
The company also announced that an iOS and Android companion app will be available alongside the game, mimicking the functionality of the in-game, wrist-worn PIP Boy computer that acts as the title's menu system. The collector's edition of the game will feature a physical PIP Boy that the player can pop their smartphone inside for a more authentic experience.
A new iOS game called Fallout Shelter was also shown. The two dimensional title tasks players with creating and running their very own vault, tending to the needs of and issues faced by its inhabitants.
Bethesda also took the opportunity to show extensive gameplay of the intensely-gory Doom, showcasing fast-paced, weapon-switching gameplay, running on a new in-house graphics engine. Perhaps the most interesting thing about the PS4/Xbox One and PC title is the inclusion of Snapmap editor that allows users to create and share their own gameplay content.
The other big announcement from Bethesda came in the form of a sequel to 2012's Dishonored. Following in the footsteps of its predecessor, Dishonored 2 will take the stealth and power-based gameplay to a new coastal location, while giving the player the option to control either a male or female character. There's also an Xbox One and PS4 version of the first game in the series on the way, coming out in the (Northern Hemisphere) fall. It offers improved graphics and includes all available downloadable content.
For more on Bethesda's announcements, check out the full video of its press event.
Ubisoft: new South Park, Ghost Recon and For Honor
Ubisoft had perhaps the strongest showing of any third party event this year. Kicking things off by revealing South Park: The Fractured But Whole – a sequel to last year's surprise hit RPG – it went on to out two other big new titles.
The biggest surprise was a multiplayer-focused game that offers players the chance to control three different factions – Vikings, Samurai and Knights – in skill-based sword combat. Known as For Honor, the game obviously throws historical accuracy out the window, but is one of the most visually potent, compelling reveals of the entire show. Definitely one to watch.
The second previously unseen Ubisoft title is Ghost Recon Wildlands. Moving the tactical gunplay series to an open world setting, the game promises to give players the freedom to tackle missions in their own way, whether it be taking a target down quietly or going in all guns blazing. It's built for cooperative play, and looks like a lot of fun.
Of course, we also got a look at the company's other upcoming titles, including The Division, Assassin's Creed Syndicate and Rainbow Six Siege.
For everything Ubisoft had on show, check out the full replay of its E3 2015 event.
EA outs the next Mass Effect game
We may have only seen a two-minute teaser of the next installment in Electronic Arts' sci-fi series, but it stole the limelight from everything else shown during the company's event. Mass Effect Andromeda will see players travel to, you guessed it, the Andromeda galaxy – our closest galactic neighbor. The game is built on the Frostbite 3 graphics engine, and there looks to be a focus on exploration. It's due out on current generation consoles holiday 2016.
After a somewhat polarizing teaser trailer earlier this year, EA was keen to get fans on board with Star Wars: Battlefront – a reboot of a fan favorite series. The extensive gameplay trailer focused on a classic setting – the ice world of Hoth – showing both vehicle and infantry combat. The game supports battles with up to 40 simultaneous players, and is starting to look very promising. It's due out on Xbox One, PS4 and PC on November 17.
EA only revealed a single new IP this year, but it's certainly a compelling one. Known as Unravel, the new game is a puzzle-based side scroller with a great art style. Yarny – the protagonist – is made of, well, yarn, which you use to overcome obstacles. There's no news yet on a release date for the imaginative new property.
Elsewhere, the company unveiled a new entry in its Need For Speed series, and provided a look at the highly-anticipated first-person action title Mirror's Edge Catalyst. Those games are set to arrive on November 3, 2015 and February 16, 2016 respectively.
For more form EA at E3, take a look at the full conference replay.
Just Cause and Deus Ex get release dates
While we already knew about both Just Cause 3 and Deus Ex: Mankind Divided, you could easily argue that they were the biggest draws of Square Enix's E3 2015 event. The company showed gameplay of both games, as well as release dates (December 1 for Just Cause, and early 2016 for Deus Ex).
Other Square Enix announcements included a release date for the new Hitman game (December 8), and a gameplay trailer of PS4 and Xbox One title Kingdom Hearts 3 – the first numbered entry in the franchise since 2005. There's still no word on when we'll see the finished game.
For all the Square Enix reveals at E3 2015, you can check out the full replay of the press event.
For more from E3 2015, you can check out our top picks from the Nintendo, Microsoft and Sony press events, as well as hands-on impressions of the new Xbox Elite controller and retail version of the Oculus Rift VR headset.