E3 2021: The Most Interesting Releases Showcased this Year
By Xander Townsend | Misfit Media Editor
As I'm sure many of you are aware, E3, starting on the 12th and ending on the 15th of June, showcased and announced many predictable, but also some interesting, even unexpected titles. E3 is a games conference where many developers, manufacturers and companies in the games industry showcase new and upcoming games, hardware, software and merchandise. 3 days of a game announcement conference can be tedious for many so I've decided to highlight 5 titles I believe you should keep your eye on.
A Plague Tale: Requiem
Usually I am not a fan of hyper-realistic AAA titles that look a little rinse and repeat and refuse to show any elements of gameplay in their release trailers. That being said, out of all the AAA announcements, A Plague Tale: Requiem looked the most interesting. XBOX and Bethesda showcased an impressive rendered trailer showing just enough to get you intrigued with it being the second instalment in the franchise, the first being A Plague Tale: Innocence which received an impressive 9/10 approval rating on steam. Developed by Asobo Studio, the trailer showcases the potential for another solid game showing impressive graphics and an intriguing world. I am very interested to see how this release goes.
Sea of Thieves: A Pirates Life
Sea of Thieves is a very successful and well received online open world game with a 9/10 approval rating on steam and 94% on google. As someone who plays Sea of Thieves regularly, their events based content is always something to look out for and I was very excited to see this in the XBOX/Bethesda line-up. It is no surprise that Sea of Thieves takes massive inspiration from the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise so this seems like a perfect match for the game. Rare (the developers) have always done a good job at making the world seem dense and full of exploration with constant updates and event releases. With this being their first release of IP related content, I am very excited to see the execution of a Pirates of the Caribbean instalment.
Replaced
I am always extremely excited to see games released on larger platforms that attempt new and exciting graphical styles. Replaced's release trailer, within the XBOX release lineup, was found to be a breath of fresh air amongst all the repetitive AAA releases. Developed by Sad Cat Studios, it looks like a very impressive and well executed 80's inspired platformer with an intriguing story and beautiful graphics. I have a soft spot for graphically diverse yet stunning games and this is no exception. I love when conferences like these decide to put their faith in something a little different, I am very excited for this game to release.
Somerville
Somerville, the debut title by the indie studio Jumpship, is an interesting title showcased by XBOX. With clear inspiration from Limbo (the co-founder's roots), it was a quirky change of pace from the already dense AAA lineup. It is graphically beautiful with a focus on story and will clearly be an emotional play. I apricated the deviation from larger scale budget projects with this showcase and am very interested to how it is commercially received. I hope to see more indie titles and new IP in the coming showcases.
Far: Changing Tides
Another change of pace for the XBOX showcase, with Far: Changing Tides being showcased. A atmospheric and beautiful game developed by the indie studio Okomotive, I was really appreciative to see some interesting indie titles at E3 this year. With this being a title with a team of under 10, I am excited to explore the world they have created on release with this hopefully establishing the trust larger platforms should have with indie studios.