PS4 E3 2013 press conference recap and highlights
The PS4 is detailed...
This was Sonys E3 to lose. The PS4 was riding a much higher wave of momentum than the Xbox One was coming into the show, and with the right combination of games and other news, Sony could walk out of this press conference looking like geniuses.
Plenty of games were shown. Plenty of details on features were shared. There were even a few gauntlets thrown down. Missed the Sony presser? Look no further!
A brief Vita overview
Jack Tretton started the show with a list of the games upcoming for Vita. Highlights included Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate, Killzone: Mercenary, Final Fantasy X/X-2, and Tearaway.
Jack Tretton then dropped the first bomb: Telltale Games The Walking Dead 400 Days will be launching this summer, as well as a Vita bundle containing the entire first season, the expansion, and more.
First-party PS3 games detailed
From Vita, the conference shifted gears to PS3, which started with the launch trailer for this Fridays The Last of Us and moved into Puppeteer, Rain, Gran Turismo 6, and an impressive trailer for Beyond: Two Souls.
The Beyond trailer delved deeper into the story of Jodie Holmes, showing off military training we didnt even know she had. It seems Ellen Pages character is even more badass than we suspected.
Batman: Arkham Origins, GTA V
The Dark Knight then made his presence felt, complete with his Kevin Conroy vocals, in a new trailer for Batman: Arkham Origins. While the Joker may not be Mark Hamill, it wont deter us from being pumped for this game. Batman showed off some new detective skills, including the ability to rewind events, and some new gadgetry.
Afterward, a new PlayStation bundle featuring GTA 5 was unveiled, bundling the system and the game for $299. Additionally, a limited edition set of GTA 5 branded PS3 headphones will also be available. Perfect for the GTA enthusiasts out there, and we know there are many of you.
PS4 hardware, media offerings unveiled
The attention then turned to PS4, where the system was finally unveiled. Slim and sporting a classic PS2 look, the PS4 turned heads as soon as it was unveiled.
Some of the PS4s media services were then detailed, such as Music and Video Unlimited, Live Events Viewer, and a brand new original programming plan. Original shows on PS4...who would have thought?
The Order: 1886
Ready At Dawns first PS4 games was unveiled, The Order: 1886, a collaboration with Sony Santa Monica. Both teams are known for the God of War series, and the game mixes Victorian-era costumes with high-tech weaponry. The Order shows us a deadly, mystical London that we cant wait to see more of.
Were not sure what kind of game The Order is, nor do we know what The Order is fighting, but ti looked creepy and full of steampunk guns, and thats OK with us.
New details on the known PS4 games
The four first-party PS4 games saw some screen time, starting with Killzone: Shadow Fall, then moving into DriveClub, Infamous Second Son, and Knack.
Killzone gave us high-tech shooting, DriveClub wowed us with beautiful racing action, Infamous showed off some of Delsins abilities, and Knack delivered a brief glimpse of its golem-stomping action. All but Infamous were revealed as PS4 launch titles, with Infamous announced as Q1 2014.
Quantic Dream's light-hearted tech demo
David Cages studio apparently isnt sitting back on their laurels, showing off a tech demo called The Dark Sorcerer. The old man shown at Februarys PS4 reveal made his return as, well, a dark sorcerer.
While giving a empowered speech about his hatred of the world, the demo gave a comical turn by making the sorcerer forget his lines, turning him into a nervous actor questioning his motives. We laughed a bit.
Indie highlights galore
Third-party relations man Adam Boyes talked about the PS4s indie focus, mentioning Jonathan Blows appearance at the February reveal. He then introduced SuperGiant Games, who again showed off Transistor. First debuted at PAX East, Transistor continued to impress with the gameplay trailer. If its anything like Bastion, well be more than fine with it.
A few more PS4 partners were then unveiled, including Klei Entertainment (Dont Starve), Young Horses (OctoDad: Dadliest Catch), Switchblade Monkeys (Secret Ponchos), Ragtag Studios (Rays Dead), Red Barrels (Outlast), Oddworld Inhabitants (Oddworld New N Tasty), and 17-Bit Games (Galaxy). All these games, lest it not be said, will be PS4 console exclusives. INDIE OVERLOAD.
Final Fantasy Versus XIII become Final Fantasy XV
Tetsuya Nomura sent over a pre-recorded message unveiling the latest trailer for Final Fantasy Versus XIII, now known as Final Fantasy 15.
Its about damn time we got to see more about Versus XIII, and the first gameplay made us really excited, but we dont get the fantasy based on reality thing. Airships and giant monsters arent real, as much as we want them to be.
Kingdom Hearts 3 announced (!!!)
Here we thought Versus XIII was long overdue, then Square Enix drops Kingdom Hearts 3 on us! Come on now guys, dont play with our emotions like this!
The brief teaser showed Sora riding a wave of Heartless through Twilight Town, AND THATS ALL WE NEEDED. Now In Development is the best thing about KHIII we could have heard.
Assassin's Creed IV, Watch Dogs shown
While we were still hyperventilating from Square Enix, Ubisoft showed off an impressive demo of Assassins Creed 4. Blending, swordplay, jungle stealth, and seamless normal-to-naval transitions featured big, just as we expected. However, like Battlefield at Microsoft, the demo was hampered by glitches...they couldnt even finish.
Ubisoft then continued with a gameplay demo of Watch Dogs. This demo showed off some of the open-world gameplay we can expect from the game, including some flashy action and plenty of phone-smashing. No ones phone will be safe when we get our hands on it. Best of all, no glitches!
NBA 2K14 detailed
LeBron James made an appearance, both in real and video game form at this E3. LeBron James talked to himself for a little while (we suspect he really enjoyed it), then the trailer for NBA 2K14 was on.
The in-game footage impressed, including the LOUD ROAR face that LeBron made after a monster dunk. Its a shame he couldnt be there live, but we know hes busy. Still, we're betting he got a pretty good paycheck regardless.<.>
The Elder Scrolls Online announced for PS4
The Elder Scrolls Online is coming to the PS4, as a new trailer was bestowed upon viewers of the press conference. The idea of a full console MMO is still hard for many gamers to wrap their heads around, but were more than willing to try it out.
ESO showed off some first and third-person combat that looked similar to the previously seen PC footage. Though it's likely coming to the Xbox One as well, a Spring 2014 release date for the PS4. A beta on PS4 is also coming sooner than that, and might come long before it shows on the Xbox One. Does all this make you ready to start a clan in Elder Scrolls Online?
Mad Max revealed from Avalanche Studios
A car drives through a barren desert, looking for a single body. The body, revealing himself to be alive, pleads to the man, only to be deserted...until the car comes back and runs him over.
This was the first trailer for Mad Max, a post-apocalytpic game coming from Warner Brothers and Avalanche Studios. The Just Cause studios making a Mad Max game? Bring it.
Sony takes a shot at the competition
The biggest reaction of the show came when Jack Tretton announced that PS4 will indeed support used games and dont need to be connected online. It was clearly a direct shot at Microsoft and it hit hard.
Trade it in, lend it to a friend, do whatever you want with it, it all sounds like it works just like the PS3. Also, no periodic online check-ins required to play your games. Sony put on the proverbial white glove, slapped Microsoft in the face, and challenged them to a next-gen duel. It was electric.
Expanded PS Plus plans laid out
Current PS Plus accounts will transfer to PS4. One price will give access to all three Sony systems. Cloud saves are coming over. DriveClub PS Plus Edition on day one of PS4. PS Plus is coming to PS4 in a big way.
PS4 will require players to have a PS Plus membership to play online, but that doesnt seem like a big deal. Also, Dont Starve, Secret Ponchos, and Outlast will be free via the Instant Game Collection. We cant complain.
Destiny's first gameplay trailer shown
The first gameplay of Bungies Destiny made its debut at the Sony show, revealing a planet Earth many years from now: barren, desolate, and swarming with four-armed warriors.
The scope of the game is immense, and seamless multiplayer integration allowed for multiple players to join in on the fly. Bungie looks to have moved on from Halo quite nicely, and we cant wait to live out our Destiny.
Gaikai functionality explained, console price revealed
PS4s Gaikai technology followed the impressive Destiny demo. Touting all access experiences, PS3 and PS4 games will be streamed via the Gaikai technology, allowing gamers to play instantly a la Steam starting in 2014..
The PS4s price tag was also revealed to end the show: $399, a full $100 below the Xbox One. This drew wild cheers from the crowds, not as wild as the used game reaction, but still pretty damn good.
This marks the end of a long day...
Sony pulled no punches, getting right into Microsofts face about used games and announcing a price point a full Franklin below the competition. The crowd was jubilant, and its not hard to see why.
Of course the games that Sony showed off were also impressive, and were buzzing about some of the names weve heard (Kingdom Hearts III exists?!), but what about you? Leave us a comment on what you loved and hated about Sonys E3 2013 presentation.