‘The Evil Within 2’ will ramp up the scares October 13th

The Evil Within 2 exists and you’ll be able to play it across Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and PC on October 13th — Friday the 13th, that is. The series comes from Shinji Mikami, the director of the original Resident Evil and Resident Evil 4, the latter of which is widely considered to be one of the best games of all time, horror or otherwise.

The announcement video hits all the creepy beats — a lonely child in the woods, a burning house, a dirty bathtub, a dark hallway with blood on the walls, and a modern pop song remixed into a drawling drone. The story follows Detective Sebastian Castellanos as he attempts to save his daughter from a nightmare world of demons, fire and blood.

The Evil Within didn’t exactly impress when it landed in 2014, and not just because fans expected too much of a legendary director. It emphasized stealth and action in a creepy environment, rather than committing fully to the horror genre that Mikami knows so well.

That said, the sequel looks polished and, yes, terrifying. Let’s hope it plays that way, too.

Follow all the latest news from E3 2017 here!

‘Zelda’ and the Master Sword come to ‘Skyrim’ on Switch this fall 

When Nintendo used The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim to tease it’s new hybrid portable game console, a lot of us were left confused. Sure, portable Skyrim sounds great, but is it enough to get gamers to buy the game for a second, or even third time? No? How about if Bethesda throws in support for motion controls, Amiibo and adds in the Master Sword?

Those are the Nintendo Switch exclusive features heading for the portable console’s version of Skyrim when it hits stores this fall. Players who use Amiibo figures from The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild will be able to get loot drops that contain Link’s blue tunic, hylian shield and the sword of evil’s bane itself. Better still? You’ll be able to control both with the motion controls built into the console’s joy-con gamepads.

Unfortunately, Bethesda didn’t say when you’ll be able to try these features out — stating only that the game would release sometime this fall. Are those features enough to get you to return to the frozen north? Let us know in the comments below.

Follow all the latest news from E3 2017 here!

‘Dishonored’ is getting its first standalone assassination

There’s a new Dishonored game coming, but it’s not Dishonored 3 or DLC for last year’s entry. Instead, Dishonored: Death of the Outsider is a completely separate title coming on September 15th. The game’s announcement at Bethesda’s E3 shindig left Dishonored fans confused (just look at the YouTube comments), but the company describes it as the “first standalone adventure” for the series. It stars some of the Dishonored’s most intriguing characters — Billie Lurk and the assassin Daud — on a mission to assassinate The Outsider, the mysterious being behind the series’ supernatural powers.

So why go standalone instead of DLC? It could be that Dishonored 2 didn’t sell as well as Bethesda hoped. So it followed in the footsteps of Alan Wake’s American Nightmare — a short experience that wasn’t directly connected to other titles in that series. Whatever you call it, we can’t wait to get back into the teleporting assassination mood.

Follow all the latest news from E3 2017 here!

‘Wolfenstein’ returns with ‘The New Colossus’ on October 27th

Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus was hardly a secret. The much-anticipated sequel to The New Order and The Old Blood was teased at the start of Bethesda’s E3 press conference last year, and all but confirmed by BJ Blazkowicz voice actor Brian Bloom last October. Still, it’s nice to see the game finally announced. Bethesda unveiled the new entry as part of its 2017 E3 showcase, which follows Blazkowiz and his ongoing mission to defeat the Nazis in an alternate history timeline. It’s brash, violent and everything else you would expect from a modern Wolfenstein game.

The trailer starts with a slew of scenes from fictional, live-action TV shows. It then pulls back to reveal a TV inside the game itself and a hospital bed where Blazkowiz lies out of action. He’s soon discovered, however, and put back on the front lines in Nazi-controlled America. The perspective then shifts to a diner in Roswell, where a German officer is ordering a milkshake. He asks the player for some identification papers, but before they can respond the perspective switches again, this time to a ship where Blazkowiz, wearing some kind of assassin armour is taking out Nazi forces.

Before he can finish the job, Blazkowiz is held at gunpoint by another group of rebels, and later brought in to talk to their leader. A brief exchange about the future of the world and then the trailer jumps to a super-cut medley of combat encounters. There are machine guns, robot dogs and, of course, brutal finishers aplenty. If this sounds like your bag, it won’t be long before you can play the game yourself — it’s out on October 27th.

Follow all the latest news from E3 2017 here!

The ‘Quake Champions’ beta opens to everyone on PC today

Bethesda just announced that its reboot of the original eSport, Quake Champions has entered public beta today. That means anyone with a PC capable enough to run the fast-paced shooter should be able to jump in and start playing right this instant. More than that, there’s a tie-in to the just announced Wolfenstein sequel, The New Colossus: protagonist B.J. Blazkowicz will be a playable character. Oh, and he’ll be able to dual-wield weapons. There will be a tournament at this year’s QuakeCon with a $1 million prize pool.

Announcing the Quake World Championships. #Quake Champions players can compete for a $1 MILLION DOLLAR prize! #BE3 https://t.co/byDq9eoxyX pic.twitter.com/yowySo4CoB

— Bethesda Softworks (@bethesda) June 12, 2017

We’re excited to announce our involvement with @ESL for #Quake esports. Be sure to follow the action at @ESLQuake! pic.twitter.com/avlETnyAu2

— Bethesda Softworks (@bethesda) June 12, 2017

Follow all the latest news from E3 2017 here!

Xbox E3 2017 press conference: Watch it again and find out what was launched

Microsoft announced its new console, now known as the Xbox One X during its E3 2017 press conference, which you can watch all over again right here. It is even available to view in 4K on a supported computer or TV.

The Xbox Media Briefing lasted approximately one hour and 45 minutes and showed plenty of games, while revealing the price and release date of its new machine. Microsoft also revealed that original Xbox games are soon to be added to the backward compatibility list – an announcement that brought many cheers.

The video of the entire show, for you to catch up on, is available below.

• E3 2017: Rumours, press conferences and what to expect from the world’s biggest games show

Microsoft will also be streaming daily shows from E3 2017 – Xbox Daily: Live @ E3 – on the Xbox Mixer Channel from Monday 12 June. The exact times it runs are below:

• Monday 12 June: 3pm to 4pm PDT (11pm to 12am BST)
• Tuesday 13 June: 1pm to 4pm PDT (9pm to 12am BST)
• Wednesday 14 June: 1pm to 4pm PDT (9pm to 12am BST)
• Thursday 15 June: 10am to 4pm PDT (6pm to 12am BST)

Xbox E3 2017 Media Briefing highlights

Xbox One X

The biggest news to come from the press conference centred, of course, on the Xbox One X – the company’s new 4K console formerly known as Project Scorpio.

It is capable of playing games in native 4K and at 60fps, it is also compatible with all Xbox One accessories and games currently available, including Xbox Backward Compatibility titles.

The box is smaller even than the Xbox One S, even though it is vastly more powerful. It will cost £449 in the UK on its release on 7 November. The US price is $499.

You can find a lot more about the Xbox One X here: Xbox One X: Release date, price, specs and everything you need to know

Xbox One games

There were plenty of games on show, many for the first time. Most had 4K visuals, extolling the benefits of running them on an Xbox One X. However, they will also work and look almost as good on Xbox One S.

Forza Motorsport 7 will run in 4K and at 60fps on the One X and looks stunning, if the trailer is anything to go by.

We were also especially impressed by Crackdown 3. And getting Terry Crews to provide some comedy support is a genius move.

Other games shown for the first time and/or were hugely impressive included Assassin’s Creed Origins, State of Decay 2, Metro Exodus, Middle-Earth: Shadow of War and Ori and the Will of the Wisps. It was also revealed that the console exclusive of the massively popular Battle Royale-style game, Playerunknown’s Battlegrounds, will be Xbox’s.

Xbox One backwards compatibility

Announcing that original, first-gen Xbox games will be added to Xbox Backward Compatibility later this year was almost as well-received as the Xbox One X. The fact we’ll be able to play Crimson Skies once more is a great feeling.

• How Xbox One backwards compatibility works: The Xbox 360 games list and more

Xbox One X compatible games

Xbox boss Phil Spencer said Gears of War 4, Forza Horizon 3, Killer Instinct, Halo Wars 2 and Minecraft will all get 4K patches for the new console.

He also revealed that more than 30 third-party games will also be patched in time for the console release in November, including Final Fantasy XV, Resident Evil 7, Ghost recon Wildlands and Rocket League.

Taste amateur football glory with ‘Madden 18’s’ ‘Longshot’ mode

To say that I miss NCAA Football games is a massive understatement. Those games were my respite from classwork in college and continued to be a staple in my library for a few years after. Of course, EA hasn’t made a college football game since 2012 after a pricey lawsuit over the use of athletes’ likenesses in the franchise. Thankfully, the studio is giving us a new option for amateur football glory this fall via Madden 18’s “Longshot” story mode.

“Longshot” follows Devin Wade’s attempt to finally make an NFL roster after being the forgotten high school and college football star. The cinematic narrative follows Wade as a kid playing catch in the yard with his dad and best friend Colt Cruise — possibly the most Texas name ever for a wide receiver. And yes, the story is set in Texas, a state where labeling high school football “serious business” is a huge understatement. I’ll admit the phrase “Clear eyes, full hearts…” crossed my mind a few times while playing this. Don’t judge me, I’m only human.

EA brought the franchise over to the Frostbite engine for Madden 18, a move that makes this narrative-driven first-person account possible in a sports game. If you recall, the studio did the same for FIFA 17 and introduced “The Journey” mode. “Longshot” isn’t simply “The Journey” brought over to Madden though, there’s a very different take on the whole “be the player” mode — tailored specifically to one man’s final attempt to be drafted by an NFL team. Also, the game loads while you’re going through the story. EA says the events won’t be interrupted by a loading screen at any point — a nice touch if you’re trying to really get into the narrative.

There are some big names playing roles in “Longshot,” too. Academy Award winner Mahershala Ali (Moonlight, House of Cards, Luke Cage) plays Devin’s dad, Cutter, who was also a big football star back in his day. The story also features an appearance by Dan Marino — one of the all-time great NFL quarterbacks. Marino serves as a mentor to Devin along the way.

In addition to playing catch in the yard as a kid, “Longshot” allows you to play as Devin in a number of different phases of his life. We’re talking 7-on-7, high school games and the regional combine where he’s trying to impress scouts. You do follow the QB to the University of Texas and see him in action versus the Oregon Ducks. Sadly, you don’t get to play an actual college football game though. During my time with the story mode, I spent most of the session playing a high school football game. Insert your best Friday Night Lights reference here.

Devin’s team, the Mathis Bullfrogs, are down 21-0 and his coach has all but given up on the game. He decides to give the freshman quarterback a shot, knowing that it’s probably best to just get through the rest of the second half and move on. Your task here is to direct a comeback as the young QB. EA makes it easy for you to focus on the task at hand rather than having to worry about formulating your own strategy. Allow me to explain.

During this part of “Longshot,” Madden 18 selects the plays for you so all you have to do is worry about making solid decisions and executing clutch passes. If you fail to score on a drive, the game saves your progress and allows you to give it another shot from that point. This is true for several other places in the narrative as well — a feature that comes in handy when you’re trying to make some tough throws at the scouting combine later on. Even with that bit of help, I’ll admit to feeling the pressure during those few minutes. It’s still not a cakewalk to try and win this game.

You have to score a handful of touchdowns to win the game and you have to do so on Devin’s big arm and his Cam Newton-esque ability to break tackles and elude defenders. Let’s just say his size, speed and agility come in handy when it comes time to tuck it and run. The game play here is quite fun and the small-town commentators make the play-by-play even more entertaining.

I really only had one gripe with this part of the story. Sometimes when Devin makes a pass, the camera stays with his view of the play. Sure, this makes sense as part of “Longshot,” but it also makes controlling a receiver, tight end or running back after the catch more difficult.

Here’s an example. I made a pass to the running back out in the flat. After he caught it, I was still watching the play from the quarterback’s perspective so I couldn’t really see the best route to try and elude the opposing players. While the version of the game I played here at E3 isn’t final, I kind of hope this is one piece that’s tweaked so that you get a better view of the ball. You are trying to orchestrate a massive comeback, after all.

Unfortunately, we’ll have to wait until August 25th to judge the merits of “Longshot” in full. However, the pieces of Devin’s story I saw here at E3 were enough to pique my interest. If Electronic Arts already hooked you, pre-ordering now gets you access to the G.O.A.T Edition and your choice of Tom Brady, Barry Sanders, Ray Lewis, Deion Sanders or Jerry Rice to tear up the turf. Another feature new to this year’s game are “Mut Squads.” You and your friends can assemble a superteam to take on other players online. It sounds interesting, but I wasn’t able to take a look at it during my time with Madden 18.

“Longshot” makes the most compelling case for a new version of Madden I’ve seen in a long time. I’ll admit I get bored with some of these annual sports games arriving every year, but I think EA makes a compelling case with the narrative gameplay it added to FIFA and now to Madden 18. It’s a big piece of the game that could go a long way to pacify players like me who dearly miss NCAA Football.

Follow all the latest news from E3 2017 here!

Best PS4 games to look forward to in 2017 & 2018: Metro Exodus, Anthem, The Last of Us 2, Death Stranding and more

You’re now the proud owner of a PlayStation 4 or PlayStation 4 Pro, or are still considering whether to make the investment in Sony or not. Either way, you’ll find our list of tantalising gaming treats enough to have you excited for the months ahead.

There are plenty of amazing PS4 games on the horizon and we’ve chosen the best of those coming up – both exclusive and cross-platform releases – for you to pop on your wish lists.

We’ve included release dates where possible and a trailer for each. We’ll also update this round-up throughout E3 2017 and the rest of the year, so there’ll always be something to come back for.

Metro: Exodus

Release date: 2018PS4 exclusive: No, also on Xbox One and PCPublisher: Deep Silver

The follow-up to Metro: Last Light proves that we can’t keep our gaming hands off the post-apocalyptic future. First shown at the E3 2017 Xbox pre-show conference, Metro: Exodus looks stunning – while ensuring its fair share of frightening scares too. Monsters versus man, with limited supply of ammo, this first person shooter looks as though it could be a genuine thrill.

Anthem

Release date: 2018PS4 exclusive: No, also on Xbox One and PCPublisher: EA / BioWare

Perhaps the first “wow” game to be unveiled at E3 2017, the new IP from BioWare mixes robots and monsters together in a third-person mission-based adventure which looks like a mixing pot of Fallout 4, Titanfall 2, Horizon: Zero Dawn and Mass Effect. And we mean that in a good way. When the gameplay demo was shown at Xbox’s pre-E3 conference, the vast open-world format and the way it can be flown through is a spectacle to behold. Here’s hoping it doesn’t fall into any of the initial traps that Mass Effect: Andromeda did, because this looks to be one of 2018’s most promising titles.

The Last of Us Part II

• Release date: TBC
• PS4 exclusive: Yes
• Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment

This trailer really gave us goosebumps the first time we saw it – partly thanks to the very idea that one of the greatest examples of storytelling in games is continuing, but also because of the return of a certain character. It looks suitably beautiful but is very early in development so we suspect you’ll have to wait until E3 2017 to see some actual gameplay footage.

Death Stranding

• Release date: TBC
• PS4 exclusive: Yes
• Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment
• You can pre-order Death Stranding here

How do you follow up the Metal Gear Solid series now you’re no longer involved? By making the oddest, most disturbing survival horror game on the planet, that’s how. Or, at least, that’s what we think Hideo Kojima is up to. We can’t really make heads nor tails of it at the moment. Needless to say, the first game from his newly formed Kojima Productions has the entire world’s attention.

Days Gone

• Release date: 2017
• PS4 exclusive: Yes
• Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment
• You can pre-order Days Gone here

Days Gone was the surprise reveal at the 2016 Sony E3 pre-show conference. The story, set in a seemingly post-apocalyptic world, follows a badass biker trying to survive in a zombie-laden land. Cue interspersed sections of his past playing on his mind and there’s the crucial balance of story and third-person shoot-’em-up. The real standout moment for the game, though, was just how many zombies are depicted on screen. Here’s hoping we get to see more of the game at E3 2017.

God of War

• Release date: 2017
• PS4 Exclusive: Yes
• Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment
• You can pre-order God of War here

The infamous lead character of the God of War series, Kratos, now has a son, melding the typical smash-’em-up gameplay of old with a more heartfelt storyline. The game follows on from its previous Greek Mythology setting, moving into Norse Mythology, but doesn’t hold back on the giant beasts and battles. From trolls to dragons, there’s going to be plenty of bone-crunching fights to satisfy fans both old and new.

Detroit: Become Human

• Release date: 2017
• PS4 exclusive: Yes
• Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment
• You can pre-order Detroit: Become Human here

David Cage, founder of development studio Quantic Dream, is well known for lifelike gaming experiences. His forthcoming PlayStation 4 exclusive, Detroit, plays upon android co-inhabitants on earth, their (dis)obedience of their human commanders, and the inevitable fallout that such a power balance entails. As with all Quantic Dream games, the hyper-real visuals are wrapped around a point-and-click style adventure, with a decision-based storyline and consequential actions based on your choices. Will it be the developer’s best yet?

Strange Brigade

• Release date: TBC
• PS4 exclusive: No, also on Xbox One and PC
• Publisher: Rebellion

With its lick of British charm, Strange Brigade introduces an “exotic safari” of forgotten lands in a way that only publisher Rebellion could deliver. It’s tongue-in-cheek 1930s-style trailer shifts direction not long in, introducing a rosta of enemy types – from the undead to armoured minotaurs – which look like they’ll ensure it’s no picnic.

Assassin’s Creed: Origins

• Release date: October 27 2018
• Exclusive: No, also on Xbox One
• Publisher: Ubisoft

After a year off the boil, the Assassin’s Creed series is back in business for 2017. And this time it’s set in ancient Egypt.

Life Is Strange: Before The Storm

Release date: August 31 2017PS4 exclusive: No, also on Xbox One and PCPublisher: Square Enix

One of our favourite choice-based games of recent year’s, which went under the radar of too many players, Before The Storm is effectively Life Is Strange 2. Judging by the trailer it’s going to delve into life’s big questions, with its share of quirks. Here’s hoping it matches up to the mastery of the original.

South Park: The Fractured But Whole

• Release date: October 17 2017
• Publisher: Ubisoft
• PS4 exclusive: No, also on Xbox One and PC
• Read more: South Park: The Fractured But Whole preview
• You can pre-order South Park: The Fractured But Whole here

If you’re a South Park fan then you’ll love The Fractured But Whole, which looks almost exactly like a live episode of the animated adult comedy show. If you’re a turn-based role-playing game fan then you’ll love the game too, if you can get beyond its childish fart jokes and humour. Love both? Then you’re in for a treat.

Red Dead Redemption 2

• Release date: 2018
• Exclusive: No, also on Xbox One
• Publisher: Rockstar/Take-Two
• You can pre-order Red Dead Redemption 2 here

We already had an inkling Red Dead Redemption 2 was on the cards before the official reveal at the end of 2016. A slew of rumours about the game circulated in summer 2015 – specifically around E3 time. A map was leaked on NeoGaf, alleged to be a design guide. And Take-Two previously said that Red Dead Redemption was as important a franchise as GTA. Considering there have only been two games in the series so far, which originally came out in 2004 and 2010 respectively, we’re certainly due another one. Yee-ha!

Uncharted: The Lost Legacy

• Release date: August 22 2017
• PS4 exclusive: Yes
• Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment

Naughty Dog pulled another surprise out of the bag with the announcement of a new Uncharted game. Starring Chloe Frazer, from Uncharted 2 and 3, the game is set a year after the events in Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End and seemingly uses the same game engine as Nathan’s Drake’s last outing. It also provides access to Uncharted 4’s multiplayer modes.

Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy

• Release date: June 30 2017
• PS4 exclusive: Yes
• Publisher: Activision
• You can pre-order Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy here

When it was announced Crash Bandicoot was returning in a new version of the original platformer we didn’t realise it would be in a pack of the first three games, all remastered: Crash Bandicoot, Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortek Strikes Back and Crash Bandicoot: Warped. However, that’s what Activision will be launching in 2017 and we have to say that Skylanders developer Vicarious Visions is seemingly doing a fantastic job with the updated visuals.

Marvel vs Capcom Infinite

• Release date: 2017
• PS4 exclusive: No, also for Xbox One and PC
• Publisher: Capcom

The crossover beat-em-up is back, with Capcom characters – such as the Street Fighter gang and Mega Man – taking on superheroes from the Marvel Universe. Not much else is know for now, but you can expect a mighty of cast of fighters to control.

Gran Turismo Sport

• Release date: 2017
• PS4 exclusive: Yes
• Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment
• You can pre-order Gran Turismo Sport here

Originally planned for the end of 2016, GT Sport was pushed back to 2017 for good reason. We’re still not sure of an exact release date, but we do know that PS4 Pro owners will be treated to 4K (checkerboard) visuals with HDR. Some of the content will also be playable in a PSVR headset. You can watch the trailer in 4K if you have the right kit and it shows just how stunning the game will be.

Knack 2

• Release date: 2017
• PS4 exclusive: Yes
• Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment

The original Knack was one of the PS4 launch titles several years ago and wasn’t as well received as Sony would have hoped. However, a sequel is on its way and lessons will likely have been learned. Certainly, the trailer looks to be more involving than the first game with more puzzles, locations and, seemingly, co-op play.

‘Star Wars Battlefront II’ makes being the bad guy feel normal

When Disney gave Electronic Arts the exclusive gaming rights to Star Wars, the company took the brand almost literally. EA’s first take on the Battlefront franchise was little more than a war among the stars — filled with the sights, sounds and characters of George Lucas’ iconic space opera, but completely devoid of story. The end result was a gorgeous title that felt a little incomplete. With Star Wars: Battlefront II, EA is changing that. This time, narrative is key.

We knew that much when EA revealed Battlefront II at Star Wars celebration back in April. The game’s teaser trailer showed Iden Versio, an imperial pilot, standing on the forest moon of Endor, watching the second Death Star explode at the end of Return of the Jedi. It had a dark tone, revealing the story of a villain hell-bent on revenge — but that’s not how actually playing the game feels. Settled behind Versio’s eyes during the game’s E3 demo, I didn’t feel like an imperialist oppressing the freedom of a justified rebellion, I felt like a hero at war with a band of cowardly terrorists.

It’s a strange feeling. For decades, Star Wars fans have been told the Galactic Empire is faceless and objectively evil — but the game’s campaign is built around set pieces and characters that lend it the sense of adventure you would expect from a hero’s journey.

Our gameplay demo saw Versio climbing into a Tie fighter to defend her ship and protect her friends; roaring out into the void to take out X-Wings in a chaotic, epic space battle. After saving a few wingmen, the player finds their way into the landing bay of a Calamari Cruiser, clearing the deck with a few rounds of blaster fire and landing to infiltrate the enemy ship.

Along the way, Versio and her squad exchange tactical info, chat and call for help, driving the narrative forward as the battle unfolds around the player. This fun, exciting story-driven campaign is also distracting. I know the Empire are the bad guys, but at no point in my demo did I feel like taking out an enemy squad of rebels was the morally wrong thing to do. I wasn’t the bad guy, I was a patriot defending my way of life. As a Star Wars fan that always prided himself on his self-proclaimed loyalty to “the light side,” it was a feeling that took me by surprise.

That doesn’t mean I’m a convert by any means (down with the Empire!), but the short demo’s ability to make me sympathize with another point of view was impressive. Removed from the lead character’s tunnel vision, I personally know she’s on the wrong side of the war — but the game tells the story of a person raised in a very specific dogma. From her point of view, she’s doing the right thing. She’s a good person — and the game’s E3 demo did an excellent job of lending that perspective to the player.

Ultimately, my time with the game was very short, but it left a strong impression. Beyond using a narrow narrative to help the player sympathize with the franchise’s “bad guys,” the game’s story mode served as a seamless tour of Battlefront II’s game modes — revealing a single player campaign that smoothly transitions the player from ground combat to deep space dogfighting without a second thought.

That alone was fun and exciting, but it’s the hook of the game’s story that has me excited for Battlefront II. Nobody thinks of themselves as “the bad guy” in their own life story. I can’t wait to see the hero Versio sees herself as when the full game hits stores in November.

The next ‘Metro’ game has a teaser trailer, and it looks fantastic

Why it matters to you

The third post-apocalyptic ‘Metro’ game is on the way, and it may be the best one yet.

During Microsoft’s Xbox press conference at E3 2017, the company introduced the next Metro title heading to Windows 10 and the Xbox One: Metro Exodus. As with the previous two installments (Metro 2033, Metro: Last Light), 4A Games takes a straight approach to a broken world after a nuclear war instead of the alternate reality perspective used in Bethesda’s post-apocalyptic Fallout 4.

In the demo, we watched a player move through a ruined tunnel, pushing through debris, looting corpses, burning down cobwebs with a lighter, and fighting off what appeared to be mutant rats standing on hind legs. Knocked to the ground, the player fired off a shotgun-type weapon to kill one mutant, got to his/her feet to kill another, and then headed for a ladder only to encounter more mutants in the chamber above.

Eventually the player escaped the tunnel, pulling off his mask to take in the fresh air in a vast, open world. Outside we saw what’s left of a local town in the valley below, a downed helicopter, and powerline towers struggling to stand erect. After pulling out a map, the player grabbed binoculars to scope out the landscape for a better detailed view of the environment below, and off to the distance.

Once the binoculars were put away, the player equipped a crossbow and slid down the slope into the ruined town below. But he/she was not alone: wild animals were looting the scene while the player moved through an abandoned house. A quick dart to the head killed a local scavenger, but something even bigger lurked nearby. It burst into the scene in an explosion of wood, a giant bear/tiger mixture of a beast, and knocked the player down.

Of course, our hero escaped the scene through the window of a demolished structure, only to face a tall cliff. With only a single explosive dart, the player loaded the crossbow, turns around, and fired. The beast was taken aback and began to slide down the cliff. The player then loaded standard darts/arrows without any success at defeating the monster. Luckily, there was a zipline nearby, and the player slid down far and away, escaping the beast.

At the other end, we saw the player joined by a woman hanging out the side of a train, reaching out for the player’s hand. The two make contact, and the player was pulled in as the train moved into the sunset peaking over the hills beyond.

The Metro series is based on Dmitry Glukhovsky’s novel Metro 2033, which takes place in Moscow following a nuclear war. The surviving human population were forced to live in Moscow’s underground subway (metro) tunnels. The first game arrived in March of 2010 followed by Metro: Last Light in May of 2013. Following that, “Redux” versions of both games were released for the Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and Windows PC in 2014 with enhanced graphics and all the downloadable content intact.

Metro Exodus isn’t expected to go retail until 2018. For additional goodies revealed during Microsoft’s E3 2017 press conference, head to our E3 roundup page.