Opinion: The Biggest Loser of E3 2019 is… The Year 2019
Note: we published this last week during E3, and have updated with a video component.
We get excited about E3 every year because we get to see what’s coming next. While developers have always called their shots well in advance, announcing games years before release, much of the action at the show revolves around showing games set to launch sometime between July and next year’s E3.
After spending the last week weighing all the publisher press conferences and the deluge of pre-show trailer drops and leaks, I took a step back and noticed that the second half of 2019 feels... light. Many of the biggest games at the show -- new and returning -- are coming out in the first few months of 2020, or later. And while the cupboard is far from bare -- I doubt many of us will have trouble finding games to buy or put on holiday wish lists come December-- the dearth of high-profile releases is noticeable.
Everything We Know About Elden Ring
Elden Ring is Dark Souls developer FromSoftware's latest game, officially announced at E3 2019 after rumors, hints, and a minor leak. But even with all the buzz, there isn't a ton of information about the upcoming game yet – just what we saw in its reveal trailer and a few tidbits of info here and there from game director Hidetaka Miyazaki and project collaborator George R. R. Martin.
While fans of Miyazaki (and Martin) patiently await more details, we've rounded up the most important things to know about Elden Ring… so far.
Elden Ring: The Rumors
In late December 2018, FromSoftware president Hidetaka Miyazaki (noted also for directing Dark Souls, Bloodborne, and the recent Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice) mapped out the studio's product line in an interview with Japanese game site 4Gamer.net. After Déraciné and Sekiro, FromSoftware noted two "unannounced games" in development.
The Batman: Everything We Know So Far
We may have seen the last of Ben Affleck's big screen Batman, but that doesn't mean we won't be seeing plenty of the Dark Knight in the years to come. Not only are we getting a proper origin story for the Clown Prince of Crime in the upcoming Joker movie starring Joaquin Phoenix, but Batman himself is being rebooted once more as well with Robert Pattinson playing the Caped Crusader this time around. And now the cast is growing, with Zoe Kravitz has been cast as Selina Kyle, Jeffrey Wright playing Commissioner Gordon, John Turturro cast as crime boss Carmine Falcone and more big announcements.
DC Reveals Ambition Legion of Super-Heroes Relaunch
The Legion of Super Heroes drought at DC Comics is about to end. Today DC revealed that Superman writer Brian Michael Bendis will be spearheading an ambitious relaunch of the franchise with September's Legion of Super-Heroes: Millennium.
LoSH: Millennium is a two-issue miniseries that will set the stage for a new ongoing Legion title from Bendis and artist Ryan Sook. Each issue will feature four vignettes focused on different members of the 31st Century team. The series will be anchored a familiar DC heroine who mysteriously gains immortality as she encounters the Legion in the future. This relaunch will also draw in other futuristic DC heroes, including Batman Beyond, Booster Gold and Kamandi.
Star Wars Celebration Dates Announced for 2020
The official dates of next year's Star Wars Celebration have been announced, taking place in Anaheim from August 27-30, 2020 at the Anaheim Convention Center.
Star Wars Celebration is where all of the major news for upcoming announcements from Lucasfilm tend to be revealed, as well as being a place for cosplay, exhibits, panels with special guests, autograph sessions, film screenings, and other interactive activities for attendees to experience in the Star Wars universe.
This past year at Star Wars Celebration Chicago, the final installment in the now titled Skywalker Saga, was announced with Episode IX being revealed as Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.
E3 2020 Dates Announced
Today is officially the last day of E3 2019, and with little news left to come out of the conference, one of the last big pieces of information left to learn is: when’s E3 2020?
In an exit banner hung above one of the doorways of the LA Convention Center, it’s revealed that the next E3 will take place from June 9-11, 2020.
Photo credit: Chris Reed.
These dates line up logically with past E3 dates, as the show often takes place in the second week of June. Of course, these dates are only for when the show floor is open, and doesn’t include conference dates, most of which take place before E3 officially begins.
Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot Gave Me Nostalgia Goosebumps
If there’s anything that developer CyberConnect 2 has proven over the years with the Naruto Ultimate Ninja Storm games, as well as the wholly underrated Asura’s Wrath, it's that the studio is a master of sheer anime spectacle. Dragon Ball Z Kakarot is shaping up to be further proof of that, as evidenced by the goosebumps on my arms that I got while playing through the iconic battle of Goku and Piccolo vs Radditz, while the legendary opening song “Cha La Head Cha La” swelled in the background.
Silicon Valley’s Finale Won’t Be as Divisive as Game of Thrones
HBO recently announced that the upcoming sixth season of Silicon Valley will be the show's last. Between the impending finale and the fact that Season 6 will have a smaller episode count, comparisons to the recent series finale of Game of Thrones have come up. But according to Silicon Valley star Kumail Nanjiani, fans of Silicon Valley needn't worry about being disappointed as some very vocal fans were about GoT.
Nanjiani spoke about the upcoming season during the red carpet premiere for Men in Black: International. While he was quick to defend the Game of Thrones finale, he was also adamant that Silicon Valley fans will be pleased with the way the series ends, telling IGN, "I think they're going to love it."
Doctor Sleep Director on Balancing the Legacy of Kubrick and King
Stanley Kubrick's The Shining is arguably one of the greatest horror films ever made. In fact, some would argue that you could strike the word horror and that would still be true. So choosing to make a sequel to that iconic cinematic moment--whilst still paying homage to the original book and its sequel by Stephen King--is no small feat, but it's one that The Haunting of Hill House director Mike Flanagan jumped right into as a huge fan of both iterations of the story. At a recent private press preview of the new trailer (which you can watch below), Flanagan opened up about his journey adapting King's sequel and making both the author and the Kubrick estate happy.
The trailer hints at the clear connections to the original story with Ewan McGregor taking on the role of Danny Torrance, made famous by young Danny Lloyd in the 1980 chiller. According to Flanagan, it's 40 years since we last saw the young boy and he's spent those four decades repressing the powers that ended up saving his and his mother's lives on that fateful night all those years ago. It's filled with moments from the classic film as well as introducing us to the main villain Rose the Hat, played by Rebecca Ferguson. Fans of the original will likely enjoy the return to the Overlook Hotel alongside some particularly poignant Easter eggs.
How Dragon Ball Z Inspired This Epic Justice League Moment
We may not be due for a Dragon Ball/Justice League crossover anytime soon, but there is a neat Easter egg in the latest issue of Justice League. One of the most important moments in Justice League #25 was directly inspired by an iconic scene from the Dragon Ball Z manga.
As spotted by ComicBook.com, artist Jorge Jimenez took to Twitter to reveal his inspiration for the scene where a captive Superman bursts free from the Legion of Doom's trap, buoyed by the memories of his father and son. Jimenez revealed he was paying tribute to creator Akira Toriyama's depiction of the climactic final battle between Gohan and Cell, where Goku aided his son from the afterlife.