E3 2021: Xbox and Bethesda Showcase live report
It's been a funny old start to the E3 shenanigans so far, but things promise to move up a gear or two tonight with Microsoft and Bethesda's showcase. Starfield, Halo Infinite, perhaps the next Forza and who knows what else? It's going to be fun! Join us from 6pm BST.
Our live coverage of this event has finished.
Coverage CommentsCoverage
16:47 pm UTC Oi oi!– Martin Robinson
16:48 pm UTC Sorry, feeling a bit rowdy after an afternoon in the sun followed up by the football. It's all a bit 1996 isn't it?– Martin Robinson
16:49 pm UTC Maybe we'll get a proper 1996 conference too with Quake and Tomb Raider and, er, some Elder Scrolls.– Martin Robinson
16:49 pm UTC I'd be happy with that.– Martin Robinson
16:50 pm UTC Also Phil Spencer getting wrecked in the dentist's chair. That'd be fun.– Martin Robinson
16:50 pm UTC Anyway, what we will get is Starfield.– Martin Robinson
16:50 pm UTC How much of it I don't know - I'd love to see it in action.– Martin Robinson
16:50 pm UTC And of course some has leaked online already - I won't spoil it here.– Martin Robinson
16:53 pm UTC I've just watched the trailer that's 'leaked' and I'll be honest, I'm none the wiser myself.– Martin Robinson
16:54 pm UTC Kami: I'd be down with a Tomb Raider if we go back to old-school Lara. I miss her.Bring back Keeley Hawes!
– Martin Robinson
16:54 pm UTC themightyant: Martin thankfully you didn’t have to cover the Koch media presentation, it was woefulWe were lucky enough to have a heads-up on that. And to steer well clear.
– Martin Robinson
16:55 pm UTC In another example of my terrible taste in films - and why we still don't write about films and such on Eurogamer - I really like Prometheus.– Martin Robinson
16:55 pm UTC Well, maybe not *really* like. It's pretty and it's interesting.– Martin Robinson
16:56 pm UTC I am 100 per cent here for the new look at Halo Infinite.– Martin Robinson
16:56 pm UTC As an example of my terrible taste in video games and why I shouldn't be allowed to write about them - I didn't think Halo Infinite looked that bad in that infamous showing.– Martin Robinson
16:56 pm UTC The action looked on point and that's enough for me really.– Martin Robinson
16:57 pm UTC So yeah, I'm easily impressed - and I'm looking forward to being wowed by whatever 343 will be sharing tonight.– Martin Robinson
16:58 pm UTC I'm also hopeful of a glimpse of the next gen of Forza - and also whatever is next for Forza Horizon.– Martin Robinson
16:58 pm UTC Plus Microsoft has a whole load of new studios to keep us updated on.– Martin Robinson
16:58 pm UTC And it's a safe bet that family of studios will have expanded before the end of the night.– Martin Robinson
16:59 pm UTC Well, less than a minute to go - buckle up, it should be a fun ride!– Martin Robinson
17:00 pm UTC Should something be happening about now?– Martin Robinson
17:01 pm UTC Ah, I've just got to the countdown.– Martin Robinson
17:01 pm UTC How can you be late to your own scheduled video premiere?– Martin Robinson
17:01 pm UTC Quite impressive really.– Martin Robinson
17:01 pm UTC Anyway I'm getting some funky 70s testcard vibes from this countdown screen so we're all good.– Martin Robinson
17:02 pm UTC Would be up for the Just Dance opener we were robbed of last night.– Martin Robinson
17:03 pm UTC Also I'm reminded how good it was for Ubisoft to switch the comments off its show last night.– Martin Robinson
17:03 pm UTC NO SPOILERS!– Martin Robinson
17:03 pm UTC Here's Todd fronting up the show!– Martin Robinson
17:04 pm UTC Well that is surprising!– Martin Robinson
17:04 pm UTC And his t-shirt is carefully concealed behind a hoodie that looks ready to be unzipped at any point.– Martin Robinson
17:04 pm UTC Hopefully to reveal 'ROGUE WARRIOR 2'.– Martin Robinson
17:05 pm UTC Until then here's that teaser of Starfield that leaked about an hour ago.– Martin Robinson
17:06 pm UTC I was actually well-behaved and skipped watching the leaked trailer.– Martin Robinson
17:06 pm UTC This doesn't give away much, but it does seem like an enjoyably grounded branch of sci-fi.– Martin Robinson
17:07 pm UTC Starfield is a next-gen exclusive.– Martin Robinson
17:07 pm UTC And it's coming 11th November 2022.– Martin Robinson
17:07 pm UTC And it's Xbox exclusive too - so no PlayStation versions.– Martin Robinson
17:08 pm UTC Well that answers that particular query around the Xbox/Bethesda deal!– Martin Robinson
17:08 pm UTC 30 titles being shown tonight - 27 for Game Pass.– Martin Robinson
17:09 pm UTC Sorry, I just got so excited for this look at Stalker 2 I shut down the tap I was live reporting in.– Martin Robinson
17:10 pm UTC I'm whooping and hollering here from home if that's any help?– Martin Robinson
17:10 pm UTC This looks simply phenomenal.– Martin Robinson
17:11 pm UTC It's got the bleak, weary tone down pat, and it's matched with artwork that's melancholy in its beauty and oh please when can I play this.– Martin Robinson
17:12 pm UTC Malek86: It does look like next gen Stalker and that's all I need tbfIndeed!
– Martin Robinson
17:12 pm UTC Read the book! Watch the film! Play the games!– Martin Robinson
17:13 pm UTC They're all winners. This looks like an excellent extension of them too.– Martin Robinson
17:14 pm UTC Another 2022 game - 28th April this time.– Martin Robinson
17:14 pm UTC Yourtoastisonfire: Is that the game based on roadside picnic?It is indeed!
– Martin Robinson
17:14 pm UTC That was an electric look at Stalker 2 there - I'm sure it's put the game on a lot of people's radars.– Martin Robinson
17:15 pm UTC Here's the meaty looking Back 4 Blood, which is looking set for a day one release on Game Pass.– Martin Robinson
17:15 pm UTC Which will help its chances over something like Evolve, of course.– Martin Robinson
17:16 pm UTC Also helps that this is a heap load of chunky co-op fun - I really enjoyed what I played of it earlier this year.– Martin Robinson
17:16 pm UTC October 12th release - and it is indeed coming to Game Pass on day one.– Martin Robinson
17:16 pm UTC Onto an Xbox console exclusive!– Martin Robinson
17:17 pm UTC From Avalanche Studios - who may well have just joined the Xbox family.– Martin Robinson
17:17 pm UTC Avalanche being the lovely Swedish bunch behind Just Cause and the brilliant Mad Max.– Martin Robinson
17:18 pm UTC Contraband, it's called - it looks Just Cause-y in spirit and tone, but I guess we'll have to wait a while until we find out what it's really about.– Martin Robinson
17:19 pm UTC Here's an update on Sea of Thieves - one of the dozens of truly exceptional games as a service available right now that I feel terrible for not keeping on top of.– Martin Robinson
17:19 pm UTC Miyamotosan: I continue to be absolutely fascinated by the concept of game pass.There's a good piece on Eurogamer.com about it all if you ever want to find out more!
– Martin Robinson
17:19 pm UTC Oh it's a Pirates of the Caribbean crossover! That makes a lot of sense!– Martin Robinson
17:20 pm UTC I don't think that's Johnny Depp tho.– Martin Robinson
17:21 pm UTC Sea of Thieves: A Pirates Life - coming on June 22nd for ABSOLUTELY NOTHING YOU SPOILT BRATS.– Martin Robinson
17:21 pm UTC Here's more Yakuza coming to game pass! There's so much Yakuza!– Martin Robinson
17:22 pm UTC I really enjoyed Like a Dragon but I bounced off after about 30 hours. It's so much Yakuza!– Martin Robinson
17:22 pm UTC Here's your first look at Battlefield 2042 in action.– Martin Robinson
17:22 pm UTC I was fortunate enough to see this a couple of week's ago - it's much more convincing than the CG trailer they put out.– Martin Robinson
17:23 pm UTC Although I'm still not convinved by the hero characters.– Martin Robinson
17:23 pm UTC iconld: Yakuza 7! Be sure to play with original Japanese voices.. it's magnificent!Seconding this!
– Martin Robinson
17:23 pm UTC barchetta: I hadn't realised Y7 was so balls out weird. Are they all like that?Yes.
– Martin Robinson
17:23 pm UTC Anyway, this looks a lot like Battlefield 4 right?– Martin Robinson
17:24 pm UTC Like Paracel Storm and Siege of Shanghai mashed up together. With moar graphics.– Martin Robinson
17:24 pm UTC I think it looks like a lot of fun.– Martin Robinson
17:25 pm UTC And here's Psychonauts 2!– Martin Robinson
17:26 pm UTC A brief arty interlude for Twelve Minutes from Annapurna.– Martin Robinson
17:27 pm UTC That's what I wrote right?– Martin Robinson
17:27 pm UTC (Thank heavens for the edit button).– Martin Robinson
17:27 pm UTC Pete Hines, who I'm not afraid to say I'm slightly afraid of, is here for an update on Bethesda.– Martin Robinson
17:28 pm UTC It is quite something to have the two conferences smooshed together.– Martin Robinson
17:28 pm UTC Doom Eternal is coming to Game Pass - and it's getting a Series S/X update towards the end of the month on June 29th.– Martin Robinson
17:28 pm UTC 120fps, raytracing, 4K - all that jazz.– Martin Robinson
17:29 pm UTC Oh and there's Fallout 76 too.– Martin Robinson
17:29 pm UTC Apparently it's quite good now!– Martin Robinson
17:31 pm UTC Sorry I closed my tab again, but not because I was overexcited this time.– Martin Robinson
17:32 pm UTC I thought that might be Fallout 5 but of course it was an expansion for Fallout 76! Looked decent!– Martin Robinson
17:33 pm UTC Onto The Elder Scrolls Online - again, supposed to be very good, again I feel terrible for not having the time to play it - gets a new trailer.– Martin Robinson
17:35 pm UTC Here's an unexpected party game announcement! And what looks like Gang Beasts prettied up.– Martin Robinson
17:35 pm UTC And Hades! Which you really shouild play if you haven't already.– Martin Robinson
17:36 pm UTC It's coming to Xbox on August 13th!– Martin Robinson
17:36 pm UTC A console launch exclusive up next.– Martin Robinson
17:36 pm UTC It's Somervile - which, as you might have already guessed, comes from some former Playdead people.– Martin Robinson
17:37 pm UTC Beautiful, moody, apocalyptic. It ticks all the right boxes!– Martin Robinson
17:37 pm UTC God it does and that is high praise indeed.– Martin Robinson
17:37 pm UTC That's coming in 2022 - and to Game Pass.– Martin Robinson
17:38 pm UTC Oh my! I think we might be about to see Halo!– Martin Robinson
17:38 pm UTC Halo Infinite multiplayer will be free-to-play.– Martin Robinson
17:38 pm UTC I believe that was expected.– Martin Robinson
17:38 pm UTC Or it could be a really short conference!– Martin Robinson
17:39 pm UTC But yes it is promising.– Martin Robinson
17:39 pm UTC Well here are those graphics you asked for.– Martin Robinson
17:40 pm UTC I agree 100 per cent!– Martin Robinson
17:41 pm UTC There's a new blue lady!– Martin Robinson
17:42 pm UTC Already the internet is doing fanart of the new blue lady and why is the internet like this.– Martin Robinson
17:42 pm UTC The multiplayer and campaign are launching together, contraty to some other reports.– Martin Robinson
17:42 pm UTC Though there's still no commitment to a date beyond 'this holiday'.– Martin Robinson
17:43 pm UTC Well I'm looking to book a couple of days off next week so it might be then!– Martin Robinson
17:43 pm UTC Grapples are really back in fashion aren't they?– Martin Robinson
17:43 pm UTC This year's bow and arrow.– Martin Robinson
17:44 pm UTC Anyway, they do make a fine addition to Halo's multiplayer,. which looks frankly outrageous.– Martin Robinson
17:44 pm UTC And of course both the campaign and the multiplayer will be on Game Pass.– Martin Robinson
17:45 pm UTC But the multiplayher is already free-to-play. Does that count?– Martin Robinson
17:45 pm UTC Anyway, I'm looking forward to that.– Martin Robinson
17:45 pm UTC HERE'S DIABLO!– Martin Robinson
17:45 pm UTC Really bringing the 1996 vibes I'm after.– Martin Robinson
17:46 pm UTC Moody as hell.– Martin Robinson
17:47 pm UTC Now here's the next game from the developers of Microsoft Flight Simulator!– Martin Robinson
17:47 pm UTC It's a new A Plague Tale!– Martin Robinson
17:48 pm UTC This is captured in-engine, apparently - it looks damn pretty.– Martin Robinson
17:48 pm UTC It's Game Pass day one - and coming to Series S/X and Xbox Cloud gaming. So a next gen exclusive, I guess?– Martin Robinson
17:49 pm UTC Here's some of the Far Cry 6 gameplay that was seemingly missing from last night's Ubisoft show.– Martin Robinson
17:49 pm UTC It looks like a very pretty Far Cry.– Martin Robinson
17:50 pm UTC AquinasBatman: Far Cry more like 'Far Cry From Having a Map Editor' God I won't let that goIt's okay to have a bit of a scream every now and then.
– Martin Robinson
17:51 pm UTC Next is something from Monomi Park - the devs behind Slime Rancher.– Martin Robinson
17:51 pm UTC And it looks like more Slime Rancher!– Martin Robinson
17:52 pm UTC Or Slime Rancher 2, as it's also known. Another one coming to Game Pass on day one.– Martin Robinson
17:52 pm UTC And another console launch exclusive!– Martin Robinson
17:52 pm UTC It's Steep!– Martin Robinson
17:52 pm UTC Oh no hang on it looks more like a spiritual successor to SSX.– Martin Robinson
17:53 pm UTC Or a 1080 Snowboarding even.– Martin Robinson
17:53 pm UTC It looks awesome - Shredders, it's called.– Martin Robinson
17:54 pm UTC And it looks set for a release this December - and yes, that's another game coming to Game Pass on day one.– Martin Robinson
17:54 pm UTC Batshit first-person shooter Atomic Heart is next - another candidate for Game Pass?– Martin Robinson
17:55 pm UTC And now!– Martin Robinson
17:56 pm UTC I mean I don't know what this is - it's from Coatsink who did Phogs and I thought it might be The Last Night but who knows.– Martin Robinson
17:56 pm UTC All I know is that it looks absolutely chuffing brilliant with its 2D artwork mixed with swizzy camerawork and it's called Replaced and is coming out next year.– Martin Robinson
17:56 pm UTC That was a banger.– Martin Robinson
17:57 pm UTC A Grounded update!– Martin Robinson
17:58 pm UTC Here's another game that looks great that I feel bad for not keeping on top of.– Martin Robinson
17:58 pm UTC The Shroom and Doom update, which brings achievements and sitting, is coming on June 30th.– Martin Robinson
17:59 pm UTC Among Us I guess IDK.– Martin Robinson
17:59 pm UTC I'm guessing it's 90 minutes, at this pace.– Martin Robinson
18:00 pm UTC This 3D/2D artstyle is really catching on isn't it? After Octopath Traveller it's seemingly everywhere - like in Eiyuden Chronicle.– Martin Robinson
18:01 pm UTC There's a full game coming in 2023, with a lead-in prologue due in 2022.– Martin Robinson
18:01 pm UTC That's new to me, and it looks lush. Now, The Ascent!– Martin Robinson
18:01 pm UTC Another one for Game Pass on day one.– Martin Robinson
18:01 pm UTC Now what is this?– Martin Robinson
18:02 pm UTC A new Age of Empires perhaps?– Martin Robinson
18:04 pm UTC Apologies, I had to go do some dad stuff - and I just missed The Outer Worlds 2 reveal!– Martin Robinson
18:05 pm UTC But I sort of knew about that already so it's fine.– Martin Robinson
18:05 pm UTC The most important thing is I'm here to see news of Microsoft Flight Simulator on console.– Martin Robinson
18:06 pm UTC This really has been one of my favourite games of the last 12 months - it's a phenomenal thing.– Martin Robinson
18:06 pm UTC A thing of endless beauty and wonder.– Martin Robinson
18:06 pm UTC And also chill as anything.– Martin Robinson
18:06 pm UTC Like how could you now want to play that?– Martin Robinson
18:06 pm UTC It's coming to console on July 27th.– Martin Robinson
18:07 pm UTC Along with some big boy jet planes.– Martin Robinson
18:07 pm UTC I am so, so excited.– Martin Robinson
18:07 pm UTC Ah, a Top Gun Maverick expansion. Yes please very much so.– Martin Robinson
18:07 pm UTC Oh wow that was so awesome.– Martin Robinson
18:08 pm UTC And they're going straight into Forza, becuase they know they're pushing all my buttons.– Martin Robinson
18:08 pm UTC It looks like Forza Horizon goes South America.– Martin Robinson
18:08 pm UTC Which oddly enough makes it look a lot like DriveClub. RIP you beautiful thing.– Martin Robinson
18:09 pm UTC Big weather seems to be the new addition - storms that roll in across the horizon.– Martin Robinson
18:09 pm UTC Oh and a volcano too why not.– Martin Robinson
18:09 pm UTC It's coming November 9th. THIS YEAR.– Martin Robinson
18:10 pm UTC It's down in Mexico - and we're going to be shown it in the fancy new Mercedes Hypercar.– Martin Robinson
18:10 pm UTC Which makes me remember I just missed the end of the 8 hours of Portimao.– Martin Robinson
18:10 pm UTC Anyway here's some gameplay!– Martin Robinson
18:11 pm UTC Expeditions are new - they look like fairly chill co-op events.– Martin Robinson
18:12 pm UTC Forza Horizon 4 is such a perfect game that I sort of don't know where they can take it next.– Martin Robinson
18:12 pm UTC Of course, I'm excited to find out. More graphics is obviously the first point of order - and there are lots of graphics!– Martin Robinson
18:13 pm UTC The map features the highest point in the Forza Horizon series so far - which is an excuse to show off some plentiful draw distance on Series S and X.– Martin Robinson
18:14 pm UTC There are a lot of trailers shown tonight I can't wait to watch properly and not on a tiny window on my PC!– Martin Robinson
18:15 pm UTC I would love to see it but I think it's a small while off - I think there might be room for one more surprise though!– Martin Robinson
18:15 pm UTC And I'm probably wrong anyway.– Martin Robinson
18:16 pm UTC Back to Horizon 5 - it's got a multiplayer suite you can edit, sort of like Dirt 5's recent efforts.– Martin Robinson
18:16 pm UTC 75 minutes in and Phil Spencer only just rocked up - fair play for not taking the limelight.– Martin Robinson
18:17 pm UTC Lovely to see you anyway!– Martin Robinson
18:17 pm UTC The t-shirt is a simple one celebrating the 20th anniversary of Xbox.– Martin Robinson
18:17 pm UTC That was all you're going to see of Fable tonight I reckon - a brief glimpse as Phil runs through all the RPG talent in Xbox Game Studios.– Martin Robinson
18:18 pm UTC I was hoping we might get to see a bit of the next gen of Forza Motorsport, but I guess that's still a way off.– Martin Robinson
18:18 pm UTC And there is one more thing.– Martin Robinson
18:19 pm UTC A new game from Arkane - one of the best devs out there, for my money.– Martin Robinson
18:19 pm UTC This conference really has pushed all my buttons - getting to see the new Arkane is pretty much as good as it gets from me.– Martin Robinson
18:20 pm UTC It's a punky sci-fi thing, by the looks of it.– Martin Robinson
18:20 pm UTC Also it might be too early for gameplay as we're being treated to a strictly CG trailer.– Martin Robinson
18:20 pm UTC Oh when I said sci-fi... It's got vampires in it!– Martin Robinson
18:21 pm UTC It looks like a Left4Dead-esque affair from this trailer but who knows!– Martin Robinson
18:22 pm UTC Well, vampires are more interesting than zombies at least.– Martin Robinson
18:22 pm UTC It looks like someone has an exploding umbrella in it, so I'll take that.– Martin Robinson
18:23 pm UTC And that is Redfall.– Martin Robinson
18:23 pm UTC It's Series S/X, PC and in what's a trend tonight Xbox Cloud gaming - so no Xbox One.– Martin Robinson
18:24 pm UTC That was a very good show.– Martin Robinson
18:25 pm UTC And when you consider the background of the pandemic it's been produced against, it's mighty impressive - there's some great games on the horizon for Xbox.– Martin Robinson
18:25 pm UTC A CG trailer took the wind out of the show's sails a bit, but Redfall still looks plenty decent.– Martin Robinson
18:25 pm UTC And we get to play a new Forza Horizon this year!– Martin Robinson
18:25 pm UTC Not bad, Microsoft, not bad.– Martin Robinson
18:26 pm UTC I'm just going to log off quickly before Square Enix starts shortly - thanks for joining me here, and hope to see some of you again a bit later!– Martin Robinson
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