We’re updating the end with the big news and videos as they roll in!
Even as our own awards have begun rolling out, the broader industry is feasting tonight on Geoff Keighley’s Game Awards, which have spiked in prominence (the NYT apparently called it “the Oscars for the gaming world”) over the last few years not because of the awards themselves but because they present the perfect opportunity for new games to introduce themselves and in-production titles to drop dramatic videos and teasers.
Notably for MMORPG fans, we’re expecting at minimum a new trailer and unveil for Pearl Abyss’ upcoming MMORPG Crimson Desert, the reveal of Elder Scrolls Online’s 2021 content arc, and a peek into Elite Dangerous’ Odyssey. Oh yeah, and did we mention Keanu Reeves will be there to present? We’ll be updating this thread with the trailers and big news as it happens!
In the meantime, the pre-show jabber begins at 6:30 p.m. EST this evening, with the real show kicking off at 7 p.m. EST. You can watch it right here with us!
“All footage is the actual in-game and gameplay. No edits or added effects. The trailer’s high graphical fidelity is achieved through Pearl Abyss’s proprietary engine used to power Crimson Desert. Crimson Desert will release in Winter 2021 on PC and console Crimson Desert is a massive open world action-adventure game, with content designed for both solo play and multiplayer. The 5-minute long trailer covers Crimson Desert’s setting, combat and gameplay. It also introduces the game’s main character, Macduff, a mercenary fighting to reclaim his home amidst the turmoil enveloping the continent of Pywel. […] Crimson Desert is a revolutionary open world action-adventure that combines elements of narrative driven single-player games with online multiplayer functionality.”
Proud to announce, tonight at the TGA’s:
🔹 ARK II starring Vin Diesel as Santiago
🔹 ARK: The Animated Series exploring Helena’s story
Catch the Official hi-rez ARK II trailer rendered in-engine using game assets, and an extended Animated Series trailer, tomorrow A.M!
🦖🦕 pic.twitter.com/JpCtPv16va
— ARK: Survival Evolved (@survivetheark) December 11, 2020
The next adventure has arrived. #GatesOfOblivion pic.twitter.com/kPwXUUiEeb
— The Elder Scrolls Online (@TESOnline) December 11, 2020
Worth a note is the corrected date for the global reveal: January 21st, 2021.
Elite Dangerous new upconing update looks nice. I have yet to try the game. Is it anything like the X series? Is X4 even worth it or should i go for Elite Dangerous?
The original Elite (from 1984) inspired the X series and Elite: Dangerous is the Modern version. Both are highly complex space sims with a steep learning curve (although Elite’s recently added newbie area is a vast improvement). The main different is X4 is offline single player game, while E:D is always online with three modes Solo (NPCs only), Pvt (play with friends) and Open (watch out for pirate players).
Both are improved by having a joystick and E:D in VR is still one of the best VR games out there (Sorry Star Wars : Squadrons, you’re good just not that good). The other difference is with Elite, you are a single commander who can own a lot of ships while in X, you can build your own space empire.
The Elite galaxy is a 1:1 scale replication of the Milky Way Galaxy, that’s over 400 million systems to visit with a lot of things to do but you have to go looking for the content, they don’t signpost it as well as they should. X has lots of sectors but is nowhere near as big.
I find the space combat more satisfying in Elite and both games can generate fantastic visuals and jaw dropping moments. The alternatives are No Man’s Sky which is excellent for exploring planets but I feel it’s space combat lets it down and Star Citizen (which I’m not going to touch the subject because that normally starts a flame war).
I’m probably biased because I’ve got over 2400 hours in elite and about 10 in the X series, so you can probably guess the one I’d recommend.
;-)
Holy Toledo. Ranged to SnB switch up in the middle of melee sends me.
Apparently Crimson Desert doesn’t have character creation. Everyone has to play as MacDuff, can’t create your own character’s looks nor chose a class. So, I’m out. Disappointing to say the least.
Here’s the quote if anyone’s curious.
https://www.pcgamer.com/crimson-desert-gameplay-revealed-black-desert-online-meets-dragons-dogma/
I do not feel that quote necessarily means there won’t be face morphs and hair customization. They at least seem to want every player to have the same core linear narrative experience.
It does have it.
Me watching Crimson Desert reveal: Ohh, ahhhh! Flying dragons! Oh man, all the things I loved about Black Desert! What an amazing world with stunning graphics! I hope immersion isn’t shattered with female armor made with underboobs, buttcheck hang-outs and high heels that can be colored in blaring neon colors. *Cries and Begs* Please, PA, don’t do that, PLEASE!!
Me watching Odyssey: Ohh, what is this title? Ohh, space! Look at the flyovers! Oh, wait. Is that PvP? I’m not playing it if there is forced PvP. *Makes mental note to google after posting*.
Me watching Elder Scrolls Online: Ohhh, is that a Bosmer caster? Oh wait, no. Just a hand over a glowy book. But wow! That’s one gargantuan monster! Does this mean a year of oblivion-themed furniture?
You’re probably safe from underboob in Crimson Desert. There’s apparently no character customization whatsoever. You’ll play as MacDuff. They’ll play as MacDuff. Everyone plays as MacDuff.
Seriously, what kind of what-the-hell design is going on with an MMO that doesn’t include any kind of character creation?
According to an interview with a dev earlier this year and also a GamesRadar report from yesterday, character customization will be in the game and on-par with Black Desert Online. Should be okay!
That’s not true, it has a full character creation system to rival or surpass BDO.
Why TESO is sending us to zones we’ve already been to in older RPGs? Why not send us to unseen locations? Tamriel is so huge afterall.
I wish I could be excited about new Dragon Age. DA: Inquisition was one of my most anticipated games of all time. And the biggest gaming disappointment of all time. We’ll see how this one goes.
Super hyped about anything Mass Effect related ofc.
It’s the typical fan service. I don’t like that trend either, but i also was never an Elder Scrolls fan to begin with – so this is all new to me.
Gates of Oblivion was the most boring part of TES4: Oblivion. Hopefully in TESO its nothing like that.
Nostalgia banking.
Are you kidding?
Their first game expansion was literally Morrowind. Another expansion had dragons and they had a whole Falkreath thing.
At no point were they ever not going to do Oblivion. Obviously.
To put it bluntly, I don’t think Zenimax Online has the talent needed to create wholly new TES content that’s actually on par with the RPG series. In a way it’s better that they don’t try it.
Nostalgia is a hell of a drug.
Crimson Desert definitely has my attention. From revealing last year, to virtual silence, to announcing a release next year is pretty quick work overall.
I see the engine still has some LOD pop-in, even on their spec system, though that’s something I’ve come to accept. I know it annoys the heck out of some people.
Combat looks similar, though I’m glad to see it appears more traditional action RPG. All the scenes were single combat or small group fights, none of the “how do I maximize the number of large packs of mobs I jam through like a raid boss” combat that makes BDO grinding such an assault on the senses.
I do wonder how customizable your character will be. All I saw was sword-and-board style with what seemed like very few magic effects.
Overall a very cool trailer
I read in an interview that the character creator will be on-par with BDO’s, so that’s something!
Black Desert 2: Electric Boogaloo.
I know there are a lot of unknowns so far with Crimson Desert , but can we just appreciate a propper high-budget MMorpg being made?
High Budget, sure, but with the beauty I wonder what is being lost and at what point is it more a glorified RPG than an actual MMO in the sense that we are all here for. I have no problem with the genre moving in a new direction, but for a game to hold that MMO title it needs to feel like an MMO. Despite BDO being fun at times it just never grabbed me like some of the older MMO’s did.
Dragon Age IV might be cool IF they do a true open world experience.
I feel like I’m one of the resident ARK experts (even though I admit below to not knowing the story). I’m one of the players who just enjoys the game for different reasons. (mods, private servers, taming and extensive building with a dedicated group of the same 6-10 players over 5 years seasonal). This announcement has me happy that I was right that they are working on an ARK II, but also extremely cautious because this company is still under that steal from Peter to pay Paul mentality. Let me explain.
Your next big DLC isn’t even out yet and you’re already stealing the thunder from it. It is actively being working on still because it was delayed a few months so it’s not like it’s in the can and ready to go. By announcing this new game, they are building hype for players who haven’t been interested in this last shite DLC to do so. (even though I run a Genesis server, I have still yet to purchase it)
I do want to know some specifics about ARK II though. Will this be UE5? Will private servers still be a thing? Will there be modding? Do I have to endure cutscenes with Vin Diesel without being able to skip? (I love Groot, but this is clearly a ploy to attract attention to the game so will gameplay and feature suffer?) Does the trailer mean we will get actual primitive NPC’s? Will combat be something that’s more than side stepping and swinging a weapon? Will you actually have realistic durability instead of having to carry 7 bows on me to tame something? How many dinos will be available? Have you learned how to have a proper boss fight without just sicking 21 T-Rexes on the boss and Game Over in 20 seconds? Will this be a full release and not just EA hot garbage for 2 years? Have you learned from your terrible business practices of the last 5-6 years?
As for ESO, I’m a little miffed they keep filling in their history, but perhaps they are filling that out more and will start focusing on the future with the timing looking like maybe we’ll start seeing something new as VI gets closer to release, but that’s still like 5 years out, right? lol
That BDO clone with insane world graphics looks cool too, but not my thing. There isn’t anything I can add here that wasn’t stated by others. :)