E3 "proper" may not get under way until later this afternoon, but this year, things kicked off in a bit of a different way, as publisher Bethesda held their first ever press conference, revealing more details about games it's been teasing, and lifting the lid on a few more. Here's everything you need to know in one handy article.
DOOM makes its return, comes with level editor
DOOM may be a name almost as old as gaming itself, but the sci-fi gore fest shooter series apparently still has some life left in it. Kicking off Bethesda's conference was footage of a brand new DOOM game, which seems to have ditched the number (it would be 4) in favour of a more retro approach. Telling a similar story of one space marine's battle for survival against the hordes of hell, which have accidentally been released due to an experiment gone wrong, it's a fancy looking, if incredibly gory adventure, pitting you against hordes of evil demons that are now more explodable then ever before (because nothing gets an American audience whooping like the site of entrails).
If that doesn't float your boat, perhaps the other big piece of news to come out of the showcase will - DOOM will be shipping with a level editor on PC and on Xbox One and PS4, known as Snapmap. Easy to use, yet seemingly incredibly powerful, level editors are fantastic tools that console owners rarely get a chance to play around with - and having access to an infinite number of levels is no bad thing, even for those of us who are less than skilled at game design. Suddenly, we're a lot more interested in this than we were. DOOM will release in 2016.
Dishonoured 2
In traditional fashion, it just wouldn't be E3 if a big game didn't get leaked just before the show kicked off - and Dishonoured 2 was this year's big game. The sequel to the popular steampunk stealth/assassin game, Dishonoured 2 introduces a second character - Emily Kaldwin - and it set in a new, coastal city. Set for release in 2016 on PS4, Xbox One and PC, this is one to keep an eye on. Also announced was that the original game will be getting a "next-gen" HD remake. Because that's one thing the world needs more of - HD remakes.
The Elder Scrolls gets a card game
While it seems we'll have to wait a few years for a proper Elder Scrolls sequel, there's nothing stopping Bethesda releasing a stop-gap spin-off in the meantime - and that's exactly what the newly announced Elder Scrolls Legends is. A "strategy card game", this will sadly only be available on PC and iPad (no Android?), and will be free-to-play.
Fallout 4 is out this year
Saving the best for last, Bethesda made use of the conference to tell us much, much more about the recently revealed post-apocalyptic role-playing game, Fallout 4. Now beginning in the times before the bombs hit America, Fallout 4 will show you life both before, and after the nuclear winter. With an advanced character creation system, a dog companion, and a £100 special edition that comes with a life-size wrist-computer Pip Boy (although it's really only an expensive case for your smartphone), this is looking very special indeed.
