My Thoughts on E3: Bethesda

The first thing that Bethesda addressed during their E3 conference was the upcoming changes to Fallout 76. It was announced that as Fallout 76 nears its first year, it will receive a free update that will add in new quests with new NPCs, all with their own unique dialogue and backgrounds. This is very respectable, in my opinion, because it shows that Bethesda has actually been listening to criticisms of Fallout 76. I haven’t played the game before, though I will be checking it out sometime during the free week from June 10 through 17, but I have heard about the countless complaints that people have had with the game. Fallout 76 is also receiving the “Nuclear Winter” update, which adds in a 52 player battle royale that actually looks pretty fun. “Nuclear Winter” looks very unique due to the inclusion of elements like AI monsters or special items and perks, like power suits. But even though “Nuclear Winter” does look decently fun, I doubt it will be super noteworthy because the battle royale trend is definitely beginning to decline.

Bethesda also talked about the new Elder Scrolls Online expansion “Elsweyr”, which will include new dungeons and introduces dragons while addressing themes of human and draconic greed alike. I haven’t played ESO, but this new expansion does look like a lot of fun, and for me part of that may stem from the fact that a new class–Necromancer–is being added in, and if I were to play ESO, that’s definitely the class that I’d choose.

In addition to the new ESO update, Bethesda’s mobile game Elder Scrolls Blades will be coming to the Nintendo Switch, and it will be linked with its mobile counterpart, so the progress you make on one platform carries over to the other.

And on the topic of mobile games, Bethesda announced that the classic ID Software game Commander Keen is being brought back as a free to play mobile game. I’m not surprised that Bethesda is bringing back Commander Keen (they did revive the Wolfenstein and Doom franchises relatively recently) but I am surprised that they are doing so in the form of a mobile game. I’ve definitely been surprised by the amount of mobile game announcements at E3, but it just goes to show that mobile gaming is steadily starting to move past the days of playing Angry Birds or Candy Crush in the car to kill some time.

Bethesda also announced two new games in the form of Ghostwire: Tokyo and Deathloop. The trailer for Ghostwire: Tokyo was relatively cryptic and I really don’t know much about it, but it looks very interesting (watch the trailer and you’ll understand what I mean). Graphically the game also looks incredible. Deathloop, however, was a bit easier to understand. In Deathloop, you play as two skilled assassins locked in a never-ending battle, because the death of one causes them to restart the day, but this time armed with the knowledge of what will be coming. Conceptually it sounds very similar to Happy Death Day, Groundhog Day, and 12 Minutes, and I’m very excited to see exactly how death and time loops are implemented into the game.

Rage 2 will also be receiving a new expansion–“Rise of the Ghosts”–and it will be filled with new weapons, new abilities, new vehicles, new enemies, new areas, and new game modes. It looks fun enough, and it definitely seems to be in character with the rest of the over-the-top Rage 2.

Wolfenstein: Youngblood was shown off a little bit, as was the new VR Wolfenstein: Cyberpilot. In Cyberpilot, you will play as a French hacker as you take control of Nazi mechs and machinery and use them to wreak havoc on their creators. Youngblood, however, is the game that I’m a bit more excited for, in part because it’s going to be co-op. I’ve enjoyed playing the other Wolfenstein games, but I think that a co-op one may be the most fun yet, and because of that I’m pretty excited for the game.

In all honesty, Doom Eternal is the sole reason that I tuned into the Bethesda conference. Doom Eternal and Halo Infinite are the two games that I am by far the most hyped for, and Doom Eternal did not disappoint. The game and its story look absolutely insane and I cannot wait to experience it. And moving beyond the story, the gameplay looks equally amazing. Combat in Doom Eternal looks like it will be even faster and more violent than it was in Doom, and I for on cannot wait.

And that wraps up my thoughts on E3. The only two conferences that really interested me were Xbox and Bethesda, and in my opinion both of them lived up to my expectations. I can’t wait to check out some of these newly announced games and I look forward to sharing my thoughts on them.