Sony offered perhaps its strangest show for a few years, providing an ill-advised theatre set-up that led to some serious lulls during the opening 30 minutes. It did pick up, though, to give us Nioh 2, a new Remedy game and our first look at the Resident Evil 2 remake, plus first gameplay of Death Stranding, The Last of Us Part 2 and Ghosts of Tsushima. Not bad, really. Here's all the news as it happened.
Less than an hour to go. You've got this. You can power through. We're nearly there.
– Martin Robinson
In the office it's a little bit of FIFA, a little bit of Fortnite and some beer to get us through.
– Martin Robinson
(I know, we're so *mainstream*, right?)
– Martin Robinson
Hi I just went away to play a bit of FIFA and now everyone's talking about Ecco. What did I miss?
– Martin Robinson
It's like an Ecco chamber in here.
– Martin Robinson
(sorry)
– Martin Robinson
Kami: Also, Martin, boo and all that.
That's probably the best joke I've made all week. I'm all out now.
– Martin Robinson
I'm going to tell you about all the 'p's tonight. You want 1080 'p's? You want 2160 'p's? They're all coming at you on you're a gamer dot com.
– Martin Robinson
I'm hoping none of you ever caught the after hours Eurogamer podcast where a lot of it was dedicated to dolphin's sex habits.
– Martin Robinson
Also this whole chat about Ecco is feeling very 1.45am at the moment.
– Martin Robinson
Someone's going to hand me a cigarette in a moment and I'm going to absent-mindedly light the wrong end before realising what exactly is going on.
– Martin Robinson
But hey 1.45am means we're only 15 minutes away from Sony's conference!
– Martin Robinson
*goes to toot horn, misses then collapses in a heap*.
– Martin Robinson
Will this be good? I don't know. I'm not sure.
– Martin Robinson
You see, I worry it's going to be a bit like that - four stilted Q&A sessions for the first-party games in question, mixed in with a few announcements of third party things.
– Martin Robinson
Sony can get a little... self-involved at times. I'm hoping this won't be one of them.
– Martin Robinson
What we know - there'll be four first-party games.
– Martin Robinson
Those being Death Stranding, Ghosts of Tsushima, Spiderman and The Last of Us Part 2.
– Martin Robinson
Hello from what feels like a PlayStation E3 church. It's a tent with scary sounds being piped in. There are no seats. Everyone is confused.
– Tom Phillips
There's also room for third-party showings. We haven't seen anything of Call of Duty or Destiny 2 so far this E3. Seems like a good time for them to show up.
– Martin Robinson
The Final Fantasy 7 remake that was absent from Square's super bland conference earlier? I'm not too hopeful it'll show up, but it's a possibility.
– Martin Robinson
And how about what Bluepoint's working on? Maybe - just maybe - it's a beloved PlayStation game that also happens to be third party.
– Martin Robinson
Oh, and let's not forget about the Resident Evil 2 Remake.
– Martin Robinson
Wes, Digital Foundry's John Linneman and I (and friend of Eurogamer Keza) are resisting whatever theatrics this is and have fashioned a work station out of folding chairs and a small day table I found in the corner of the room.
– Tom Phillips
That lot would be a tidy haul all in all.
– Martin Robinson
– Tom Phillips
It's at times like this, hearing what Tom's saying about the show in LA, that I'm grateful to be here in Brighton with a beer and a nice comfy chair.
– Martin Robinson
Even if it is coming up to 2am.
– Martin Robinson
One last thing.
– Martin Robinson
Sony's showing four games tonight. I really wouldn't be surprised if at least two of them weren't necessarily PS4 exclusive.
– Martin Robinson
It really is a very lovely beer.
– Paul Watson
Now that Microsoft has dropped the next-gen bomb, and that Bethesda has openly spoken about two of its big games being next-gen, will Sony follow suit?
– Martin Robinson
Yup, and the other thing. This won't start on time.
– Martin Robinson
kingpin3000: Don we think VR will get a mention?
Yup, even if it's just a quick round-up.
– Martin Robinson
Also my name's not Don.
– Martin Robinson
Hang on. Are they starting...
– Martin Robinson
Early?
– Martin Robinson
Well this is a first.
– Martin Robinson
I. Have. No. Idea.
– Martin Robinson
– Tom Phillips
The downside of sitting down is you can't really see anything.
– Tom Phillips
Well you wanted PSVR - here's some Playroom bots dicking about.
– Martin Robinson
Shawn Layden is apparently here. I can't see him though.
– Tom Phillips
Honestly, the conference could be two hours of this and I'd be completely fine with it.
– Paul Watson
And now we're properly, properly go.
– Martin Robinson
Shawn Layden steps up to stage, in what looks like a church.
– Martin Robinson
It's weird, standing up - the audience is restless. It's not quiet here, people are talking over Shawn.
– Tom Phillips
This doesn't help the growing perception of them being a bit of a weird cult.
– Martin Robinson
But let's see where they take it from here.
– Martin Robinson
First up, it's The Last of Us Part 2.
– Martin Robinson
I love The Last of Us' music, but this audience is just talking about how they can't see what's going on.
– Tom Phillips
And a live performance from Gustavo Santaolalla.
– Martin Robinson
And some terrible, terrible sound distortion on our feed which doesn't really help things.
– Martin Robinson
That'll be it (I say like I have any kind of technical knowledge).
– Martin Robinson
The church we are in is an environment from The Last of Us 2.
– Tom Phillips
It's cool, man, we're all high.
– Martin Robinson
Here's a new trailer for The Last of Us 2, and that's why everyone's in a church - it's the setting for this fresh look, with an older Ellie taking centre stage.
– Martin Robinson
This is already striking a much better tone than the last time we saw The Last of Us Part 2 - it's got the humanity and warmth that, I think, made the original such a hit.
– Martin Robinson
Oh here's the murder.
– Martin Robinson
From something quite moving and beautiful to a neckstab. Video games, you never really change do you?
– Martin Robinson
'It's like we got new E3 there,' says Bertie, 'and then ol' E3 just crept back'.
– Martin Robinson
CONTRAST!
– Tom Phillips
It's the lady and the hammers and the disemboweling!
– Martin Robinson
That old favourite.
– Martin Robinson
Actual wooos from the audience for being able to climb under a truck.
– Tom Phillips
It's a handsome looking video game, which looks to carry on where the original left off.
– Martin Robinson
With a little more grimdark, though no-one could ever really say that The Last of Us was a game that was light in tone.
– Martin Robinson
The combat does look extremely physical, again taking one of The Last of Us' core tenets a little further.
– Martin Robinson
These kinds of scenes never really play out that well when seen out of context. I remember how grim one of The Last of Us' original scenes looked in a conference, where Joel shot-gunned someone to death and the audience whooped and hollered.
– Martin Robinson
We're being moved rooms. Audience is on the move.
– Tom Phillips
In-game, it made much more sense and was less jarring.
– Martin Robinson
Anyway, that was our first real look at The Last of Us Part 2. It looks like it'll be very bit as fascinating as the original.
– Martin Robinson
And here's the chatty bit while everyone gets to the next venue for this show.
– Martin Robinson
There's plenty of killer going from that The Last of Us Part 2 first look, but it also seems like there'll be at least *some* filler.
– Martin Robinson
But hey we're all kind of in love with Shawn Layden over here so I'm fine with that.
– Martin Robinson
He looks half hamster, half mobster.
– Martin Robinson
I'm trying to find a composite of those two, but well it just doesn't work.
– Martin Robinson
Anyway he's an incredibly handsome, suave and confident presence.
– Martin Robinson
It sounds like Ghosts of Tsushima is next.
– Martin Robinson
As Tom and co. are being ushered into a Japanese courtyard.
– Martin Robinson
And a little snippet there - New Game Plus is coming to God of War.
– Martin Robinson
There's a lot of people to usher through this very expensive set-up.
– Martin Robinson
It's a very strange set-up, too - everyone at the event can't report on it as they're constantly on the move.
– Martin Robinson
While at home we have to wait for them to be pestered along into the next area.
– Martin Robinson
So strange how these things get greenlit, but I'm sure whoever pitched it was very convincing (and asked for a sizeable budget too).
– Martin Robinson
So here's Call of Duty Black Ops 4 with map pack exclusivity.
– Martin Robinson
Less of the almost, I'd say.
– Martin Robinson
It's a mixture of stupidity and arrogance that leads to weird cock-ups like this.
– Martin Robinson
I think it's a little of both, they've clearly got stuff planned as we're getting some sizzle reels they've got prepped.
– Martin Robinson
It is safe to say that no-one really engaged their brain when planning the whole concept of this show though.
– Martin Robinson
We're back to the weird late-PS2, early-PS3 Sony here. And Microsoft is doing a great job stepping back into the good guy role as it recedes from the villainy and arrogance of early Xbox One.
– Martin Robinson
– Tom Phillips
It's amazing how cyclical these things are, and how they don't hire anyone at these companies who can remember back more than five years.
– Martin Robinson
We have walked through a Japanese garden to a larger tent (with seats). Wind is being blown in, and on screen there's a grassy landscape.
– Tom Phillips
Destiny 2 now, and a look at the big update coming later this year.
– Martin Robinson
Will it save Destiny? I'm not sure - it feels like every new expansion has that weight of expectation put upon it.
– Martin Robinson
But they just killed off Nathan Fillion so I guess that gives them a bit more budget to make more awesome stuff.
– Martin Robinson
Right come on here's an actual video game after plenty of filler.
– Martin Robinson
Nope it's another live musical performance.
– Martin Robinson
Get over yourselves and show us something!
– Martin Robinson
This is Ghosts of Tsushima, anyway.
– Martin Robinson
up_the_ante: Cultural appropriation
Lol innit.
– Martin Robinson
A polite round of applause.
– Martin Robinson
I just found out about Cayde's death on a livestream I can't watch while a guy plays an oversize fucking recorder solo. Thanks Sony.
– Tom Phillips
At least Sucker Punch's Nate Fox is always good value.
– Martin Robinson
Sorry, I'll edit.
– Martin Robinson
Sony may as well fart into their own cupped hands, bring it up to their nostrils and just gleefully sniff it in at this point.
– Martin Robinson
Samurai seems to be very much the next big thing.
– Martin Robinson
And this does look awful, awful pretty.
– Martin Robinson
I mean, it looks really, really, really good.
– Martin Robinson
As in I'm not sure I've seen a better looking video game.
– Martin Robinson
And I'm not entirely sure this is even possible on a PlayStaton 4.
– Martin Robinson
This is, from what we've been told, an open world game.
– Martin Robinson
An open world game as gorgeous as this could really be something.
– Martin Robinson
Beautifully composed samurai combat leads into more general hack and slashery.
– Martin Robinson
But still it looks great.
– Martin Robinson
In the words of Kat from USGamer: "The hell of following Naughty Dog is that anything you do is going to look stiff by comparison." Yup.
– Tom Phillips
Some very Sucker Punch traversal - it's still inFamous and Sly Cooper as you leap around.
– Martin Robinson
I hope it's at least an option to play with a Japanese voice track. It'd make such a difference.
– Martin Robinson
The stand-offs, which come at a much slower pace than the general combat, look incredible.
– Martin Robinson
And that was Ghosts of Tsushima. A staggeringly beautiful looking game.
– Martin Robinson
And this is a banana playing a guitar.
– Martin Robinson
This is why I love Eurogamer. The place to come for typeface analysis.
– Martin Robinson
Is this Death Stranding now?
– Martin Robinson
Or Remedy's new game.
– Martin Robinson
Because this looks a lot like Remedy.
– Martin Robinson
Control - it is indeed Remedy, being very Remedy, and being published by 505 Games.
– Martin Robinson
Some game about tins of tomatoes now.
– Martin Robinson
Games have everything don't they?
– Martin Robinson
silents: That was basically quantum break on ps4.
Without the live action stuff. I'm more than fine with that.
– Martin Robinson
And this is Resident Evil 2.
– Martin Robinson
Which looks very, very different to the original which it's remaking.
– Martin Robinson
Also it has tinned tomatoes in it.
– Martin Robinson
This looks so, so different to Resident Evil 2, that it's hard not to get a bit of whiplash when seeing it for the first time.
– Martin Robinson
Beneath all the fancy visuals, though, looks like quite a trad Resi game - and that's also a good thing. It's out January 25th next year.
– Martin Robinson
A new game from the Rick & Morty creators and Squanch Games? It looks like it's got Mr MeSeeks in there.
– Martin Robinson
Trover Saves the Universe, coming to PSVR.
– Martin Robinson
Some weird Nomura nonsense with Johnny Depp in now.
– Martin Robinson
If that's your thing, you weirdos.
– Martin Robinson
Yeah, it actually is.
– Martin Robinson
There's been a succession of good announces, and even though Kingdom Hearts isn't really my thing it's certainly going to tick a lot of boxes for series fans.
– Martin Robinson
And now it's on to Death Stranding, to twist with our heads a little more.
– Martin Robinson
This looks it is, for the first time, actual Death Stranding gameplay.
– Martin Robinson
Like it's an actual video game we can play.
– Martin Robinson
Where we apparently just go trekking around Iceland.
– Martin Robinson
But still I'd be up for playing that game.
– Martin Robinson
It really does look like a slow-paced exploration game.
– Martin Robinson
Or, as some others might put it, a walking simulator.
– Martin Robinson
But there's more!
– Martin Robinson
Lea Seydoux makes an appearance, adding to the all-star cast.
– Martin Robinson
Nope, still none the wiser.
– Martin Robinson
Yup, and I love it.
– Martin Robinson
Oh and Linsay Wagner, The Bionic Woman, is now confirmed to be in it?
– Martin Robinson
And Nioh 2, which is a nice announcement from leftfield.
– Martin Robinson
They've pulled this conference back from the brink.
– Martin Robinson
Spideybobs now.
– Martin Robinson
Which looks amazing, if not quite as amazing as what's preceded it, but we are getting to play it very, very soon.
– Martin Robinson
This looks lovely if big explodey things are what you're into.
– Martin Robinson
Super dynamic, with all the colour and spark you'd hope for from a Spiderman game.
– Martin Robinson
And that was the fourth game.
– Martin Robinson
Are we done here?
– Martin Robinson
What is though?
– Martin Robinson
The recap suggests we're wrapping up shortly.
– Martin Robinson
And it is done.
– Martin Robinson
A shaky start but it got there in the end.
– Martin Robinson
Well, Spiderman has one.
– Martin Robinson
My money is on that being one decent looking PS4 game in Spiderman, and three PS5 games with no date.
– Martin Robinson
We'll see, though, and a new Remedy game makes me very, very happy.
– Martin Robinson
Oh let's not forget a new Nioh. That's alright.
– Martin Robinson
And Resi 2.
– Martin Robinson
Oh and here's a bonus - a From Software PSVR game.
– Martin Robinson
Just as I was about to head back to the hotel.
– Martin Robinson
Oooh they're odd ones, Sony, aren't they?
– Martin Robinson
Deracine is its name.
– Martin Robinson
What else are they going to announce post-conference?
– Martin Robinson
I'm not sure how late I'm willing to wait up to find out.
– Martin Robinson
We're going to wrap here, though of course feel free to stick around and watch the post-conference chat Sony's laying on where we're seeing some of Spiderman's web-slinging in action.
– Martin Robinson
You've all been wonderful, and it's been a delight.
– Martin Robinson
One more show to go, and it's Nintendo tomorrow - hope to see you there.