Hello friends,
Welcome to your post-E3 edition of Pastimes.
After a busy couple of weeks with WWDC and E3, I needed to decompress. I didn’t open my laptop all weekend, other than to stream the RuPaul’s Drag Race Down Under finale. Along with a last-minute embargo or two, that’s why this edition is later than usual. I’m trying to stick to a Saturday morning schedule for publishing Pastimes, but self-care is also important.
I’m still going to keep this pretty brief. Some general E3 thoughts and a few of my favorite trailers from the show lie ahead.
Rather than sum up all of the big news out of E3, I am just going to direct you to the great round up from my colleagues at Engadget and get right into some of the talking points.
Nintendo and Microsoft were the clear winners this year, and there were some other solid showcases. I really enjoyed the Wholesome Direct and, although Devolver can go a little overboard, its event is always a blast.
Gearbox’s stream was mostly a behind-the-scenes look at the Borderlands movie, which, cool, but it didn’t exactly make for an electrifying half hour. Godfall going backwards from PS5 to PS4 was kinda interesting even though I wasn’t a huge fan of the game. The showcase largely was a swing and a miss for me.
Ubisoft Forward was… fine. Rainbow Six Extraction looks like a fun take on the Siege formula and the Mario + Rabbids sequel looks adorable.
Let’s get into some trailers.
Really dug our first proper look at Starfield, even if it didn’t include gameplay. I love the vibe. We could do with more games about the human race’s early forays into space, rather than ones set after our presence among the stars is well established.
Cyberpunk 2077 wishes it looked as cool as Replaced.
It’s a year or so away, but I am super into this co-op open-world zombie shooter from Arcane Austin. Redfall sounds a little like Left 4 Dead or Back 4 Blood. I’m completely sold after this cinematic trailer.
Sorry, I had to.
Hot damn. I really should get around to playing Breath of the Wild, huh?
Reset
Cyberpunk 2077 returns to the PlayStation Store, but you really shouldn’t play it on the base PS4.
Offical custom Xbox controllers are back.
RuneScape goes mobile.
NFL Madden 22 locks some features behind a current-gen console paywall.
Valorant gets a new robotic agent.
Endgame
After an unfortunate start to Euro 2020, I’m beyond proud of Scotland’s performance on Friday. I know Harry Kane’s probably not fully fit, but we made England look ordinary and should have won the game.
It’s weird to have a Scotland team with two world-class players (who obviously play in the same position, just our luck) and another well on his way to that status. Billy Gilmour, what a pler. Shame he tested positive for COVID-19 and won’t be included today. Again, because Scotland.
Whatever happens in the Croatia game, we showed we belong on the big stage, and I’ll probably cry in dismay, pride, joy or a combination of the three.
Oh yeah, video games also exist. I finally finished my replay of the first four Uncharteds (love you, Lost Legacy, we’ll hook up again later). I started God of War for the first time in all its 60 fps splendor. I’m about three hours in and I can already tell that ax recall move will never get tired. Going to wrap things up here, so I can get back to exploring that world.
That’s all from me this time around. I hope you enjoyed this or at least learned something. If you did and you’d like to do me a solid, share it with a friend! Subscribe if you haven’t!
If you have tips, feedback or ideas, smash the reply button, send them to kris@krisholt.net or shoot me a tweet or DM @krisholt.