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A collection of demos from new and upcoming games are available right now on Steam as part of the Future Games Showcase. The games are available on the showcase's Steam page under the "virtual show floor" section. The games featured are a variety of upcoming indie titles, including Backbone (which launched on June 9), a 2D detective game where you play a raccoon, Get Packed: Fully Loaded, Get Packed: Fully Loaded, a co-op physics game about forcibly removing stuff from a building, and Timberborn, a city management game about building the perfect society for beavers. Gamedec is a single-player, isometric RPG, taking place in a cyberpunk future. You play as a detective who must solve crimes in a virtual world. Beacon Pines is a cute but creepy adventure game where you must explore and find word charms to change the course of fate. Here is a full list of the game demos available through the Future Games Showcase on Steam: A Tale of Paper Get Packed: Fully Loaded Gatewalkers Gamedec Backbone Beacon Pines Trifox Timberborn Rift Breaker This isn't the only set of demos you can play in the next week. Xbox and Summer Game Fest have teamed up to release over 40 Demos on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S on June 15. View the full article

The week of E3 2021 is in full swing, and we've already seen a slew of trailers, first gameplay, and new reveals from different developers and publishers. While you may have heard many of the big announcements like Starfield, Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, and The Outer Worlds 2, there were plenty of other announcements as well. So with this roundup, we wanted to give you a detailed recap of the noteworthy games of E3 2021 so far. We're currently on Day 2 of the show, and so far, Ubisoft, Microsoft and Bethesda, and Square-Enix have had their major press conferences. While there have been other noteworthy shows, we wanted to focus on the larger titles that we've seen from this year's E3. That said, we have a roundup of other announcements below as well. GameSpot's coverage of E3 2021 also includes some exclusives for Play For All 2021, so be sure to check back with this page as more games from the show are revealed. E3 2021: Day 1 Ubisoft Forward This year's Ubisoft Forward focused heavily on the recently revealed Rainbow Six Extraction, the co-op action-horror spin-off of the popular Siege game. Along with that, we saw a new look at Watch Dogs Legion's Bloodline expansion that brings back Aiden Pearce, got a new look at Assassin's Creed Valhalla's Siege of Paris DLC, and saw the reveal of the Mario + Rabbids sequel, Sparks of Hope. Closing out the show was the first look at the next game set in the universe of James Cameron's Avatar, a new game from Ubisoft Massive called Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora. If you want a more detailed look at each game, then check out our breakout roundup of the games from Ubisoft Forward 2021. Ubisoft Forward E3 2021 Announcements: Far Cry 6, Mario + Rabbids 2, Avatar E3 2021: Day 2 Xbox + Bethesda Showcase 2021 Unfortunately, the Microsoft show got off to a particularly rough start with the unfortunate leak of Bethesda Game Studios' Starfield, which looks to be the developer's next leap forward for the open-world action-RPG genre. With that said, the larger slate of the show offered a wide array of reveals and updates on the library of games that Microsoft has for the Xbox consoles and PC. Along with the first look at Starfield, we also saw the reveal of The Outer Worlds 2, new Forza Horizon 5 gameplay, the next Sea of Thieves expansion that brings in Captain Jack Sparrow from the Pirates of the Caribbean films, and additional footage of Halo: Infinite's multiplayer mode. Closing out the show was the first look at Redfall, Arkane Austin's next new IP that stars a group of super-powered vampire hunters. That's only scratching the surface on the slate of the showcase, which also included first gameplay of STALKER 2: Heart of Chernobyl. Below, you can find the full breakdown of the Microsoft + Bethesda showcase. Xbox & Bethesda E3 Showcase Announcements: Starfield, Halo Infinite, Diablo 2 Square-Enix Showcase 2021 The latest Square-Enix showed that Marvel games were still a priority for the publisher, but the Final Fantasy series is still firing on all cylinders with new upcoming games. Kicking off the show was the reveal of Square Enix Montreal's single-player focused Guardians of the Galaxy game, which we got a first look at before the show. Along with that, Platinum Games' Babylon's Fall also made its return with a new look at the game, which is now a live service that lets players join others online to clear dungeons and collect loot. Closing out the show was the reveal of Final Fantasy Origin: Stranger Of Paradise, a collaboration with Team Ninja and Square-Enix that brings back classic FF villain Garland. Check out our roundup below to see a full breakdown of the list of games we saw during the show. Square Enix E3 2021 Stream Announcements: Guardians Of The Galaxy, Final Fantasy Origin, Babylon's Fall Other Notable Announcements Along with the other significant showcases, we've also seen various games from various streams like the Koch Media showcase, PC Gamer Show, the Wholesome Direct, and the constantly weird Devolver Digital Showcase. Here's a quick rundown of the most noteworthy games from the other conferences of E3 2021. Back 4 Blood Coming from Turtle Rock Studios, the original developers of Left 4 Dead, Back 4 Blood is essentially the spiritual successor to the co-op zombie survival shooter. It looks to inspire those familiar feelings of dread when gunning through hallways filled with the undead while running from giant mutated monsters. Back 4 Blood is set for release this October, which means you'll be able to experience the closest thing to Left 4 Dead 3 sooner than you think. Back 4 Blood Will Launch On Xbox Game Pass On October 12 Diablo 2: Resurrected The much anticipated remaster for Diablo II is set for release this September, and before its launch, you'll be able to jump into the next beta for the game in August. Following the reveal at the Microsoft showcase, Geoff Keighley had an extended interview with Diablo franchise lead Rod Ferguson where he talked more about the upcoming game. The remaster also marks the first time Diablo II will play on consoles, as the original stayed as a PC exclusive. Diablo 2 Resurrected Coming To Xbox One, Xbox Series X, PC September 23 Doki Doki Literature Club Plus The original Doki Doki Literature Club was a game about catching you off-guard for those who don't know. On the surface, it looks like an average visual novel game. But, as it turned out, it was a deeply unsettling psychological horror game that subverted the cutesy image of the game to present some horrifying, fourth-wall-breaking moments. It was a surprise hit, and now the developers are revisiting with an upgraded re-release on PC and consoles. Doki Doki Literature Club Plus Announced For Consoles And PC Elden Ring While Elden Ring was revealed shortly before the beginning of E3 2021, it's hard to deny that we aren't still feeling the rush from the recent trailer shown during the Summer Games Fest event. It was a stunning trailer that gave us a detailed look at the game's expansive world and its slick combat mechanics. We also learned that the game releases on January 22, 2022. Elden Ring Gameplay Trailer Reveals January 21 Release Date, Game Has Free New-Gen Upgrade Trek To Yomi One of the more surprising reveals from the Devolver Digital showcase was Trek To Yomi, a 2.5D action game that takes classic samurai action films. It's being made by Flying Wild Hog, the devs behind Shadow Warrior 3, and it looks to be a visually stunning that showcases some slick action and platforming. Trek To Yomi Launches In 2022 For PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, And Xbox Series X|S Check back with GameSpot as more updates from E3 2021 come in. We'll be adding more games and rundowns for the later shows as they happen, including what's new with Nintendo in 2021. View the full article

Dying Light 2 Stay Human developer Techland unveiled a new story trailer during the PC Gaming Show at E3 2021, where the studio discussed elements of the narrative and reiterated that the infected aren't zombies (despite looking and behaving a lot like your traditional zombie). In the four-minute-long trailer, Techland walked through the narrative setup, revealing that the virus from the first game spread to the sequel's setting. Dying Light 2 Stay Human takes place in 2036 and follows protagonist Aiden as he hunts for his sister Mia. The two were medically experimented on as kids, but after a fire, Aiden managed to escape. Where Mia is remains unknown, as she is the only one who can fill in the gaps to Aiden's story. What's most interesting about the video, though, is the classification of the game's zombies--er, Freakers. According to Techland, the infected aren't zombies at all but instead "half-alive, suffering people." They attack everything that lives because of their pent up pain and rage, Techland said. You can check out Dying Light 2 Stay Human's new story trailer below. In other news, Techland came under fire earlier this year following accusations of workplace toxicity that stemmed from management and limited developer creativity. The studio responded, saying the game was not in development hell. Techland recently attached a December 7 launch date to Dying Light 2 Stay Human, confirming the game will drop on PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S with a release date trailer. View the full article

Paid DLC for co-op shooter Back 4 Blood will be available to all party members as long as the leader of the party owns it developer Turtle Rock Studios confirmed during its E3 2021 livestream. This includes new maps and gameplay additions. E3 host Greg Miller tweeted two screenshots from what appears to be Back 4 Blood's official support page. The images read, in part, that as long as the party leader owns any paid content drop, other members can play it for free as well. It's worth noting that this refers to the game's PvE content, not PvP. Still, any content drop that the leader pays for--including maps, campaign add-ons, and gameplay additions--will be made available to other members. All PvP DLC, though, will be free for everyone through in-game progression. Furthermore, every player has access to the same cards at the start of a match, ensuring that DLC owners don't get an unfair advantage in PvP. Back 4 Blood launches on October 12 for PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S. An open beta goes live on August 5. View the full article

Unfortunately, it looks like Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin's PS5 demo may be corrupted. The demo launched following Square Enix's E3 2021 press conference, but some folks haven't been able to actually play it. Once you download the demo, you may be greeted by the following message: "Can't continue using this game or app. The data is corrupted. Delete it from your PS5, and then download it again from your library." We're not the only ones facing this issue. On Twitter, Nibel and IGN's Matt Kim have posted that they have also gotten this message after trying to download and play the Origin demo. In a tweet, developer Team Ninja says that it is aware of the issues and is working to resolve them. This demo is only available for a limited time (it's live until June 24, 7:59PM PT) so hopefully a fix is coming sooner rather than later. Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin injects a more Nioh-like gameplay formula into the Final Fantasy universe. In a press release, creative producer Tetsuya Nomura said, "While it is Final Fantasy, it feels different--but there's no doubt that the blood of Final Fantasy runs through its veins. We've undertaken the challenge of finding this difficult middle ground for this mature and stylish title. We need a little time until we're able to complete it, and while the battle system is a bloody one, it does link to the story, so I hope you'll use this opportunity to give it a try." View the full article

Back 4 Blood's PvP mode, Swarm, was shown in-depth during E3 2021. The 4v4 mode will see players battle it out as the Cleaners versus the Ridden, in a competition to see which team can last longer against the horde. The matches in Swarm will be best of five rounds, with teams swapping between the Cleaners and the Ridden, with the Cleaners aiming to survive as long as possible and the Ridden trying to take down the humans. Both teams can earn upgrades by getting kills. The upgrade points can be used to upgrade the Ridden horde to take down the cleaners faster or to upgrade the cleaners to survive longer. Upgrades persist between rounds, allowing players to coordinate which upgrades they unlock over a few rounds. The presentation also showed multiple different Ridden variants: Reeker, Retch, Exploder, Stinger, Hocker, Stalker, Tallboy, Crusher, and Bruiser. The Cleaners can mix and match different attachments on their weapons, across all of the weapons. It was announced during the Xbox and Bethesda games showcase that Back 4 Blood will launch on Xbox Game Pass when it releases on October 12. Back 4 Blood is releasing on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, on October 12. Back 4 Blood will also have an open beta in August, with early access for anyone that preorders the game. View the full article

One of the biggest games revealed during Microsoft's E3 2021 showcase was undoubtedly Forza Horizon 5, a new open-world racing game set in Mexico. Forza Horizon 5 releases on Xbox Series X, Xbox One, and PC on November 9, just in time for the holidays. Those interested in burning rubber across a sprawling and gorgeous open world can preorder their copy of Forza Horizon 5 now. Forza Horizon 5 is available to preorder in three editions: standard, Deluxe, and Premium. The Premium version of the game comes with early access starting November 5. Xbox Game Pass subscribers can play the standard edition for free at launch, and add-on bundles will be available for purchase if you want the Deluxe/Premium content. If you're not already signed up for Game Pass, be sure to take advantage of a limited-time offer that gets you your first three months for $1. Developer Playground Games promises that Forza Horizon 5 will have the largest world to date in the spin-off racing series. It will also have some dynamic weather events, which were shown off in the debut trailer, such as dust and tropical storms. Horizon 5's weather events will change on a weekly basis, so you can expect a lot of variety from week to week. It seems as if Horizon 5 will have more diverse terrains and trappings than previous entries in the series, as you'll drive through cities, ruins, jungles, deserts, beaches, and many more environments across the scenic tracks. View the full article

Square Enix closed out its E3 2021 presentation with an official reveal of Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin, the previously leaked Final Fantasy spin-off from Koei Tecmo and Team Ninja. The game is slated to release in 2022, and it's coming to PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC. As rumored, Final Fantasy Origin is an action-RPG in the vein of Nioh, featuring a much darker atmosphere than most previous Final Fantasy games. You can check out the reveal trailer below. This story is developing. View the full article

Square Enix has announced Life is Strange: Remastered Collection's release date, and luckily for all you Max and Chloe fans, it's just around the corner. The Remastered Collection, which bundles the first Life is Strange and its prequel game Life is Strange: Before the Storm, is coming to Xbox, PlayStation, and PC on September 30, 2021. This release comes 20 days after the newest entry in the series, Life is Strange: True Colors, hits shelves on September 10. However, as soon as this may be, many fans anticipated the collection would release alongside Life is Strange: True Colors, especially considering it comes included in True Colors Ultimate edition. While it most assuredly will still be a part of the Ultimate edition--and is not required to play prior to starting True Colors--it looks like those picking up that edition will have to wait a while before digging into the first entry in the Life is Strange series. On the bright side, the extended trailer shows the Remastered Collection has made major improvements to the overall look of Life is Strange and Life is Strange: Before the Storm. The upcoming remasters boast sharper textures, improved character animations, and several other visual improvements that make the games look a lot less stiff than they were when initially released. View the full article

Hitman Sniper: The Shadows received a brand-new trailer during Square Enix's showcase at E3 2021 today, introducing us to Initiative 426--a collection of skilled assassins that can make any shot look like an accident. The Square Enix Montreal title is set to launch on iOS and Android later this year. This story is developing. View the full article