E3 2019: Microsoft’s hasty, brave Project xCloud demo can’t handle the pressure
Microsoft brought Project xCloud, its upcoming cloud gaming service, to E3 2019. I played Halo 5 and Hellblade: Senua's Sacrafice on a smartphone powered by an xCloud server hundreds of miles away. It worked, but it wasn't magic. here are first impressions of Project xCloud.
Watch Dogs Legion allows players to control any citizen they see in London
During Ubisoft's E3 2019 conference, viewers were treated to a look at gameplay for Watch Dogs Legion. Building a roster of unique characters is the goal and we witnessed three very different people work to recruit a fourth. Watch Dogs Legion will launch in 2020.
Digital Trends Live: Project Scarlett, E3 preview, Google Pixel 4, and more
On this episode of Digital Trends Live, we discuss the trending tech stories of the day, including news on Microsoft’s Project Scarlett streaming service, Google’s Pixel 4, new deepfake editing software, an e-scooter glitch that lets you speed, and vacationing on the International Space Station.
E3 2019: The five best games from the PC Game Show
At the annual PC Game Show at E3, more than 30 PC games were featured in trailer form, plenty of which represented our first look at these games. From Chivalry II to Midnight Ghost Hunt Remnant: From the Ashes and more here are the five games that really have us excited.
Final Fantasy 7 Remake release date set, launches first for PS4
Ahead of Square Enix's E3 2019 conference, the release date for Final Fantasy 7 Remake was revealed and it will arrive early for PS4 players. Interestingly, there's no mention of game consisting of multiple episodes but the synopsis reads almost exactly the same as the summary for the original game.
Amazon cuts price of the Logitech G430 Gaming Headset by more than half off
In the market for a cool and comfortable gaming headset under $50? Amazon is offering the Logitech G430 Gaming Headset at a cool 50% discount. Originally $80, it is now available for only $40. Key features include 360-degree surround sound and a noise-canceling boom mic.
Mars lander simulator lets you take Opportunity rover for one last spin
It was a sad moment earlier this year when NASA officially called it quits on its 15-year-old, record-setting Mars rover Opportunity. Thankfully, a new update for a Mars rover simulator lets you take the deceased Opportunity for one more ride around the Martian landscape.
Just another Star Wars game? Jedi: Fallen Order struggles to stand out
During the EA Play E3 2019 livestream, we were shown gameplay footage of Respawn Entertainment's Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order. We were shown combat, traversal, and BD-1's role as a companion to Cal Kestis. It looks stunning and fun, though what we know about the story leaves something to be desired.
Bethesda’s Orion reveal points to an industrywide shift to cloud gaming
Sony and Microsoft have both revealed cloud gaming initiatives in response to Google Stadia and Bethesda is getting into the mix but not as competition. Bethesda revealed Orion, a collection of tech patents focused on improving cloud gaming no matter what platform is being used.
Bethesda reveals Ghostwire Tokyo, a horror game from The Evil Within devs
A couple of new IPs were revealed during the Bethesda conference at E3 2019 and one is coming from the studio behind the survival horror series The Evil Within. The new game is an action-adventure called Ghostwire Tokyo where players will face off against the supernatural beings.
E3 2019 press conference schedule
E3 2019 has arrived, featuring conferences from some of the biggest game publishers in the world, such as Microsoft, Nintendo, Ubisoft, Bethesda, Electronic Arts, and more. Here is the E3 2019 conference schedule, as well as what happened already and what we think is yet to come.
Nintendo Switch owners, beware: Broken game cards may cause permanent damage
Nintendo Switch owners should always take time to check their game cards before inserting them. According to a repair shop in Japan, broken cartridges may bend the contact pin inside the slot, resulting in permanent damage as the console will not be able to read game cards even after repairs.
Here is what Bethesda showed during its E3 2019 press conference
Bethesda held its fifth annual E3 press conference on June 9. Here is everything the publisher had to announce, including two new IP and new features for its existing lineup of games. Both Starfield and The Elder Scrolls VI were completely absent from the presentation, as was expected.
Fallout 76 to add NPCs and a battle royale mode called Nuclear Wasteland
At the Bethesda E3 2019 showcase, Todd Howard admitted to the rough launch of Fallout 76. In an effort to get players back into the game, the publisher is releasing a free update called Wastelanders that will add NPCs, dialogue trees, and a new questline. A battle royale mode is also coming to the game.
Xbox Project Scarlett launches Holiday 2020 with Halo Infinite
fMicrosoft officially got the ball rolling with premieres, updates, and a few surprises during the Xbox briefing. Near the end, the company set the stage for next-gen home console gaming by revealing hardware details for Project Scarlett and a 2020 release window alongside Halo Infinite.
Xbox’s Project Scarlett console is awesome, and it doesn’t matter
Microsoft has set a release date for Project Scarlett, its next-generation game console. It promises incredible performance, stunning 8K visuals, and lightning-quick load times -- but none of that matters. The console's relevance is waning.
Defense-focused Wattson may change the Apex Legends meta for Season 2
Wattson was revealed at EA Play 2019 as the new character for Apex Legends, which will launch Season 2 in July. Wattson's skills include the ability to create electric fences and a pylon that can intercept incoming projectiles, for a defense-focused character that may change the metagame.
Hidden message by God of War director finally found: Sequel on the way?
God of War director Cory Barlog posted a series of tweets in April that took a trip down memory lane on the development of the highly-acclaimed PlayStation 4 exclusive. Two months later, the hidden message in the tweets were finally discovered, potentially hinting at the sequel for the game.
Gears of War 5 Escape mode revealed at Xbox E3 briefing, release date set
Gears of War 5 launches in late 2019 and one of the game's developers took the stage during the Xbox E3 briefing to shed some light on the new title. The new co-op Escape mode was teased and there will be a couple of opportunities before launch where players can test the game out.
E3 2019 Xbox press conference round-up: New console and new Halo confirmed
Microsoft held its annual E3 press conference on June 9. The Xbox E3 2019 press conference featured more news on Project Scarlett and Project xCloud, as well as plenty of games like Halo Infinite, Gears 5, The Outer Worlds, Cyberpunk 2077, Psychonauts 2, and many more.
E3 2019: Madden NFL 20 feels like it might have the X-factor
We checked out Madden NFL 20 at EA Play and came away quite impressed. The new X-Factor mechanic injects a bit of arcade magic to Madden and we're happy to finally have Run-Pass Option plays at our disposal. It does feel quite similar to Madden 19 in a lot of ways, but franchise updates sound exciting.
Cyberpunk 2077 release date announced, Keanu Reeves to play a character in game
The wait to learn Cyberpunk 2077's release date is over. A cinematic trailer was shown during the Xbox briefing before introducing a character played by Keanu Reeves. Reeves himself then took the stage to introduce a quick gameplay trailer that showed the 2020 release date for the open-world RPG.
EA Play 2019: All the big news, from FIFA 20 to Battlefield V to Star Wars
EA is doing things a bit differently for its fan-oriented EA Play event. Multiple livestreams aired on June 8, replacing the traditional press conference format. These included Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, FIFA 20, Madden NFL 20, Apex Legends, Battlefield V, and The Sims 4.
E3 2019: Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and Game Pass PC go live ahead of Xbox briefing
Microsoft has launched Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and Game Pass PC ahead of its E3 2019. Both new subscriptions were announced earlier this year, but only now are available for gamers to join. And both are only a buck for the first month.
Destiny 2 to move to Steam, shift to free-to-play model starting with Shadowkeep
Destiny 2 will undergo massive changes with its latest expansion, Shadowkeep, which will take players to the moon once it launches on September 17. The PC version of the game will transfer from Battle.net to Steam, and its base game will become free-to-play to give newcomers a new entry point.
Leaked free Borderlands 2 DLC will set the stage for Borderlands 3
Borderlands 3 is set to launch in September, but Gearbox Software will first roll out free Borderlands 2 DLC in June to bridge the gap between the two games. The DLC, titled Commander Lilith & The Fight for Sanctuary, was leaked on Steam, and will allow players to explore new zones and receive new loot.
Blizzard reportedly axes another StarCraft shooter for Diablo 4, Overwatch 2
Blizzard was reportedly working on a first-person shooter set in the StarCraft universe that was based on the Overwatch engine. The studio, however, has canceled the project after two years in development, moving the members of its team to others working on Diablo 4 and Overwatch 2.
Bandai Namco E3 2019 leak spoils Elden Ring, Tales of Arise, Ni No Kuni remaster
The planned announcements for E3 2019 by Bandai Namco were leaked ahead of the annual event, through a publicly accessible URL on its website. The leak revealed three unannounced games, including the collaboration between From Software and George R.R. Martin, a new Tales game, and a remastered Ni No Kuni.
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order: Everything we know
Respawn Entertainment's next game is Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order. Here's everything we know about the third-person action-adventure game, including information on the trailer, gameplay, characters, and release date. It will be available for Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC.
Digital Trends Live: Google Stadia details, Walmart’s in-home delivery, and more
On this episode of Digital Trends Live, we discuss the top trending tech stories of the day, including details on the new Google Stadia service, the FCC allows cellphone carriers to block robocalls, Walmart tests in-home delivery, a hands-on look at GE’s smart lighting, Tech Briefs, and more.
Wireless Xbox One controllers and bundles get price cuts ahead of E3
In anticipation of next week's E3 event, score a black or white Bluetooth Xbox One Wireless Controller from Walmart for just $40, with an array of other deals on bundles and games. With E3 just days away, now is a great time to take control and up your XBox One game.
Alexey Pajitnov still hasn’t mastered Tetris, the game he invented 35 years ago
Tetris first arrived in 1984 brought about by creator Alexey Pajitnov. After various releases and versions of the game, its managed to maintain popularity and the attention of players of all ages. We caught up with Alexey to find out how he feels about the game today, as we near its 35 year anniversary.
Sony is planning cross-generation gameplay between PS4 and PS5
Cross-play and cross-saves are all the rage with gamers these days and Sony could embrace the ideal to ease the transition into the next generation. In an interview, PlayStation CEO Jim Ryan shared that Sony is planning to offer cross-generational gameplay between the PS4 and PS5.
Fortnite season 9, week 5 challenge guide: Visit different wind turbines in a match
The season 9, week 5 challenges are up on Fortnite, and one of the big challenges this week is to visit five different wind turbines in a single match. Here are the locations of all of the wind turbines and how to complete this challenge.
Section Editor, Gaming
Giovanni is a writer and video producer focusing on happenings in the video game industry. He has contributed stories to Inverse, Fanbyte, The Inventory, and more. He was previously a segment producer on Polygon’s daily gaming show Speedrun and he currently hosts the Left Trigger Right Trigger podcast. Four Tetris 99 wins, and counting.