As this year's Tokyo Game Show approaches its end, we had the opportunity to see what awaits us in the near future of the video game world, from announcements to official reveals, teasers, and more. A record 985 companies and organizations from 44 countries and regions showcased their products and services at this year's fair. The event attracted 535 exhibitors from abroad, including over 70 Chinese companies. The Chinese mobile gaming industry drew special attention, with the number of Chinese exhibitors making up about 80 percent of the sector.
Xbox and PlayStation left a special impression, both with new hardware and announcements that will absolutely not disappoint their fans.
Xbox at TGS - A Bit Old, A Bit New
Microsoft concluded its Xbox Broadcast presentation, revealing new announcements and information for games including Metal Gear Solid Δ: Snake Eater, Overwatch 2, Starcraft, Katamari, and much more.
Metal Gear Solid Δ: Snake Eater Opens Xbox Broadcast
The new trailer for Metal Gear Solid Δ: Snake Eater opened the Xbox Tokyo Game Show 2024 broadcast. Focusing on the game's darker aspects, the trailer gave fans a good insight into Revolver Ocelot, Colonel Volgin, The Boss, and others. While the Tokyo Game Show would have been the ideal place to reveal the release date of the long-awaited remake, developed by Konami in Japan, it remains with the elusive window of 2024.
Age of Mythology Retold: Immortal Pillars Announced
An expansion for the simulation game Age of Mythology Retold titled Immortal Pillars has been announced. It will guide players through the myths of China with a completely new pantheon of gods, powers, and much more. Xbox debuted the announcement for downloadable content and made it clear that it will be available on the first day of Xbox Game Pass, although other details are still unclear, and the release date and price have not been announced. It has been confirmed that 12 new gods, including Nüwa, the goddess of creation, Chiyou, the war god with a bull's head, and Nübu, the restless goddess of drought, will be available.
Starcraft Remastered and Starcraft 2 Coming to Game Pass
StarCraft: Remastered and StarCraft 2: Campaign Collection are coming to Game Pass on November 5, Microsoft announced during the Tokyo Game Show 2024 broadcast. Blizzard's sci-fi real-time strategy games are the latest to be launched on Game Pass following Microsoft's $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard last year. While the entire original StarCraft and StarCraft 2 multiplayer components are free, StarCraft: Remastered and StarCraft 2: Campaign Collection will be available to everyone with a PC Game Pass or Game Pass Ultimate subscription starting November 5.
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle gets a new trailer
One of Microsoft's major upcoming titles, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, made an impression during the broadcast with a new trailer showcasing both cinematics and gameplay. With a release date of December 9, there isn't much Xbox can show about this entry, but the announcement revealed a handful of new scenes. Although this is one of the biggest Xbox exclusives of 2024, the game ironically will also be available on PlayStation, but only next year.
Hero Shooter FragPunk gets a closed beta in October
Xbox has announced that players can now sign up for the closed beta of the hero shooter FragPunk ahead of its release on October 10. A detailed dive during the presentation also outlined new heroes that were previously undisclosed and gave a glimpse into the development team and their process. FragPunk is described as "a fast-paced 5v5 first-person shooter based on heroes and featuring game-breaking boost cards."
Fallout 76 gets pets
Xbox has announced that players will soon be able to have their own furry friends in the wasteland as cats and dogs are coming to Fallout 76. The game's creative director Jon Rush announced during the presentation that C.AM.P pets will be added to the game in December, although a more specific release date has not yet been revealed. In true Fallout 76 fashion, players will also be able to create beds and houses for their furry companions to add a bit more life to their bases.
PlayStation 5 - Now for Professionals
Alongside all the announced titles, new trailers, and an exciting list of games coming to the PlayStation platform, SONY's presence could be summed up in two main events: AstroBot and the new PlayStation 5 Pro. At the PlayStation booth, visitors had the opportunity to see the PS5 Pro console – publicly showcased for the first time and announced for sale on November 7 – and also play Final Fantasy VII Rebirth or Gran Turismo 7 on the new console. Additionally, the entire collection line of the PlayStation 30th Anniversary was also displayed at the booth.
Some of the announced games coming soon to the PlayStation console include Astro Bot (free update with additional content), Dragon Ball: Sparking! ZERO, Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake, Dynasty Warriors: Origins, Infinity Nikki, Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater, Metaphor: ReFantazio, Monster Hunter Wilds, Neva, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth (support for PlayStation 5 Pro), Gran Turismo 7 (support for PlayStation 5 Pro), Sonic X Shadow Generations, and Death Stranding 2: On The Beach.
Astro Bot Mechanics in Real Life
Tokyo Game Show 2024 featured a series of exciting announcements and entertaining booth setups, including a massive recreation of the capsule machine from Astro Bot at the PlayStation booth. Astro Bot received high praise from critics and audiences for its 3D platforming gameplay and retro revival of PlayStation icons, and participants at TGS 2024 were treated to one of the most exciting game mechanics brought to life.
In tandem with the game's release on September 6, 2024, players could pre-order an exclusive Astro Bot controller to have a piece of the game in real life. Wanting to bring an even greater element of Astro Bot into reality, PlayStation offered fans the chance to experience an unexpected aspect of the game at TGS.
A user on Reddit shared a picture of a real Gatcha machine filled with Astro Bot capsules at the PlayStation booth at the Tokyo Game Show 2024. While players collect various VIP bots in Astro Bot, they can gather items related to those characters from Gatcha Lab, along with cosmetics for Astra and his PS5 Dual Speeder. Gatcha Lab features a capsule machine from which players can obtain random items for the price of 100 in-game tokens. As many fans found joy in the surprise of Gatcha Lab in the game, PlayStation decided to bring the mechanic to life with a massive Astro Bot Gatcha machine at its TGS booth. The machine features Astro and the legendary PlayStation blue, giving the audience a unique real-world experience inspired by the game. - writes GameRant.
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach and the (un)announced release date
The publisher Sony Interactive Entertainment and developer Kojima Productions shared new information and footage for Death Stranding 2: On the Beach during a special event at the Tokyo Game Show 2024, including character names and Japanese voice actors, an in-game photo shoot event, and a performance by Daichi Miura in the game.
During the event, the developers of Death Stranding 2 presented a little information, and everything was in Japanese, so Western players might be more interested in watching the video. They showcased several staged scenes featuring, perhaps, all the main characters, whose roles are played by well-known actors and media personalities. Actress Elle Fanning will play the heroine Tommorow, and Japanese star Shioli Kutsuna will portray the pregnant girl Rainy, renowned director George Miller embodied the one-armed captain Tarman, his colleague Fatih Akin will play the talking doll Dollmen. Nicolas Winding Refn will reappear as Heartman.
At the end of the event, Kojima commented on the release date, saying: “Although we have not announced a release date yet, we certainly already have one set. Plans are in place. Although production is progressing towards that goal, there are various factors that could affect the release timing… We said 2025, so it will come out next year. The release date will be announced sometime next year.” He continued: “Development is not finished yet, but I feel confident and it turns out to be an even stranger game than the first. We are making it with the feeling: 'Is there really such a game out there?'"
Ubisoft can't catch a break
Ubisoft has canceled its planned appearance at the Tokyo Game Show, just two days before the event starts. In a statement released by Ubisoft Japan, the company says the decision was made due to "various circumstances."
"We regret to inform you that due to various circumstances we have decided to cancel our online participation in the Tokyo Game Show 2024, which was set to start at 3:00 PM on September 26," the statement reads.
“We apologize for the short notice. We sincerely apologize to everyone who was eagerly awaiting the broadcast.”
The company stated that the "ongoing giveaway campaign" will continue despite the broadcast no longer happening. Ubisoft's withdrawal from the event comes at a time of turmoil for the company. While the long-awaited Assassin’s Creed Shadows is set to release in November, the company has been feeling pressure from other areas. - writes Insider Gaming.
