Push Rewind: Everything You Need to Know About E3 2014

That's a wrap

by Sammy Barker Mon 16th Jun 2014

And so, much to this writer’s relief and disappointment, E3 2014 is over. It’s been a show of re-releases, retreads, and some genuine surprises, but sleepless nights aside, we’d be lying if we said that we hadn’t enjoyed it. Between the drama of the big press conferences, the glimpses of upcoming releases, and unrivalled access to executive interviews, there’s been something to chat about all week – and that’s without us trying to dream up new ‘Talking Points’ while taking a jog around a nearby housing estate.

Of course, with so much to see, some of the World Cup running in parallel, and real life refusing to take a well earned break, you can be forgiven for missing one or two highlights. Fortunately, we’ve got a special edition of Push Rewind lined up to help get you up to speed. Here’s everything that you need to know about this year’s bumper Los Angeles-based event. See you next time!

Press Conferences

Live: Watch the Sony PlayStation E3 2014 Press Conference Right Here

Join us live as we provide video and text commentary from Sony’s big PlayStation E3 2014 press conference from Los Angeles. Find out what the coming year will hold for the firm’s next-gen platform, the PlayStation 4, as well as the PlayStation Vita – and react to every announcement as they happen.

Live: Watch the Ubisoft E3 2014 Press Conference Right Here

Two press conferences down, two press conferences to go. With both Microsoft and EA Games already enjoying their time in the spotlight, it’s now Ubisoft’s turn to shine. The French publisher will no doubt have a catalogue of PlayStation 4 titles on display, including Far Cry 4, Assassin’s Creed: Unity, and more. And, as always, you’ll be able to see everything for yourself live, courtesy of the stream embedded below.

Live: Watch the EA E3 2014 Press Conference Right Here

How are your hype levels holding up? Good, because we’ve barely even scratched the surface of this year’s E3 convention. With rival platform holder Microsoft done and dusted, it’s now down to third-party publisher EA Games to impress. This year, it’s promising six major reveals, with annual franchises such as FIFA and Madden likely to be complemented by Battlefield: Hardline and Mirror’s Edge 2.

Feature: Push Square's E3 2014 PlayStation Game of the Show - No Man's Sky

No Man’s Sky is not a reality television contestant, but it would make a darn good one if it was. Anyone that’s ever watched the X-Factor or America’s Got Talent will know that media mogul Simon Cowell adores a good ‘rags to riches’ story from time to time, and Hello Games’ ambitious sci-fi escapade is a shining example of the little adventure that could.

Features

Reaction: Poor Pacing Disrupts Otherwise Excellent PS4 Press Conference

For large chunks of last night’s PlayStation press conference, we really thought that Sony had learned. We’ve berated the platform holder for its poorly paced presentations in the past, but there were no signs of the manufacturer’s talkative old times as it launched straight into a Destiny driven light show before immediately segueing over to alternate history exclusive The Order: 1886. That punchy pace persisted for several moments longer, as the company confirmed that student developed indie Entwined would be available to purchase from the PlayStation Store directly after the conference concluded – and that LittleBigPlanet 3 would launch on the next-gen system this November.

Talking Point: How Did the Three Major Manufacturers Fare at E3 2014?

E3 2014 is over, and we’re breaking the fabric of time and space in order to celebrate. In this inaugural cross-platform, cross-network, cross-website extravaganza, the editors of Nintendo Life, Pure Xbox, and, er, Push Square have put aside their boxing gloves, and joined forces to bring you this industry wide look at all three major console manufacturers at this week’s Los Angeles-based show. Their conclusion? That gamers won the event – not Nintendo, Microsoft, or Sony.

Other Noteworthy Features

Game Announcements

E3 2014: Rise of the Tomb Raider Furthers Lara Croft's Journey

Video game vixen Lara Croft will continue her progression from petite explorer to buxom badass in Rise of the Tomb Raider next year. Announced during Microsoft’s E3 media briefing, the debut trailer showed a distressed protagonist talking to a shrink, who emphatically informed her that “people become who they are meant to be”. It’s a bit like when we were always destined to stay up all night writing about video games, only cooler in the Crystal Dynamics game’s case.

E3 2014: Co-Op Brawler Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris Is Coming To PS4

It seems the torture never ends for Lara Croft, as the absurdly titled Rise of the Tomb Raider isn't the only game the adventurer will be suffering through in the imminent future. As a part of a Gametrailers E3 livestream, Square Enix has officially announced that Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris, a multiplayer sequel to Lara Croft and the Guardian Of Light, will be coming to PlayStation 4.

E3 2014: EA Sports PGA Tour Goes Beyond the Boundaries of Golf

Now that Tiger Woods is no longer on the box, it seems that EA Sports has been given the creative freedom to go a little bonkers with its first next-gen golf simulation. Indeed, the boringly named PGA Tour's first trailer shows a combination of famous courses and fantasy ones – including one which takes place near to a shipwrecked battleship. You didn’t see that one coming, did you?

E3 2014: FIFA 15 Brings Emotion to the PS4 and PS3 on 26th September

There was plenty for sports fans to get excited about in Electronic Arts' E3 press conference today, with several of its long-running franchises being given the star treatment. Of particular note was FIFA 15, which received a remarkably dramatic trailer purporting that this year's soccer-sim will be the most 'emotional' entry yet.

E3 2014: Criterion Games Reaches for the Sky with a New and Broadly Ambitious Project

Cars and Criterion Games have gone hand in hand for years. It's hard not to imagine a racing game from the studio that doesn't involve sleek, expensive sports vehicles or obsessively rendered depictions of car crashes like in Need for Speed or Burnout. However, since the developer's surprising announcement that it will be debuting a new project at E3 2014, we've been assuming that it would still involve cars in some fashion, and that easy prediction has turned out to be true. But it's a big surprise to us that this new game is actually "going beyond cars" this time around.

E3 2014: Grand Theft Auto V Hijacks a Slot in PS4's Lineup

After an outrageously dull monologue from new SCEA chief Shawn Layden, the platform holder pulled its E3 press conference back on track this evening by confirming that Grand Theft Auto V will be launching on the PlayStation 4 later this year. The firm announced the news by revealing a new trailer, showing the release in all of its lovely next-gen glory.

E3 2014: Surprise, LittleBigPlanet 3 Will Be Landing on PS4 in November

In one of the more surprising announcements from Sony's E3 press conference today, the Japanese giant revealed that LittleBigPlanet 3 will be launching on PlayStation 4 this November. As well as Sackboy, the adorable sequel features three new playable characters named Toggle, Swoop, and Oddsock, each with their own special abilities.

E3 2014: Uncharted 4: A Thief's End Brings Drake to the Brink in 2015

It didn’t get the gameplay blowout that many were perhaps expecting, but Sony did save a gorgeous teaser trailer for Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End until the very end of its E3 press conference. The video – put together using footage captured directly from the PlayStation 4 – shows protagonist Nathan Drake face down in a pool of water as a conversation with Sully replays in his mind.

E3 2014: From Software's Project Beast Revealed As PS4 Exclusive Bloodborne

From Software is known the world over for its cult classic PS3 exclusive Demon's Souls, which paved the way for its spiritual successors in the Dark Souls series. These action RPGs are famously – and perhaps infamously – known for their richly detailed stories, insane difficulty, and visually eerie atmosphere. While rumours and leaked screenshots aplenty have indicated that the developer's latest project will retain its predecessors' general look and gameplay, we nevertheless screamed in delight as the game emerged from its mysterious Fog Gate as Bloodborne.

E3 2014: Journey's Art Director Is Bringing New Title ABZU to PS4

We hope you like whimsical indie games, because this year's E3 has been full of them. Doing its best to stand out from the crowd with an underwater focus and the inclusion of numerous strange and wonderful creatures, ABZU comes to the PlayStation 4 from the mind of Journey's art director.

E3 2014: You Can Play Newly Announced PS4 Title Entwined Right Now

Announcing a game, and then having it available to purchase immediately is one of the most effective tricks in the book. And that's exactly what Sony did with Entwined, a new artsy experience developed by recently formed internal studio Pixelopus. The title sees you play as two origami-like creatures that are deeply in love. Controlling both of them with separate joysticks, you must slowly bring the lovebirds together over the course of nine lifetimes.

E3 2014: inFAMOUS Standalone DLC First Light Illuminates PS4 This August

In one of Sony's biggest surprises of its E3 2014 press conference, the company revealed that inFAMOUS: Second Son is to get a piece of standalone DLC that features spunky conduit Fetch.

E3 2014: Suda 51's New PS4 Exclusive Let It Die Is Brutal and Bizarre

Distinctive auteur Suda 51 is about as divisive as they come. Indeed, the luminary's games either cause intense adoration, or confused and bewildered disgust. And if this trailer for his new PlayStation 4 exclusive Let It Die is anything to go by, that trend isn't likely to be changing in the near future. The live action clip that debuted in Sony's E3 press conference today sees a group of oddly dressed men attacking each other with clubs and other blunt instruments.

E3 2014: Dead Island 2 Will Lurch onto PS4 with Undead Exclusive Content in 2015

Dead Island 2 will be coming to PlayStation 4 in mid-2015, Sony announced at its E3 press conference. The gratuitously gory brawler will feature 8 player multiplayer, as well as multiple character classes, and a deep skill system. What's more, if you're playing on the Japanese giant's super system you'll receive as yet unannounced exclusive content.

E3 2014: Scoff the Last Slice in Free PS Vita Puzzler Fat Princess: Piece of Cake

Fat Princess is a strange PlayStation character. Despite only appearing in a couple of titles to date, the meaty monarch is still regarded as one of the brand’s biggest mascots. Fortunately, the portly princess is about to make her debut on the PlayStation Vita, as part of a brand new match-three puzzle game.

Other Noteworthy Game Announcements

Entwined PlayStation 4 Review

Entwined is right on the cusp of being a masterpiece. A gorgeous art style is complemented by an exquisite soundtrack and tight controls, which culminates in one of the best PS4 titles to date. The game’s occasional lack of identity prevents it from receiving the very top marks, but don’t let that put you off this romantic release.

Headlines

E3 2014: Don't Panic, The Last Guardian Has Not Been Cancelled

Causing the Twitter explosion to end all Twitter explosions, IGN recently revealed that it received inside information suggesting that The Last Guardian had been officially cancelled. The hotly anticipated title by Team ICO has been in development for several years now, with a seemingly endless list of rumours and teases only exacerbating this unbearable wait.

E3 2014: Grand Theft Auto V to Score Special Surprise if You Buy on PS4

Sony was given the unique privilege of announcing Grand Theft Auto V for the PlayStation 4, so it’s little wonder that it’s cooking up something special for the next-gen port. Speaking with Kotaku, marketing executive John Koller hinted that there’s a special bonus in the pipeline for those who purchase the re-release on its latest super machine – but it’s not ready to divulge what at this stage.

E3 2014: The Last of Us Remastered Will Break Your Heart All Over Again on 29th July

As one of its key titles leading into the holiday season, it's not surprising that Sony decided to showcase The Last of Us Remastered near the end of its E3 presentation. It is, however, incredibly surprising that it would choose to do so in such a spoiler-heavy fashion. Make no mistake, if you've not played The Last of Us, you should avoid this trailer like the plague.

E3 2014: Yes, Sony's Smallest Ever Console Is Coming Overseas

Those of you that have been following PlayStation closely will already be familiar with PlayStation TV, as it launched in Japan last year as the slightly less marketable PS Vita TV. The diminutive device is based upon the same hardware as Sony’s handheld platform, and will launch in Western territories later this year for $99/€99. An additional bundle including a DualShock 3 controller, memory card, and a copy of The Lego Movie Video Game will be available for $139 in North America.

E3 2014: PS4's New Glacier White Model Is Cooler Than Cool

With the PlayStation 4 already tearing up the retail space, there wasn’t a whole lot for the platform holder to announce in the hardware department at E3. However, squeezed into the Destiny portion of its press conference, it did take a moment to unveil a new model of its next-gen system named ‘Glacier White’. There’s no pricing information available for this little beauty at the present, but it will come bundled with a copy of Bungie's first-person shooter and a 30-day subscription to PlayStation Plus when it deploys later this year.

Other Noteworthy Headlines