E3 2021: Xbox & Bethesda (Plus Square-Enix) Reactions And Analysis

Sunday took up the majority of the E3 coverage, with both console developer Xbox putting on their Xbox & Bethesda Games Showcase, and Square-Enix coming in not long afterwards with their own showcase. The Microsoft showcase was ninety minutes long and featured just over thirty titles — most of which were either exclusive or Day One on their Xbox Game Pass service. Highlights from the show include Bethesda Softworks’ Starfield title, STALKER 2, Avalanche’s Contraband, Forza Horizon 5, and Arkane Studios’ Redfall.

Square-Enix’s presentation included their major Fall release, Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy, along with a glimpse at Marvel’s Avengers: War for Wakanda, a new expansion coming to Avengers this August. They also had a brief look at an upcoming remaster for the first six Final Fantasy titles (for mobile and Steam), and a new look at the Platinum developed Babylon’s Fall. Lastly, they ended the show off with a new title being developed by Team Ninja called Strangers of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin. This title is an action-RPG set seemingly in the original Final Fantasy world with a darker, more serious art style.

All in all, this made for a day with over 40 games being revealed from two of the biggest publishers in gaming. In addition to the live reactions, we also did a bit of analysis on where this left Xbox & Bethesda, as well as why Square-Enix’s conference might have been missing a few games.