E3 2012 Preview

E3 is set to kick off in less than week’s time.  It’s that time of the year where gamers get to see all of the latest games, accessories, and hardware that’s heading our way in the coming months and years ahead.  Attack of the Fanboy’s small staff will be on hand at this year’s show to get our hands/eyes on as much of this new technology as we can muster.  Since E3 is likely to hold some surprise announcements, here’s what we know will be at this year’s show.

Multiplatform

Battlefield 3 Expansions – Many Battlefield 3 fans are still waiting patiently for new content for DICE’s popular shooter.  E3 2012 is rumored to hold an announcement for “Battlefield Premium” , a one-time fee that will include five DLC packs, and a bunch of content that ranges from weapons and vehicles to gun skins and camo options.

Metro: Last Light – THQ might not be in the best shape financially, but Metro: Last Light is still on the way.  The sequel to 2010’s critically acclaimed Metro 2033, Metro: Last Light will continue the tale of post-apocalyptic Moscow, where the remaining fragments of mankind reside in the tunnels of Metro.

Call of Duty: Black Ops II – For the first time in the Call of Duty franchise, Treyarch will take fans into the future.  America is under seige by its own drone army, which is under control by a terrorist organization.  The United States and China are in the middle of a modern cold war, and it looks to continue the story of Alex Mason and his relatives from 2010’s Call of Duty: Black Ops.

Dishonored – You are the once-trusted bodyguard of the beloved Empress. Framed for her murder, you become an infamous assassin, known only by the disturbing mask that has become your calling card. In a time of uncertainty, when the city is being besieged by plague and ruled by an oppressive government armed with neo-industrial technologies, dark forces conspire to bestow upon you, abilities beyond those of any common man – but at what cost? The truth behind your betrayal is as murky as the waters surrounding the city, and the life you once had is gone forever.

Assassin’s Creed III – The year is 1775. The American colonies are about to revolt. You are Connor, an assassin who has sworn to secure liberty for his people and his nation. To do so, you will hunt your enemies across a staggeringly large, open, and realistic world. You will unleash your lethal skills in a violent  quest that will take you from chaotic city streets to blood-soaked battlefields in the hostile American wilderness and beyond. You will meet legendary heroes   of American history, and together you will conspire to annihilate those who threaten Liberty itself.

XCOM: Enemy Unknown – XCOM: Enemy Unknown will place you in control of a secret paramilitary organization called XCOM. As the XCOM commander, you will defend against a terrifying global alien invasion by managing resources, advancing technologies, and overseeing combat strategies and individual unit tactics.

Borderlands 2 – A new era of shoot and loot is about to begin. Play as one of four new vault hunters facing off against a massive new world of creatures, psychos and the evil mastermind, Handsome Jack. Make new friends, arm them with a bazillion weapons and fight alongside them in 4 player co-op or split-screen on a relentless quest for revenge and redemption across the undiscovered and unpredictable living planet.

Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance – The main character, Raiden, was once feared as the child soldier “Jack the Ripper” on the front lines of the First Liberian Civil War. Now, his combat mastery is channeled through a cyborg body as the strikes from his high-frequency blade slice even massive assault drones in two.  Raiden is contracted for VIP protection, military training and other duties by PMSCs (Private Military and Security Companies) in a developing country piecing itself back together after a bloody civil war. Little does he know that the stage is set for a clash with an enigmatic force of countless cyborgs.

Tomb Raider – Tomb Raider explores the intense and gritty origin story of Lara Croft and her ascent from a frightened young woman to a hardened survivor. Armed only with raw instincts and the ability to push beyond the limits of human endurance, Lara must fight to unravel the dark history of a forgotten island to escape its relentless hold.

Lost Planet 3 – The latest chapter in the Lost Planet series comes to Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and Windows PC in early 2013. The extreme and unpredictable conditions that characterized the Lost Planet series return, harsher than ever before. Lost Planet 3 reveals new truths about the foreboding planet and the colonial history of E.D.N. III.  Lost Planet 3 introduces Jim, a rig pilot who leaves Earth to take on a hazardous but lucrative contract on E.D.N. III. Working for Neo-Venus Construction (NEVEC) who are preparing the planet for colonization, Jim joins his fellow pioneers at the Coronis base and begins surveying the uncharted terrain and obtaining samples of the planet’s energy supply – Thermal Energy.

Resident Evil 6 – Blending action and survival horror, this latest instalment in the multi-million selling franchise is the most ambitious, immersive and feature rich title of the series to date and promises to be the dramatic horror experience of the year.

Hitman: Absolution – Betrayed by those he once trusted and hunted by the police, Agent 47 finds himself caught in the center of a dark conspiracy and propelled through a corrupt and twisted world.  Donning the suit of this legendary assassin, you become a deadly marksman with the ability to blend into plain sight, kill with your bare hands, and fashion weapons from almost anything.

Crysis 3 – Return to the fight as Prophet, the Nanosuit soldier on a quest to rediscover his humanity and exact brutal revenge. Adapt on the fly with the stealth and armor abilities of your unique Nanosuit as you battle through the seven wonders of New York’s Liberty Dome. Unleash the firepower of your all-new, high-tech bow and alien weaponry to hunt both human and alien enemies. And uncover the truth behind the death of your squad while reestablishing the power of human will in a rich story full of exciting twists and turns. Crysis 3 is the ultimate sandbox shooter, realized in the stunning visuals only Crytek and the latest version of CryENGINE can deliver.

Xbox 360

Halo 4 – Halo 4 is the next blockbuster installment in the iconic franchise that’s shaped entertainment history and defined a decade of gaming. Set in the aftermath of Halo 3, Master Chief returns to confront his own destiny and face an ancient evil that threatens the fate of the entire universe. Halo 4 marks the start of a new trilogy that begins with its release in 2012.

Fable: The Journey – Built from the ground up for Kinect for Xbox 360, Fable: The Journey is a whole new way to experience the deep storyline, heart-pounding action, and picturesque world of Albion that fans have come to know and love in the beloved Fable franchise. Wield magic as a deadly weapon as you defend yourself and your trusty steed in combat against dangerous enemies, engage in hair-raising chases, solve perplexing puzzles, and interact with humorous characters in this action-packed adventure journey to becoming a hero.

PlayStation 3

PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale – A free-for-all brawler showcasing the best and brightest of PlayStation’s characters and worlds. From Kratos to Sly Cooper, Sweet Tooth to Parappa the Rapper, Sony characters from all over the gaming spectrum are brought together in a fighting adventure that’s both easy to play, and hard to master. Take the battle online for competitive multiplayer action, or go head to head with a group of friends on the couch.

God of War: Ascension – Vengeance is born in the fires of betrayal in this prequel to the best-selling God of War franchise. Six months have passed since Kratos stood over the bodies of his wife and child, his hands stained with their blood – tricked by Ares into murdering the only people he ever loved. Swearing to avenge them, Kratos broke the blood oath that bound him to Ares, but oaths to Olympus are not so easily broken… Sentenced to an eternity chained within a prison for the living damned, Kratos battles insanity at the hands of the Furies. He will be tested as he seeks freedom, redemption for his sins, and the clarity to avenge his family.

The Last of Us – Abandoned cities reclaimed by nature. A population decimated by a modern plague. Survivors are killing each other for food, weapons; whatever they can get their hands on. Joel, a brutal survivor, and Ellie, a young teenage girl who’s braver and wiser beyond her years, must work together if they hope to survive their journey across the US.

Dust 514 – PS3-exclusive persistent shooter focused on intense infantry combat augmented by powerful vehicles. Uniquely, it is set in, and directly connected to, the thriving player driven universe of EVE Online.  Survive an evolving battlefield by customizing your character and vehicle fitting to fulfill the role of your choice – dominate the enemy as a specialized vehicle Pilot, support your squadmates as a Logistics officer, or storm the frontlines in your Assault armor.

PC

DOTA  2 – Dota began as a user-made modification for Warcraft 3 and has grown into one of the most played online games in the world. Following in the tradition of Counter-Strike, Day of Defeat, Team Fortress, Portal, and Alien Swarm, Dota 2 is the result of Valve hiring the community developers who built the mod and giving them the chance to finally build a full product out of their idea with the help of a professional team of developers and artists at Valve.

Sim City – SimCity, slated for release in calendar year 2013 for PC, is a true rebirth of the franchise that brings the depth of simulation that has been the series hallmark for more than two decades and marries it with next generation accessibility and a robust multiplayer mode, giving players the power to change a world together.

Counter Strike GO – Counter-Strike: Global Offensive will expand upon the team-based action gameplay that it pioneered when it was launched 12 years ago.  CS: GO features new maps, characters, and weapons and delivers updated versions of the classic CS content. In addition, CS: GO will introduce new gameplay modes, matchmaking, leader boards, and more.

Company of Heroes 2 – It is 1941 and the beginning of what will become the most brutal conflict of World War II, as Germany launches a full-scale invasion of the frozen tundra of the Soviet Union which would result in over 14 million military casualties. Take command of the iconic Soviet Red Army in brutal frontline warfare to free Mother Russia from the invading Nazis. Your strategic skills and tactical expertise hold the power to tip the very balance of this conflict in the sequel to the critically acclaimed and multi award-winning Company of Heroes. Engage in visceral tactical combat that will define you as a military leader and challenge you to wield the might of the Soviet Empire as you smash your way to Berlin.

Wii U

Pikmin 3 – Shigeru Miyamoto has been teasing Pikmin fans for years about a third installment in the franchise.  This could be the year that Pikmin 3 is finally shown and revealed for Nintendo’s new console.

Super Mario Bros. Mii – Shown at E3 2011, Nintendo has had a year to put another coat of polish on their Super Mario tech demo that was shown for the Wii U.   If that turns out to be the case, make sure you’re prepared for plenty of side scrolling and Mii characters.

Third Party – This is where things will get really interesting for the Wii U at E3 2012. We already know there are some big third-party games that have been announced for the console.  Darksiders II and Aliens: Colonial Marines are both headed to the console, and other publishers have hinted at supporting the console with titles like Assassin’s Creed III and Black Ops 2.  We could see big reveals for Nintendo if these publishers end up revealing demos at the show.

Nintendo 3DS

New Super Mario Bros. 2  – Due out this summer, New Super Mario Bros 2 was announced just recently, but little has been seen or heard about the title.  E3 2012 will definitely see more details about the next mario game to hit the 3DS handheld.

Luigi’s Mansion 2 – Luigi is back on a mission to remove a bunch of stubborn ghosts from some spooky mansions. Armed with his trusty Poltergust ghost-sucking vacuum cleaner, Mario’s brother takes center stage to capture these pesky phantoms.

PlayStation Vita

Ghost Recon: Final Mission  –  Ghost Recon on the Vita was recently outed by a UK retailer which had begun taking pre-orders for the shooter.  No details about Ghost Recon: Final Mission have been made available, but if the game in-fact exists, it will definitely be shown either at E3, Ubisoft or Sony’s Press Conferences prior to the show.

Call of Duty – Deemed as the game changer for the PlayStation Vita, the handheld’s unique control scheme and cross platform capabilities make Call of Duty one title that many Vita owners would like to see come to fruition in the near future.  It is expected that Activision will have something to announce by way of PlayStation Vita next week.

Assassins Creed – Another Ubisoft title that was recently listed at retail for the PlayStation Vita.  The legions of Assassin’s Creed fans would certainly be pleased to see this franchise arrive on the handheld.

PlayStation All Stars – Superbot Entertainment has been quiet about the possibility of Sony’s Super Smash Bros style offering that’s headed to the PS3 later this year, but E3 is expected to see many more details arrive for the game.  One expected announcement is that the game will see a PS Vita version released simultaneously for the handheld.

Mobile

Zynga – The mobile games upstart will be making an appearance for the first time on the show floor of E3 2012.  What they’ll be showing is anyone’s guess, but with the recent launch of the stand-alone Zynga Games Platform, they could have something up their sleeves.

EA Mobile – EA will also be showcasing  around 10 new and unannounced  mobile titles during E3 2012.

Attack of the Fanboy @ E3 2012

We’ll be at all of the press conferences on Monday June 4th, join us for our live blog of the events. The next day, we’ll be live-blogging again from Nintendo’s Press Conference and the E3 Show Floor. We’re also holding our biggest giveaway during E3 and the week following, where we’re giving away a Nintendo Wii U to one lucky reader. For more details on the contest head to the Official Rules Page. For all our E3 2012 content, go here.