Rounding out Gamescom’s press event highlights

MANILA, Philippines – The last few days of Gamescom in Cologne, Germany have been very exciting for gamers around the world.

Celebrating its fifth year, Gamescom is Europe’s largest gaming event with over 340,000 visitors in attendance. Held from August 13 to 17, developers from all over the world hold their own press conferences and display booths to show the public the most awaited games this year and the years to come.

For those who haven’t been following the event too closely, however, here are some of the highlights of Gamescom’s biggest press briefings.

Microsoft’s commitment to gamers

Microsoft followed through with its theme of stating that gamers were part of the company’s main focus for the years to come.

Phil Spencer, Head of Xbox added that, “If there is one thing I want you to take away from our show today is this, Xbox is the best place to play.”

Microsoft introduced 3 new Xbox One bundles for this year: a FIFA15 bundle slated for September 25 for 400 euros, and Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare and Sunset Overdrive Xbox One bundles as well.

Microsoft also announced additional new features will be coming to the Xbox One, such as an improved friends list.

Microsoft also made sure that exclusivity is part of their plans to bring more gamers to the Xbox One. ID@Xbox, Microsoft’s answer to the growing demand for indie games, had announced that games like SMITE, Goat Simulator, No Time to Explain, Plague Inc. and Superhot were launching first to the Xbox One.

Xbox mainstay Fable will open its multiplayer Beta for the game Fable Legends on October. Turtle Rock Studio’s Evolve will open its own Beta for the Xbox One on January and promised to release the first Downloadable Content (DLC) to Xbox One primarily.

One of the biggest and most surprising exclusives announced during their presser was Crystal Dynamics’ most anticipated game, Rise of the Tomb Raider. Crystal Dynamics will be releasing the game as a Xbox One exclusive. Last year’s Tomb Raider was released for the Xbox One, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PlayStation 4 consoles.

This particular news had been allegedly the main reason behind some unknown parties’ hacking and vandaliziation of both Xbox One and PS4 channels on Twitch as part of their outrage, as reported by Forbes.  

The hackers appeared to take advantage of unmanned stations logged in to both PS4 and Xbox Online channels and started to use vulgar commentary and racist words on the Twitch channel.

Sony’s PS4: A 10 Million strong army

Sony began its press conference by announcing the company had sold more than 10 Million PS4 units to date.

Sony’s presentation for the PS4 took on a theme of consistency in terms of delivering exclusives from its own studios such as The Order 1886 which now includes Nikola Tesla as a potential non-player character (NPC), Bloodborne from From Software, the developers behind Dark Souls. Also shown off was Tearaway, a paper-themed game that utilizes all of the PS4 controller’s interactive aspects to control the game.

Sony also added a new game feature to the PS4 called Share Play which let’s you play with a friend online even if the other player does not own a copy of the game. 

Sony also revealed a number of new games. Ninja Theory, the studio behind Enslaved, Heavenly Sword, and the Devil May Cry reboot announced a new game called Hellblade. It appears to be set in a medieval fantasy world with demonic entities as antagonists. 

Watch the reveal of Hellblade below:

Rayman creator Michael Ansel announced an indie developed game under Wild Sheep studios called Wild. This PS4 exclusive is set in an open world environment that let’s you roam and become any creature you see in the world.

Sony ended with a subtle nod to Xbox’s press conference, taking note that Xbox head Phil Spencer wanted people to know that Xbox is the best place to play.

Sony CEO Jim Ryan closed the presentation by thanking all Playstation supporters for making the PlayStation gaming consoles “the best place to play.”

EA’s new games and new surprises

Electronic Arts (EA) previewed its upcoming games in its own press event at Gamescom, with most of the games shown set to release in 2014.

EA CEO Andrew Wilson highlighted in the event the point of EA’s commitment to feedback as the they provided gamers at the event with live demos and extended playthrough of games in development.

“We can’t wait to hear what you think. As I’ve said before we love the open and honest conversation. It’s what challenges us to push the boundaries of creativity and innovation. To explore new ways to amaze and entertain. That is at the core of EA’s commitment to putting our players first.” Wilson adds.

Dragon Age: Inquisition was first up in EA’s lineup of games. Aaryn Flynn, GM for Bioware’s Edmonton and Montreal studios, introduced an extensive gameplay video of Dragon Age, specifically its core battle mechanics and strategy.

Flynn also added that this is the biggest and most ambitious game they have ever created in terms of geography.

Dragon Age: Inquisition is set to release for the PC, PS4, Xbox One, PS3 and Xbox 360 on November 15 and are now taking pre-orders.

Watch this 8-minute gameplay video below:

EA COO Peter Moore and Executive Producer Rachel Franklin introduced The Sims 4 and played the game live on stage. Bioware also presented housing for the online roleplaying game, Star Wars: The Old Republic, called Galactic Strongholds.

Bioware also revealed a new game in development, called Shadow Realms. The title is a story-driven 4-on-1 cooperative online roleplaying game set in a modern fantasy world.

The game is said to be inspired by old tabletop games like Dungeons and Dragons and Forgotten Realms. Shadow Realms is slated for a late 2015 release for the PC.

Watch Jeff Hickman’s introduction of Shadow Realms below:

The EA press event capped off with a presentation for Battlefield: Hardline. General Manager Steve Papoutsis introduced how Hardline is setting itself apart from other Battlefield games.

Papoutsis also discussed the new approach the development team is taking to deliver the ultimate cops and criminals fantasy inspired by an episodic-tv-series approach to the story. (READ: EA’s Battlefield Hardline coming Fall 2014)

Watch a 12-minute single player gameplay video:

Microsoft, Sony, and EA revealed some very exciting and surprising details some of which proved too sensational.

Tell us which of the three companies revealed the game you’re most looking forward to in the comments. – Rappler.com