Gallery: The 7 Biggest Game Debuts At E3 2015

E3 2015 has proven itself to be one of the most exciting trade show events in recent memory, with huge titles like Fallout 4, Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End, and The Last Guardian setting out to prove that they were worth the wait. But these were all known quantities: the best E3 moments often come from the games we didn’t even know were being made. Though a complete out-the-blue surprise gets harder to pull off every year, a few titles at this year’s E3 made the most noise just by revealing they exist….

Leaks and rumors had already made Dark Souls 3 all but a certainty, but that didn’t stop fans of From Software’s brutal, captivating flagship series from going a little mad at its unveiling. Not only is Dark Souls 3 coming exclusively to modern consoles and PC, but it will see the return of Dark Souls director Hidetaka Miyazaki, who bowed out of the first sequel to work on Bloodborne. Certain press releases indicate this will be the final Dark Souls game, so diehards will have to treasure each of their (many) deaths when Dark Souls 3 arrives in early 2016.

Fallout 4 sucked up all the oxygen in Bethesda’s press conference even before it began, as the megaton-sized RPG got out ahead of E3 to proclaim its arrival. All the better for Dishonored 2 though, whose existence was leaked just before the show, but still made a flashy and exciting proper introduction with its announcement trailer. Letting you step into the Victorian-styled shoes of Princess Emily Kaldwin, as well as original protagonist Corvo, the sequel to the action-stealth game celebrated for its flexibility in 2012 now appears to have more gameplay options available to players than ever.

It’s been nearly twenty years since its release, and a decade since an E3 tech demo running Final Fantasy VII on PS3 hardware got hopes up for a proper remake. Now, one of the Internet’s most vocally demanded dream projects is a reality, and the gorgeous CG announcement trailer for Final Fantasy VII Remake plays up the long wait for all it’s worth. The trailer also more quietly informs viewers that they’ll be able to “Play it first on Playstation,” though no other platforms for Final Fantasy VII Remake are yet confirmed. Details are scant, so we’ll have to wait to find out how Square Enix plans to update one of the most widely beloved RPGs ever made.

A remake of Gears of War had long been expected, but The Coalition (formerly Black Tusk Studios) upstaged the announcement of Gears of War: Ultimate Edition with the reveal of Gears 4. A lengthy gameplay demo featuring familiar weapons, new enemies, and the franchise roadie running on Unreal Engine 4 ensured that Gears 4 will be among the most hotly-anticipated games of its Holiday 2016 release window. The lancer is back in all its gory glory, but with new protagonists, and a new engine, Gears 4 has the opportunity to do for Xbox One what Gears of War did for the 360.

The lengthy and stressful development of South Park: The Stick of Truth did nothing to dull its warm and wide reception in early 2014, but the reveal of a sequel this soon took many by surprise. Creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker introduced their new superhero-inspired take on the RPG at Ubisoft’s press conference to a welcome reception. It’s worth noting that Ubisoft San Francisco, not Stick of Truth-developer Obsidian, will be handling the follow-up, though as the crass new subtitle indicates, the writing is often the biggest draw when it comes to a new South Park property.

While The Division continues to gestate and make a lot of vague promises about what it will actually be, it was the older, embattled Ghost Recon franchise that gave a clear idea of what to expect from its next entry. Ubisoft’s closing reveal of Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Wildlands promises a bevy of content to go with the mouthful of a title. Gameplay footage highlighted the variety of methods players can employ when exploring the game’s open world, whether alone or through online co-op. A modern-military shooter with Just Cause-sized action is right in line with Ubisoft’s shift towards games that put scope and freedom first.