E3 2019 is well underway, and Square Enix had a hell of a show yesterday that knocked the socks off a lot of people. In the spirit of continuing our E3 coverage, here is a rundown of everything that was shown during the Square Enix E3 2019 showcase. We start with a highly anticipated release, which turned out better than I expected.

The show opened with new footage of Final Fantasy VII Remake, which led into a segment with Yoshinori Kitase, Producer on the project and the director of the original game. Kitase (through a translator) had this to say about the Remake – “Remaking Final Fantasy VII has allowed us to dive much deeper into the world, and its’ characters than ever before. The game design was optimized for this title as well. We anticipate 2 Blu-ray discs worth of gameplay content. The first game in this project expands on the story of Midgar, and is such an elaborate retelling that it has become a solid standalone game in its own right.”

Kitase also spoke directly to fans, stating – “[For Fans] Your reunion with the Final Fantasy VII you know is near. To newcomers to who never played the original, we present to you a completely new Final Fantasy, and a perfect starting point to explore the world of Final Fantasy VII.”

It would be a terrible thing not to mention the fact that, as far as I am aware, there has been no PS4 game to have multiple discs. That should say something about the sheer volume of content in the game. Moving along though, that wasn’t even the tip of the iceberg where the FFVII Remake is concerned.

For the first time, we were given a full rundown on how the Action-Combat will work in the remake. The combat is a hybrid of real-time action with strategic command based action. Pressing the square button makes Cloud attack, and he blocks and attacks in real time.

Cloud has two ATB bars, which fill slowly, but fill quicker as he lands attacks. Once the ATB bar is full, you can enter tactical mode, where time slows down and you have the opportunity to select commands from the command menu (which range from abilities to spells).

Using ATB charges is strategic, as you get to choose when and how you use them. You can make the most of it by switching between characters or issuing commands to characters with full ATB bars. According to the presenter for the gameplay portion, tactical mode evokes the command based system of the original, allowing players to enjoy combat while also thinking strategically. Abilities and spells can also be bound to shortcuts, for those who prefer fast-paced action.

Interestingly, some of Cloud’s limit breaks from the original are abilities now, such as Braver. Item usage will deplete an ATB charge, and the Materia system is returning. If Cloud has the MP available, (and the materia equipped) he can use ATB charges to cast spells.

Barret can target enemies at a distance with his gun. His abilities are very different from Cloud’s as well. Swapping characters is done with the press of a button, which makes swapping your controlled party member a breeze. Beyond a presence in one of the video segments, Tifa’s combat style and abilities weren’t really showcased, but Kitase said there will be more information in the future.

They also showcased more info on enemies, such as the news that enemies have a focus gauge that fills as you do damage. Once the focus gauge fills, the enemy is staggered, allowing you to do extra damage, similarly to the mechanic in Final Fantasy XIII.

The segment was far from over though, as Tetsuya Nomura and Kitase showed off the Scorpion Sentinel boss battle, which gave us a real understanding of how bosses will work. The combat is fluid, intense, and boss battles have phases (much like the original). Limit Breaks were also briefly showcased, though details on their use were sparse.

Nomura also revealed an extended version of the trailer that was released over the weekend. The extended version showed off motorcycle combat, supporting characters, intriguing details, and beautiful visuals. At the end of the trailer, two collector’s editions were shown, the Deluxe Edition and the 1^st Class edition.

The Deluxe Edition comes with a Steelbook case, art book, mini soundtrack CD, and bonus Cactuar summon. Pre-ordering also gets you a “Chocobo Chick” summon. The 1st Class Edition (a Square Enix Store exclusive) has everything from the Deluxe Edition. It also contains a bonus carbuncle summon, and a Play Arts Kai Cloud Strife (with Motorcycle) figure. No prices were given for either edition.

The Final Fantasy VII Remake was previously given a March 3^rd, 2020 release date, which was confirmed at the end of the segment. I cannot overstate how beautiful and intense this game looks, so go check out the videos we have provided.

Moving right along, the next segment was a series of trailers for various games. They began with a trailer for Life is Strange 2, showing off critical responses and YouTubers providing commentary about the newest Life is Strange adventure.

Afterward, we saw a trailer for Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles, which gave details on multiplayer, and a mobile release which will come alongside the Nintendo Switch version. The release date has not been confirmed, beyond a 2019 release window.

The next trailer was a celebration of Octopath Traveler’s PC release. Octopath Traveler is available now on PC and has already received critical acclaim for its content.

Square Enix then chose to surprise RPG fans, by dropping a trailer for The Last Remnant Remastered, which is available now on Nintendo Switch. I don’t think anyone saw this coming, so fans of the game will be able to dig deep into this remastered version right away.

The next meaty segment came via Dragon Quest Builders 2, which received a trailer that answered a lot of questions about the upcoming sequel. This time, you won’t be building alone, as you can play with up to 3 other people. The trailer also showed off new mechanics, including the ability to have a party of NPC’s, farming, swimming, and exploration mechanics.

Dragon Quest Builders 2 releases July 12^th on PS4 and Nintendo Switch. However, PlayStation users can check out a demo on June 27^th. There was no word on whether the Switch version would also get a demo or not.

Keeping the Dragon Quest hype going, Square Enix showed off a new trailer for the Nintendo Switch version of Dragon Quest XI. Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age – Definitive Edition, will release this fall. The trailer showed off a few bits of story and revealed that the Switch version will have some sort of exclusive content.

The Square Enix Collective was next on the docket, with a video that showed off a plethora of games that the Collective has published since its inception. They specifically showed off games like Goetia, The Turing Test, Children of the Zodiarcs, and other Collective releases.

The Collective also revealed upcoming releases for 2020. The first was Circuit Superstars by Original Fire Games, a racing game inspired by the beginning of the racing genre.

They then showed off Battalion 1944, by Bulkhead Interactive. Battalion 1944 is a shooter available now on PS4, Xbox One, and PC.

Surprisingly, Square Enix also announced a new program called Square Enix Music. Now you can stream Final Fantasy soundtracks on multiple streaming services. The available services are – Apple Music, PlayStation Music, Spotify, Amazon Music, AWA, Line Music, Aniuta, Smart Usen, and BiliBili services. They did not reveal if other franchises will be available in the future.

As Square Enix previously mentioned, Kingdom Hearts III’s ReMind DLC got a new trailer and a release window during the conference. The trailer showed off new gameplay with new playable characters (and parties) such as Riku and Sora, Aqua and Ventus, and Roxas, Axel and Xion. They also showed a new form for Sora, in a new explorable combat zone.

The trailer revealed that ReMind will launch this winter, and has plenty of questions for players to discover the answers to.

It wouldn’t be a Square Enix E3 presentation without Final Fantasy XIV, so they showed off new content for the upcoming Shadowbringers expansion. Shadowbringers releases July 2nd, and the segment covered what players can expect.

It turns out that Shadowbringers isn’t just an expansion pack, it is a new game filled with volume and gameplay experiences, comparable to a standalone RPG title. They have added lots of new elements for those who haven’t played FFXIV yet, such as 2 new jobs, and 2 new races. They are considering it a new entry in the franchise, though you will have to have the base game (and a character presumably) in order to play it.

Final Fantasy XIV is in record subscriber numbers for its lifespan and has over 16 million players. They also showed off a world premiere release trailer for Shadowbringers.

Keeping up the momentum of trailers, Techland revealed a new trailer for Dying Light 2, that detailed a Spring 2020 release window. There wasn’t much else shown beyond that, probably due to its presence at the Microsoft conference.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K4htKmXc1P8

Moving back into RPG territory, fans of the SaGa series are in for quite a treat, as two new Western releases in the franchise were revealed. A trailer for the Western release of Romancing SaGa 3 was shown, showing off branching storylines and choices.

They also revealed SaGa Scarlet Grace: Ambitions, which has never been seen in the west and brings the SaGa franchise into 3D. Romancing SaGa 3 will release on all major platforms, while Scarlet Grace: Ambitions will launch on Switch, PS4, PC, and Mobile only (leaving out the Vita and Xbox One) “Coming Soon”

Final Fantasy Brave Exvius also had a presence this year, with a trailer that revealed new details on War of the Visions: Final Fantasy Brave Exvius.  It was revealed that the development team intends for Final Fantasy Brave Exvius and War of the Visions to co-exist as “pillars of the growing world of Lapis.” This likely means that there will be cross-promotion and possibly further spinoffs in the future of the series.

War of the Visions’ trailer showed off the setting and the premise of the game. War of the Visions is inspired by Final Fantasy Tactics and is a tactics-based strategy game. No release date was given, but it was a great first look. There were no details on playable characters or how the mechanics would work, but more information will likely be released in the coming months.

Square Enix also revealed a new IP by the creators of Bulletstorm and Gears of War Judgment, called Outriders. Developed by People Can Fly, it is a shooter, building on the foundation of their previous releases. It is described as a dark modern shooter, with a strong story that can be enjoyed alone or with friends. More will be revealed this winter, but Outriders will release Summer 2020.

Oninaki also got some attention, with a trailer showing off more about the world and story. The trailer also showed off some gameplay, revealing an action-RPG style combat system. Oninaki will release August 22nd.

The biggest surprise of the night (especially after last year’s Final Fantasy-palooza) was the reveal of Final Fantasy VIII Remastered. You heard it here folks, Final Fantasy 8 will launch this year, on PS4, Switch, Xbox One, and PC. The visuals look smooth via the trailer they showed, but content/gameplay changes weren’t revealed at the showcase.

Last, but most certainly not least, we finally got answers on the Square Enix collaboration with Marvel. Titled Marvel’s Avengers, by Crystal Dynamics, Marvel Games, and Square Enix, the new game was given a brand new trailer full of content. The trailer featured Hulk, Captain America, Thor, Iron Man, and Black Widow.

They revealed on stage that it is a single player AND co-op game. It begins on A-Day, while San Francisco celebrates the opening of an Avengers West-Coast headquarters. The Avengers are outlawed after being blamed for a tragedy. Five years later, a horrific evil rises up, requiring the Avengers to re-assemble.

This story will take place over years, with content released on a regular basis. It can be played online, and unveiled 5 characters, the original Avengers, cast by well-known voice actors. New characters and regions will be free and will be added over time. There will be no microtransactions.

Marvel’s Avengers will release on PS4, Xbox One, Stadia, and PC. PlayStation players will get Early Beta access and unique benefits in the future. The final reveal was a segment featuring Hank Pym, and a May 15th, 2020 release date.

Square Enix didn’t disappoint, and there are tons of great games coming this year and in 2020. What did you like best from this year’s showcase? Let us know in the comments or on social media!

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